Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Alaska Anchorage
Falcons Host Alaska Anchorage In WCHA Opener
October 31, 2013 | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY FALCONS
vs.
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
NOV. 1, 2013
 BGSU Ice Arena
7:07 p.m.
Live Stats | Games Notes | Audio
Live Coverage: Sentinel-Tribune (Kevin Gordon) | BG News | BGSUHockey.com
About Alaska Anchorage
The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Alaska Anchorage has made a total of three NCAA Tournament appearances (1991, 1991, 1992) and won the Great West Hockey Conference (GWHC) Regular Season Championship in 1986-87. The Seawolves play at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska.
All-Time Series
The Falcons and Seawolves have met a total of two times, dating back to 1988 when the Orange and Brown swept Alaska Anchorage on their home ice. The first ever meeting between the two teams took place on Oct. 14, 1988, when the Falcons defeated the Seawolves 7-2. The teams took the ice once again the following day (Oct. 15, 1988) as Bowling Green won 10-2. The Falcons hold a 2-0-0 record against the Seawolves.
WCHA Is Here
This weekend will open conference play for the Falcons against an unfamiliar face in the University of Alaska Anchorage. It will mark the first time on over 40 years Bowling Green won't play a CCHA opener. Alaska Anchorage is the first of nine teams the Falcons will face over their six-month schedule. Alabama Huntsville, Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, and Northern Michigan will join both Alaska Anchorage and Bowling Green to form the new 10-team WCHA.
Clean Slate
Bowling Green will enter WCHA play with a clean slate in conference openers. Over the past 13 years the Falcons have not seen much success in conference openers, coming away only 2-10-1 during that time. Bowling Green was 1-7-1 at the BGSU Ice Arena, and 1-3 on the road.
The Last Game (Ohio State University)
The Bowling Green State University lost to Ohio State University Tuesday night (Oct. 29), falling to the Buckeyes by a score of 5-3. Playing in front of 1,782 fans at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the Falcons saw three different players score Falcon goals, while freshman goaltender Tomas Sholl stopped 23-of-27 shots he faced.
Willy Leading By Example
Senior forward Bryce Williamson is first overall in the WCHA for point scoring. Over his first six games Williamson has nine total points (5g, 4a), giving him an average of 1.50 points per game. Williamson has scored a goal in four consecutive games for the Falcons, including at least one point in five of his first six games.
Scoring Duo
Senior forward Bryce Williamson and sophomore forward Ben Murphy lead Bowling Green in goals scored with five each on the season. The scoring duo are tied for first overall in the WCHA in goal scoring, averaging 0.83 goals per game. Williamson is currently on a four-game goal streak, while Murphy has five goals in a four-game stretch.
Lending A Helping Stick
Junior forward Dan DeSalvo leads the WCHA in assists with five, averaging 0.83 assists per game. DeSalvo had four helpers in the 7-0 victory over Colgate University on Oct. 19, giving him a new single game career-high for assists in a game. The outburst set a new single game career-high, doubling his previous-best of two.
Hafner Continues
Junior defenseman Rusty Hafner continues to make an impact on both ends of the ice. Hafner picked up his third assist of the season this past Tuesday (Oct. 29) against the Ohio State Buckeyes, marking his third-straight game in which he has had an assist. On the year, Hafner has a +4 on ice rating and seven blocked shots, while only serving one penalty.
Going Streaking
Three Falcons' are all on current point streaks on the year, as Bryce Williamson has the longest of four games (4g, 4a). Dan DeSalvo (1g, 4a) and Rusty Hafner (3 assists) also are on current Falcon point streaks. It marks the second week that Falcons have had at least two players on point streaks on the year.
Three Goals Or More
The Falcons scored three goals on Tuesday night, marking the fourth time this season they have scored at least three times in a game, giving them an average of 3.33 goals per game. During that time, the Falcons scored seven goals against Colgate on Oct. 19, marking the first time the Orange and Brown won by at least seven goals in a regular season since Dec. 30, 2005 when they defeated Connecticut 9-2. It also marked the first time the Falcons scored at least seven goals in a shut out victory in a regular season game since Oct. 11, 1996 when they defeated Toronto 9-0.
Stronger As The Game Goes?
The Falcons have scored 20 goals this season, recording a better goal differential per period as the game goes on. Bowling Green has scored four goals in the first period and eight goals in both the second and third period. The Falcons have a -1 goal differential after the first period, however, a +1 and +3 goal differential over the final two periods has helped them outscore their opponents 20-17 this season.
On The Positive Side
The Falcons currently have 10 players with a positive plus/minus on-ice rating. Freshman Sean Walker and junior Adam Berkle lead Bowling Green with a +5 plus/minus rating, while Marcus Perrier and Rusty Hafner each have a +4 plus/minus on-ice rating. The Orange and Brown finished with exactly 10 players last year with a positive on-ice rating, as then senior Bobby Shea lead all Falcons' with a +17.
Power-Play Goals
Bowling Green scored another power-play goal last Tuesday against the Buckeyes, marking the fifth time in six games the Falcons' scored on the power play. Bryce Williamson scored the lone power-play goal last Tuesday, giving him three of his five goals with the man-advantage. On the year, Williamson is second overall in the WCHA in power-play points (3-1--4) with an average of 0.67 power-play points per game. Williamson is also tied fourth overall in the nation for power-play goals.
Penalty Kill Success
The Falcons' special teams has been much stronger as of late. Bowling Green went a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill against Ohio State last Tuesday, including a five-minute major. The Orange and Brown has not allowed a power-play goal dating back to Oct. 15 when the Falcons' defeated the Buckeyes at the BGSU Ice Arena, and has gone a perfect 11-for-11 since then. On the year, Bowling Green is 30-for-37 (81.1%) on the penalty kill.
Month Of October
The Hockey team ended the month of October with an overall record of 2-2-2, improving their opening month record from last season's 1-4-2 record in the opening month.
Bowling Green WCHA Ranks
Scoring Offense:Â Â Â 3.33 G/GM (T-3rd)
Scoring Defense:Â Â Â 2.83 G/GM (T-7th)
Power Play:Â Â Â 22.6% (1st)
Penalty Kill:Â Â Â 81.1% (8th)
Bowling Green Leaders
Points: Bryce Williamson (9)
Goals: Bryce Williamson/Ben Murphy (5)
Assists: Dan DeSalvo (5)
Shots: Bryce Williamson (25)
Penalties: Sean Walker (11 - 33:00)
Coaches Poll     Â
1 Minnesota State (9) Â Â Â 81
2 Ferris State              65
3 Michigan Tech (1) Â Â Â Â Â Â 64
4 Bowling Green          58
5 Alaska                     54
6 Northern Michigan      40
7 Bemidji State             35
8 Lake Superior State     25
9 Alaska Anchorage      18
10 Alabama Huntsville    10
Media Poll
1. Minnesota State (22) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 244
2. Ferris State (2) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 218
3. Alaska                             168
4. Bowling Green State        149
5. Michigan Tech                  144
6. Northern Michigan           137
7. Lake Superior State         117
8. Bemidji State (1) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 108
9. Alaska Anchorage           54
10. Alabama Huntsville        36
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Radio
All games this season can be heard on the radio by tuning into 88.1 WBGU-FM. Kevin Meyers will provide the play-by-play commentary. The pregame show will air 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. The broadcast can be heard globally on www.bgsufalcons.com.
LiveStats
Live stats for all BGSU home games are available on the BGSU website- www.bgsufalcons.com - via Live Scoring. The stats can be accessed from the schedule page in the hockey section of the website by clicking on the "details" icon on the right hand side of the page, then by clicking "live scoring".
Looking at Alaska Anchorage
2012-13 Returners:
| GOALS | ASSISTS | POINTS |
| 1. SCOTT ALLEN (12) | 1. BAKE TATCHELL (16) | 1. BLAKE TATCHELL (25) |
| 2. BLAKE TATCHELL (9) | 2. MATT BAILEY (12) | 2. SCOTT ALLEN (19) |
| 3. MATT BAILEY (7) | 3. SCOTT ALLEN (7) | 3. MATT BAILEY (19) |
Seawolves Key Returners:
Blake Tatchell #9
Forward
North Battleford, Sask.
Key Statistics: Named Team MVP and Rookie of the year...lead UAA in points (25), and had six multi-point games. No. 20 in the nation and No. 7 in the WCHA with 0.72 points per game last season.
Scott Allen #29
Forward
Edmonton, Alberta
Matt Bailey #21
Forward
Oakbank, Manitoba
