Bowling Green State University Athletics
Pair Of Falcons Earn WCHA Weekly Honors
November 05, 2013 | Ice Hockey
Dan DeSalvo and Ralfs Freibergs earn WCHA Player of the Week honors for their strong play over the past week.
WCHA Release
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- A pair of Bowling Green State University men's ice hockey skaters have been rewarded for their strong play over the past week. Junior Dan DeSalvo and sophomore Ralfs Freibergs were both named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Week, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
DeSalvo, who had points in all three of his team's games last week and led all league players with four points overall, has been named the WCHA Men's Offensive Player of the Week for November 5, 2013.
A 5-8, 170-pound junior from Rolling Meadows, Ill., DeSalvo had one goal, three assists, four points and 10 shots on goal as the Falcons went 2-1-0 against Ohio State and Alaska Anchorage.
He started the week off last Tuesday (Oct. 29) night at Ohio State with the game-opening tally in the first period and five shots on goal in a 5-3 loss. Then in back-to-back WCHA victories over visiting Alaska Anchorage last Friday (Nov. 1) and Saturday (Nov. 2) at the BGSU Ice Arena, DeSalvo earned one of the three star awards both nights. He had two assists, three shots and was the Second Star in the 6-1 series-opening victory and then drew an assist, his 60th collegiate point, on teammate Brent Tate's first period game-winner and was the Third star in a 1-0 win in game two.
The two victories over UAA enabled Bowling Green to launch their first season in the WCHA with a 2-0 conference mark.
Meanwhile, defenseman Ralfs Freibergs, who played a key role at both ends of the ice in three games against Ohio State and Alaska Anchorage last week, has been named the WCHA Men's Defensive Player of the Week for November 5, 2013.
A 5-11, 190-pound sophomore from Riga, Lativa, Freibergs helped the Falcons kill 14 of 15 opponent power-play opportunities during the week while drawing three assists. In a 6-1 league win over visiting Alaska Anchorage last Friday (Nov. 1) night, he had two assists and earned a +1 plus/minus rating and then came back on Saturday (Nov. 2) with an assist on teammate Brent Tate's game-winning goal and another +1 rating as Bowling Green completed the sweep over the Seawolves with a 1-0 triumph.
Freibergs played a vital role in the defensive end for the Falcons in all three contests, helping hold the three opponents to a combined total of 64 shots on goal. Through eight games this season, he is tied for second among league defensemen with seven points (7a) in eight games.
Freshman forward Kyle Schempp of Ferris State was named the league's Rookie Player of the Week after scoring a goal in each game and added an assist for three points over the weekend. In addition to his three points in the series, Schempp had seven shots on goal and earned a +2 plus/minus rating over the weekend.
Bowling Green will take the ice this weekend (Nov. 8-9) at the Verizon Wireless Center to take on the 18th-ranked Mavericks of Minnesota State. It will be the first time the Falcons will play the Mavericks since 2009, and the first time the two will meet in a WCHA conference game.
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