Bowling Green State University
Michigan State
Falcon-Spartan Showdown Set For This Weekend
December 08, 2009 | Ice Hockey
Bowling Green Falcons
(2-12-2, 2-8-2-2)
vs.
No. 14/13 Michigan State Spartans
(10-6-2, 7-3-2-0)
Dec. 11, 2009 - 7:05 p.m. EST
BGSU Ice Arena (Bowling Green, Ohio)
Dec. 12, 2009 - 7:05 p.m. EST
Munn Ice Arena (East Lansing, Mich.)
BGSU Media Notes
CCHA Week 10 Release
Michigan State Media Notes - coming soon!
Press Conference
THIS WEEK
Following two losses over the weekend to Lake Superior State University by scores of 2-1 and 5-2, respectively, the Bowling Green State University Falcons will prepare for another dive into cluster play with the Michigan State Spartans. The Falcons will participate in a home-and-home series with the No. 14/13 Spartans beginning at home on Friday before heading to East Lansing, Mich. for the weekend cap.
MEDIA COVERAGE
This weekend's hockey games can be heard as scheduled on WBGU-FM with Everett Fitzhugh and Brian Fisher bringing you the live action, shot-for-shot. The pregame show will air 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Both broadcasts can be heard globally on both www.bgsufalcons.com.
Live stats for all BGSU home games are available on the BGSU web site - www.bgsufalcons.com - via Live Scoring. The stats can be accessed from the schedule page in the hockey section of the web site by clicking on the “details” icon on the right hand side of the page, then by clicking “live scoring”.
Friday night's home game can be seen on your television live from the BGSU Ice Arena for broadcast on BCSN of the Buckeye Cable Network. Greg Franke will provide the play-by-play call and Scott Paluch will bring the analysis of the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Last night the Bowling Green Falcons battled from beginning to end against the Lake Superior State University Lakers, but could not overcome a two-goal deficit in the first period in a 2-1 loss. After taking a 2-0 lead on the Falcons, Bowling Green halved the lead on a Tomas Petruska power-play goal, their first in 17 attempts over the last four games. The Falcons would get no closer by game's end. After pulling Eno for the last 00:56 of the game for a man advantage, the Falcons put on a last minute charge toward the Laker net, but could not score, ending the game 2-1 in favor of the Lakers. Saturday night would not bode well for the Falcons either. After playing the first half of the contest strong taking a 1-1 tie into the first intermission and controlling the puck for a large duration of the second period, the Lakers opened up the offense and scored three unanswered goals before BGSU could retaliate. The final score of game two was Lake Superior 5, Bowling Green 2.
ALL EYES ON BG!
As we approach the mid-way point of the 2009-10 season, multiple Falcons can be found near the top of several CCHA and Division I hockey statistical categories.
Jordan Samuels-Thomas - Fr. - Foward - Windsor, Conn.
Tied-tenth in overall point scoring (15)
Tied-third in overall point scoring by a CCHA freshman (15)
Tied-sixth in conference point scoring (12)
Tied-fifth in conference goal scoring (6)
Tied-second in conference point scoring by a freshman (12)
Nick Eno - Jr. - Goaltender - Howell, Mich.
Eighth in overall saves (308)
Fourth in total conference saves (258)
Eighth in saves per game with more than five games played (25.7)
Tomas Petruska - Sr. - Forward - Petrov, Slovakia
Tied-eighth in conference assist scoring (8)
Kyle Page - Sr. - Defenseman - Wixom, Mich.
Tied-12th in defenseman point scoring (1-4--5)
ONE-ON-ONE AND DONE
After the CCHA implemented the shootout rule last season, the Falcons did not have an opportunity to flash their talents between the posts in one-on-one chances with their opponents. In 2009-10, BG has already had two games decided by a shootout and have won both of those by counts of 1-0. Falcon goaltenders Nick Eno and Andrew Hammond have each had the chance to participate in a shootout this season and have remained perfect, both saving all three shots against them. Each shootout was performed on the road (Oct. 30 at UNO and Nov. 28 at Notre Dame) after the Falcons gave up third period goals with a one score lead.
HOME 'D'
When playing at home the Falcons appear to keep their opponents 'in-check' allowing fewer shots per game at the BGSU Ice Arena than when they play on the road. The Falcons have allowed 31.6 shots a game in six true home contests versus 38.6 shots per game in ten games away from home. On the penalty kill, Bowling Green has allowed nearly twice as many power-play goals on the road (14) as they have in home games (8). Their lone short-handed goal they have allowed versus Ferris State this year was also away from Bowling Green.
EVEN IS NOT SO EVEN
Despite the fact that the Falcons have been outscored on the whole this season (57-32), it has been well documented that BG plays the competition better when playing five-on-five hockey. Of the 57 goals they have allowed this year, only 28 (49 percent) have been while both teams had five on the ice. Bowling Green has scored 72 percent of their goals (23-of-32) while playing five-on-five. Even more impressive, in the four games the Falcons have won or tied this season BG has outscored the opposition 10-3 when both teams are at even-stength.
THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA
Much of this year's scoring has been had in the first or last two minutes of a period this year for BGSU and their opponents. Twenty-two of the 89 (24.7 percent) of all goals scored in a BGSU hockey game this season have been within the first two or during the last two minutes of a period. Bowling Green has scored nine times, accounting for 28 percent of their scoring during that span while their opposition has scored 13 times (23 percent).
SCOUTING THE NO. 14/13 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (10-6-2, 7-3-2-0)
Recent action: Michigan State comes off a weekend with highs and lows as they split a weekend series with the Northern Michigan Wildcats. With their Friday night win, 1-0, over NMU it marked the first shut out for senior goaltender Bobby Jarosz and snapped a four-game winless streak (0-3-1). In their win on Saturday, junior forward Corey Tropp hit a red-lighter with just over six minutes left. Over their last six games, the Spartans are 1-4-1 with a shoot out loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Nov. 19). Michigan State began the season 7-2-0 but have won only two games since the second week of November. In two of their last three games the Green and White have scored only a single goal and over their last four games they have been outscored 12-7.
Players to watch: Cody Tropp (Jr., F) leads the team in goals (12) and points (21) with five of his twelve goals been scored on the power play. He is first in the CCHA in power-play points (11) and points (21), second in goals scored (12) and points-per-game (1.17). Though Tropp accounts for nearly a quarter of the Spartan offense, freshman Derek Grant is aiding with his seven goals and ten assists, both ranking second on the team in addition to his 17 points. He also shares the lead in team power-play goals with Tropp with five. Junior defenseman Jeff Petry leads the Spartans in helpers (12). Andrew Rowe (Jr., F) has a share of the two-spot in goals scored (7) and is one of five Spartans in double-digit point totals (7-3--10). Following Rowe and Grant, no Spartan has more than four goals, though three Spartans have six assists apiece (Gazley, Leveille, Sucharski). Between Tropp, Grant and Rowe their 26 combined goals account for more than half of the Spartans total goals scored and their 48 points make up for nearly 38 percent of the team's points. Between the posts, Drew Palmisano (So., G) accounts for more than 75 percent of the total time spent in goal and deservingly so. He is in the top-five in save-percentage (fifth, .926), GAA (fifth, 2.10) and total saves (fourth, 365).
Statistically speaking: Ranked second in the CCHA with 23 points via a 7-3-2-0 conference record, Michigan State has done much of their winning with a top-heavy front line and stellar goaltending. They have fared much better since entering CCHA play with a team defense ranked number-two in the conference by goals-per-game (1.75) and allowing the third fewest goals (21). Their offense has struggled in conference as they have struggled to get shots on net (11th, 26.2 sog/g).
UN-DEE-LIEVABLE SEASON
In his first three seasons as a Falcon, forward Tommy Dee had a combined 12 goals and six assists for 18 points over 95 games. He has had, by far, his best season as a senior and quickly looking to double his career totals. He already has a career-highs in goals (6), assists (4) and points (10) in a single season, and this only through 16 games in 2009-10. Dee had only one power-play goal in his career, but this year leads the team with three.
BG PLAYERS EXCEL ON POWER PLAY
How well are some of the Falcons doing this season on the power play? Glad you asked. So far in 2009-10 five different Falcons have four or more points while the team is on the power play. Tomas Petruska (Sr., F) leads the team with six power-play points (1-5) while senior Tommy Dee leads the team in power-play goals (3). Kyle Page (Sr., D) and Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Fr., F) have a pair of power-play goals and assists apiece, while David Solway (Jr., F) has four points, all by assist, while on the man advantage. Freshmen Nathan Pageau and Reed Rushing both have an assist and seniors James Perkin and Kai Kantola both have a goal while the Falcons are on the power play this season.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP DEFINED
You no doubt have seen the small box clearly showing how the bulk of the scoring has been done by both the senior and freshman classes, but the senior class deserves more in leading the way for the 2009-10 Falcons. Falcons seniors have scored just under half of the 32 total goals this season and have accounted for 28 (52 percent) of the 54 helpers. In the last six games, Bowling Green seniors have account for 53.8 percent of the goal scoring with seven of the thirteen put in the net. They also accounted for nine assists (39 percent) and 18 points (50 percent) in that time.
NOT GREEN ANYMORE, THEY ARE BOWLING GREEN!
Most coaches fret when nine freshman are asked to be major contributors on their team, but not Bowling Green. The 2009-10 freshman class has answered the call this year having scored 11-of-32(34 percent) Falcon goals and helping on a third of all goals scored this season. In four games from Nov. 20-28, the freshmen scored more goals than any other class on the roster (5) and contributed six helpers over that span as well. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Fr., Windsor, Conn.) leads the team and the freshman class with six goals and nine assists on the season. He also leads the class with five points in the last six games.
THE COMPETITION THUS FAR
Nobody is making excuses here at Bowling Green for the 2-12-2 overall record, but its has been a tough schedule in the early goings of the season. The Falcons have already played four teams that are or were nationally ranked at the time they played their opponent. Three additional teams on the BG schedule have received votes in the latest USCHO.com poll and four teams reside with votes in the USA Today Poll. As it stands now, they also have four more weekends that they match up with top-20 teams, including the No. 1 Miami Redhawks. Teams on the BG docket this season are a combined 131-121-43 overall. Every team BG has played so far has a .500 or better overall record, except Minnesota State who just went under .500 with a pair of losses this weekend. Those that have yet to be played on the BG schedule are 75-71-25 this season and only two teams have a winning record and two other teams have a .500 record.
LUCK WITH THE IRISH
Notre Dame must have a hidden four-leaf clover they carry with the team when they play the Falcons. The No. 13/14 Fighting Irish have been more than successful against the Falcons in the last fifteen years than any other CCHA team. Since winning eight straight against UND from 1994 to February 1996, the Irish have a combined record of 34-8-5 record against BGSU. Notre Dame won the last 13 straight contests before their tie and shootout loss to BG on Nov. 28 and has not lost to BG in regulation or overtime since Jan. 29, 2005, spanning over 16 total games. The Falcon senior class has not beaten the Irish in their careers in twelve chances (0-10-2), but has played in five one-goal games, tied once and won a shootout once in that time.
NOT-SO FREAKY FRIDAY (The 13th)
The Falcons broke an eight-game winless streak on Nov. 13 against No. 9 Alaska with a 3-1 win. The streak tied the 1981-82 BGSU hockey team for the longest winless streak to begin a season. Ironically, both streaks were broken on a 'Friday the 13th' in November. The 1981-82 Falcons started 0-7-1 before defeating Lake Superior (Nov. 13, 1981), 8-2. Bowling Green went on to win the CCHA with a 20-7-1 conference mark that year.
NO SENIORITIS HERE
Saturday's (Nov. 7) contest versus Ferris State featured a scoring display put on by the BGSU senior class. All five points were recorded by members of the Falcon senior class, including Tomas Petruska's sixth career multi-point game. Kai Kantola scored a power play goal, breaking an eleven power play scoreless streak, with the lone assist being given to Petruska. Attempting a late BG comeback, Petruska scored a goal with 3:05 remaining in the third period before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat at the hand of the Ferris State Bulldogs. Petruska was fed by Josh Boyd and Kyle Page on the score.
A NIGHT OF FIRSTS
Friday (Oct. 30) marked a night where three Bowling Green players scored their first goal in their Falcon careers. Brian Potacco (So., F), Nathan Pageau (Fr., F) and Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Fr., F) netted goals against the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks, accounting for all the BG scoring in the game. Pageau also tallied his first career assist on Samuels-Thomas' goal prior to scoring his own goal.
The night also marked the first time Bowling Green participated in a shootout during conference regular season play. Samuels-Thomas scored the only goal during the shootout, beating UNO goalie John Faulkner stick-side for the win.
JST' NAMED CCHA R.O.W.
Freshman forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas was named the CCHA Rookie of the Week by the conference office for the week of Nov. 9. This is his first such honor after posting a four-point weekend against No. 9 Alaska on Nov. 13-14. Samuels-Thomas scored the first goal in Friday night's contest en route to the first Falcon win of the season and then followed up on Saturday night with a goal and two assists in the series finale. Samuels-Thomas is in the top ten in five different offensive categories with his 5-5--10 line this season.
MORE PRAISE FOR SOLWAY
Every week the BGSU athletic communications department carefully sifts through all the accomplishments Falcon student-athletes complete through the course of the week and select a male and female representative to highlight based on their performances in their respective sport. On Nov. 16, senior David Solway was selected to be the Papa John's Male Athlete of the Week following his four-point weekend against No. 9 Alaska. Solway tallied two goals and two assists while BGSU collected its first win this season against the Nanooks on Friday, Nov. 13.
GYMNAST OR GOALIE?
On the same night three Falcons, including two freshmen, scored their first career goals at the college level, freshman goaltender Andrew Hammond 'stood on his head' and posted a career night in net. Against UNO on Friday (Oct. 30), Hammond made a career-high 43 saves on 46 Maverick shots over 65:00, allowing only three goals to Nebraska Omaha. Nineteen of those saves came in the second period alone. He then took his position between the posts for the overtime shootout and saved all three UNO attempts to solidify the BGSU shootout win.
'JuST' A GREAT START
In his debut as a Falcon, freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas (nicknamed “JST”) shot out of the gate by scoring a team-leading three points in his first weekend of play. Samuels-Thomas received assists on three goals, two in the first game of his career, against Minnesota State (Oct. 9-10). The last Falcon freshman to score a point in the team's season opener was Kevin Schmidt (2005-2009) when he scored a power-play goal versus Merrimack on Oct. 14, 2005. The last freshman to score multiple points in his debut in brown and orange was Jonathan Matumoto on Oct. 22, 2004 when he scored a goal and two assists at Union College. Samuels-Thomas is only the sixth freshman to score in a BG season opener.
FALCONS DRAW TOUGH CLUSTER
Completing the BGSU schedule cluster will be conference foes No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Notre Dame and Michigan State. The Falcons will face each team four times through the course of the season. The Falcons went a combined 2-6 against these teams a season ago and were outscored 30-10 over eight games.
Notre Dame: 0-4-0 vs. ND in 2008-09... outscored by ND 21-6 in four games... scored one goal in three of the four games played... outshot in all four games versus the Irish (118-92)... ND went 10-of-28 (.357) on the power play against BGSU in 2008-09.
Michigan: 1-1 vs. UM in 2008-09... outscored UM 3-1 in two games... posted the only shutout win against UM in BGSU history in a 3-0 win (Jan. 16)... BG held the Wolverines to zero goals on 13 power play opportunities in those games... will open Lucas County Arena (Toledo, Ohio) officially with a CCHA contest on Nov. 21.
Michigan State: 1-1-0 vs. MSU in 2008-09... finished the regular-season with a 4-0 win at home over MSU on Feb. 21... outscored MSU 6-3 in the two-game series... outshot MSU 73-51 in that span... BG faired better on power play by converting two of their 11 chances, as opposed to MSU going 1-11... will be the first time BGSU and MSU have met more than twice in a season since 2000-01 (two regular season games, one post-season - MSU wins series 2-0-1).
BOWLING GREEN ON NATIONAL TELEVISION THIS SEASON
Bowling Green hockey will be displayed on a national setting twice for the 2009-10 season. The first occurrence will be during the away contest at Michigan on Feb. 9, 2010. That game will be broadcast on Comcast Cable at 7:35 p.m. The second occasion will be at Michigan State on Feb. 26, 2010 when Fox Sports Network-Detroit will air the Falcons and the Spartans dropping the puck at 6:05 p.m. Select BGSU home games will be broadcast locally on BCSN.
HAPPY (40TH) BIRTHDAY FALCON HOCKEY!!
A year after celebrating the 25th anniversary of the school's only national championship dating back to the magical 1983-84 season, ending with a quadruple overtime victory over Minnesota-Duluth, Bowling Green State University will celebrate its 40th year of varsity hockey. The first varsity hockey team was fielded in 1969 and had Division-III status as a part of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA).
In their first contest on November 14, 1969 the Falcons, led by head coach Jack Vivian, played Windsor University and came away with an 8-2 win for their first official collegiate victory. The 1969-70 team would go on to post a 13-12-5 overall record and finish in first place in the WCHA with a 6-1-1 mark. In their two years in the MCHA, Bowling Green would finish with a combined record of 31-24-6 (13-2-1 MCHA) with two conference first place finishes.
In 1971, BGSU would be one of four schools to charter the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) along with Ohio University, Ohio State University and Saint Louis University. Along with the conference creation, Bowling Green would also garner Division-I status in hockey. In the program's first games under these new stipulations BGSU would thump Ryerson Polytechnical Institute by scores of 9-3 and 9-0. In the Falcons' first CCHA contest, they would beat Ohio University, 5-2. During the 1971-72 season, the Falcons would finish 21-10-2 overall and 6-4-2 in conference play, good for third place.
Bowling Green is the only member of the CCHA to remain an active member for all 39 years (including this year) of the conference's existence. Ohio State left the CCHA during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, but returned for the 1975-76 season.
After 39 years, BGSU has an all-time record of 789-669-94 (.540). Bowling Green's 478 CCHA wins is good for third among current conference teams. Last season, the Falcons finished 11-24-3 overall and 8-19-1 in conference play, placing 12th in the CCHA. They would be bumped from the CCHA Tournament in the first round by Ohio State after 5-4 and 7-1 losses at the hands of the Buckeyes.
