Hockey to Conclude Regular Season at Alabama Huntsville

No. 15 Bowling Green Falcons (19-9-6, 16-5-5-2 WCHA)
vs.
Alabama Huntsville Chargers (10-20-2, 9-15-2-1 WCHA)

GAME INFORMATION	Friday, Feb. 23, 7:07 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 24, 4:07 p.m. ET
LOCATION	Huntsville, Alabama (Von Braun Center)
RADIO	Falcon Radio Network (Ryan Vallon)
LIVE STATS	UAHChargers.com
LISTEN ONLINE	BGSUFalcons.com
GAME NOTES	Bowling Green
WATCH ONLINE	WCHA.tv

>>FALCONS ON TAP

The Bowling Green hockey program will complete the regular season this weekend as it flocks south to take on Alabama Huntsville in WCHA action. The Falcons and Chargers will face off on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 and will look to pick up a critical six points to improve in the WCHA standings. Friday's game is set for a 6:07 p.m. local / 7:07 p.m. Eastern start, while Saturday's non-traditional puck drop is set for 3:07 p.m. local / 4:07 p.m. Eastern slot.

>>VERSUS ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE

All-time, Bowling Green holds the 21-4-2 advantage over Alabama Huntsville, and is currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak against the Chargers.
In four meetings last season, the Falcons outscored Alabama Huntsville by a 21-4 mark for a 4-0 record in the 2016-17 campaign, including a pair of shutouts in February.
Earlier this season against the Chargers at home, the Falcons settled for a 3-3 tie on Friday evening but rebounded with a 3-1 victory on Saturday. On Friday, the Falcons successfully killed all seven penalties on the night plus one in 3-on-3 play, allowing just six shots on goal during the kills and recording one shorthanded goal, although UAH picked up the extra WCHA point in the second round of the shootout. For a complete recap of the game, click HERE.
In Saturday's victory, the Falcons outshot the Chargers 42-12 for a 3-1 win in which Alec Rauhauser, Connor McDonald and Stephen Baylis picked up goals. For a complete recap of the victory, click HERE.
By its overall record of 10-20-2 and WCHA record of 9-15-2, Alabama Huntsville sits tied for sixth in the conference. The Chargers are currently on a two-game losing streak after being swept by then-No. 5 Minnesota State.

>>NATIONALLY RANKED

2nd: Alec Rauhauser – Defenseman Points per Game (0.97)
4th: Brandon Kruse – Freshman Points per Game (0.85)
T-8th: Stephen Baylis – Shorthanded Goals (2)
T-8th: Mitch McLain – Shorthanded Goals (2)
13th: Ryan Bednard – Winning Percentage (.650)
14th: Eric Dop – Winning Percentage (.643)
16th: Alec Rauhauser – Assists per Game (0.76)
T-16th: Max Johnson – Power Play Goals (7)
17th: Max Johnson – Freshman Points per Game (0.74)
T-18th: Cameron Wright – Freshman Points per Game (0.73)
21st: Ryan Bednard – Goals Against Average (2.32)
T-25th: Frederic Letourneau – Game-Winning Goals (3)
T-27th: Cameron Wright – Power Play Goals (6)
29th: Ryan Bednard – Save Percentage (.910)
29th: Eric Dop – Goals Against Average (2.52)
33rd: Brandon Kruse – Assists per Game (0.68)
46th: Alec Rauhauser – Points per Game (0.97)

>>ABOUT LAST WEEKEND

Last weekend the Falcons clinched a minimum of a No. 3 seed for the WCHA Playoffs as it swept Alaska Anchorage on the road. On Thursday, the Falcons earned a 5-2 victory, before fighting for a 2-1 win on Friday.
On Thursday, four players featured multi-point performances, including Lukas Craggs (2G), Max Johnson (1G, 1A), Alec Rauhauser (2A) and Brandon Kruse (2A), while 10 players appeared on the box score with at least one point.
It was the third time of the season and his career that sophomore Lukas Craggs recorded a multi-goal game.
Between the pipes, sophomore goaltender Ryan Bednard tallied 26 saves and just two goals against, improving to 11-5-4 on the season. The native of Macomb, Mich. stopped a high of 13 shots on goal in the narrow second period of play, while on the season Bednard has also allowed two goals or less in 13 of his 20 appearances this season.
With a four-goal third period, it marked the third time this season that the Falcons have notched four goals in a single period, two of which occurred in the third.
Four Falcons began two-game point streaks including Tyler Spezia (2G), Connor Ford (1G, 1A), Brandon Kruse(3A) and Lukas Craggs (2G, 1A) by earning points both nights against the Seawolves.
Highlighting the box score on the weekend was senior Tyler Spezia, who scored in back-to-back games, including his 10th of the season as the game-winner to seal the sweep.
Between the pipes on Friday, freshman Eric Dop registered 16 saves, including a game-high of seven in the third period. On the season the Lewis Center, Ohio native improves to 8-4-2 record and .901 save percentage, and has now allowed two goals or less in nine of his 15 appearances this season.
The Falcons recorded a perfect penalty kill on the weekend, as they burned all five on Friday night and seven on the weekend against the Seawolves. It was the 14th time the Falcons have held its opponent scoreless on the power play this season.

>>STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

Of the Falcons 34 games thus far, a freshman has appeared on the box score with a point in 32 of them. Similarly, sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser has recorded a point in 23 of the 34 games on the season.
Freshman Max Johnson is hitting his stride as he has scored a goal in six of the last nine games. Additionally, senior Mitch McLain has tallied 14 points in the last 13 games.
Of his 10 goals this season, freshman Max Johnson has scored a team-leading seven on the man advantage, while ranks 16th in the nation of all Division I players.
The Falcons remain undefeated when scoring four or more goals (11-0-0), as well as when they are leading after two periods (14-0-4). Other notable records include a 14-1-5 mark when scoring first, and an 11-1-2 record when holding its opponent scoreless on the power play.
With the opening goal in Friday's 7-2 win over Michigan Tech, senior Mitch McLain completed a career-long 10-game point streak, where he held 13 points (six goals, seven assists). McLain looks to join the 100 point club soon, as he carries 94 points in his 154 career games played after Alaska Anchorage.
In Sunday's 3-0 win at Ferris State (Jan. 7), sophomore goaltender Ryan Bednard earned his second career shutout with 27 saves, including a game-high of 12 in the opening period of play. It marked the first shutout for the Falcons since Feb. 25, 2017 (vs. Alabama Huntsville) and first shutout on the road since March 5, 2016 (at Alabama Huntsville).
After scoring his team-leading sixth career shorthanded goal, senior Mitch McLain has officially joined the Bowling Green hockey record book and sits tied for fifth in program history.
With 44 shots on goal at Ferris State (Feb. 6), the Bowling Green hockey program set a new season-high on the year. The mark included a season-best of 21 shots on goal in the third period alone, to shatter its previous season-high of 42 (vs. Alabama Huntsville, Dec. 9).
Getting the Falcons on the board on Saturday night against UAA was junior Chris Pohlkamp as he scored his second career goal and first since Oct. 31, 2015. Pohlkamp is the 18th different player to score a goal for the Falcons during the 2017-18 season, while both of his career goals have come against the Seawolves.
The Falcons momentum stems from a big tournament appearance, as they earned its first Great Lakes Invitational championship title in program history. In its first year at Little Caesar's Arena, three Falcons were named to the All-Tournament Team in Lukas Craggs, Alec Rauhauser and Eric Dop. Additionally, Craggs became the Falcons first GLI MVP in program history after his five points through two games played.
In the GLI, Bowling Green opened the tournament with a 6-4 win over Michigan, making it the Falcons second win over a Big Ten team this season, after downing Michigan State at home 4-2 (Oct. 13). It was also the first win over Michigan since Jan. 8, 2013, and the Falcons are now on a two-game win streak against the Wolverines. It was also the first win against Michigan at a neutral site in program history (1-6 record).
The Falcons 2-2 tie against the RedHawks earlier this season was highlighted with a penalty shot attempt by freshman Brandon Kruse. A native of Saline, Mich., Kruse scored to put the Falcons up 1-0 with just 00:34 remaining in the first period. Bowling Green is now .500 all-time in penalty shots with 12 goals on 24 attempts, including a 9-for-13 (.692) success rate at the Slater Family Ice Arena. When attempting a penalty shot, the Falcons are 12-9-2 all-time, as well as 7-3-2 when they are successful.
Seven Falcons have now tallied their first career goals thus far in the season, most recently being freshman Justin Wells, who put the Falcons up 2-0 over the Wolverines in the GLI Semifinals in just a 1:09 span. Other Falcons who have tallied their first career goals this season include freshmen Cameron Wright, Brandon Kruse, Connor Ford, Sam Craggs, and Max Johnson, in addition to junior Shane Bednard.

>>SIGHTS ON SHORTIES

After notching his team-leading sixth career shorthanded goal against Ferris State (Jan. 7), senior Mitch McLain has officially joined the Bowling Green hockey record book. The captain is now tied for fifth in program history with six career shorthanded goals, including two in each of the last two seasons.
The Falcons featured two shorthanded goals in a game against the Lakers on Nov. 11, one by each McLain and Baylis. On the Bowling Green squad, McLain (5), John Schilling (1), Lukas Craggs (1) and Baylis (1) have all tallied a shorty in their career.

>>EYES ON CENTURY MEN

Senior Mitch McLain: 154 games played, 49 goals – 45 assists – 94 points
Senior Tyler Spezia: 140 games played, 34 goals – 36 assists – 70 points
Senior Brett D'Andrea: 124 games played, 21 goals – 28 assists – 49 points
Junior Connor McDonald: 113 games played, 6 goals – 18 assists – 24 points
Junior Stephen Baylis: 108 games played, 21 goals – 37 assists – 58 points
Junior John Schilling: 103 games played, 12 goals – 19 assists – 31 points
Junior Chris Pohlkamp: 97 games played, 2 goals – 21 assists – 23 points

>>STANDOUT SOPHOMORE AT THE BLUE LINE

Sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser earned his first career WCHA weekly award when he was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts at then-No. 5 Minnesota State. Rauhauser was then named to his first career WCHA Defensive Player of the Month award in November for notching seven points in eight games played, as well as Player of the Week for a three-point performance in the Great Lakes Invitational. Most recently, Rauhauser picked up his second career WCHA Defenseman of the Month accolade after tallying 14 points in January's 10 games played.
A native of Bismarck, N.D., Rauhauser matched his career-high three point night, and marked his first career multi-goal game by a pair of power play goals and an assist against then-No. 5 Minnesota State. On the weekend against the Mavericks, Rauhauser also led the Bowling Green squad with seven shots on goal helping them earn the split against the nationally ranked program.
Rauhauser went on a career-best six-game point streak this season (Dec. 9-Jan. 7), a span in which he has tallied two goals and six assists for eight points. Rauhauser has also only been held off the box score in 11 of the Falcons 34 games this season.
Last month against Alaska Anchorage, Rauhauser matched his career-high three-point night when he earned a trio of assists in the 6-2 victory on Friday night.
On the season, Rauhauser averages 0.97 points per game, which sits second the nation for all defensemen, as well as first overall in the WCHA. The Bismarck, N.D. native has 33 points through 34 games played by seven goals and 26 assists.

>>BROTHERLY LOVE

In Saturday's 3-3 tie against Bemidji State, freshman Sam Craggs tallied his first career goal for the Falcons as he lifted them to a 2-1 lead in the final minutes of the second period. To force an overtime session, older brother Lukas Craggs notched his third of the season with the extra skater and just 00:54 remaining in regulation.
More connections were recently made between the Craggs brothers when elder brother Lukas fed the puck to Sam Craggs to tie the game at 3-3 against Ferris State (Jan. 6). Lukas Craggs also went on to notch a goal of his own in the 6-3 win to seal a four-goal third period for the Falcons.
Not a first for Bowling Green this season, junior Shane Bednard also posted his first career goal with his brother on the ice. The older Bednard brother scored the Falcons second even strength goal at Michigan State (Oct. 14), as his younger brother Ryan Bednard tended the net with 32 saves and three goals against.

>>PRESEASON POLLS PEG BOWLING GREEN

The Bowling Green hockey program was voted to finish fourth overall in both the 2017 Mankato Free Press WCHA Coaches' and the UAHhockey.com WCHA Media preseason polls.
For the upcoming season, the Falcons return nine of 12 forwards who appeared in the WCHA Championship, as well as five of seven defensemen for the 2017-18 campaign, resulting in Bowling Green garnering 90 points in the coaches' preseason poll. The Falcons also had one vote for the top finish on the year in the media preseason poll.
Senior forward Mitch McLain was voted to Preseason All-WCHA First Team honors by both the coaches and media, in addition to receiving votes for Preseason WCHA Player of the Year by the media.
Also receiving votes for Preseason All-WCHA Teams were senior forward Tyler Spezia and sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser.

>>2017-18 FALCON HOCKEY OUTLOOK

The Falcons return nine of 12 forwards who appeared in the WCHA Championship, in addition to five of seven defensemen for the 2017-18 campaign. In goal, the Falcons will return Florida Panthers draftee Ryan Bednard, who marked a 2.70 GAA and .882 save percentage.
Bowling Green adds a class of nine freshmen to the 2017-18 squad, including two goaltenders, two defensemen and five forwards.
The Falcons return 2016-17 leading scorer in senior forward Mitch McLain, who tallied 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points and will be leading as the Falcons captain for the 2017-18 campaign. A native of Baxter, Minn., McLain also led the team on the ice with a plus-19 rating.
By registering 30 points last season, the Falcons also return its third highest scorer in senior forward Tyler Spezia, who will serve as the team's assistant captain.
As a unit, the Falcons return four players who tallied 20 or more points last season, and nine players who registered double-digit points.

>>RETURNING FROM A RECORD YEAR

With an overall record of 21-18-2, the Falcons marked its third consecutive 20+ win season and fourth straight winning season. Bowling Green had records of 22-14-6 in the 2015-16 campaign, following a 23-11-5 record in the 2014-15 season. Last year was the 21^st season that the Falcons have tallied a 20-plus win season.
The Falcons went on a seven-game win streak entering the WCHA Championship, the longest of Coach Bergeron's career and longest of the Bowling Green hockey team since the 1987-88 campaign; a year in which the team clinched its last conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
By competing in the WCHA Championship in March, it marked Bowling Green's first conference championship appearance since 1988.
The WCHA saw a total of nine hat tricks on the year, with Bowling Green accounting for four of those. Mitch McLain marked two on the year, posting the two three-goal performances in a three week span.
Leading the Falcons offensively was Mitch McLain. On the season, McLain earned a total of six conference awards (2x POTM, 3x POTW, All-WCHA First Team), in addition to being named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and to WCHA All-Academic honors.
Bowling Green saw extensive time in the penalty box, and ranked ninth in the nation with a total of 631 minutes for 15.4 minutes per game. The Falcons were one of five WCHA schools in the top ten in the category.
Bowling Green accumulated 10 WCHA Players of the Week, three WCHA Players of the Month, WCHA Championship Third Star of the Game, NCAA Hockey No. 1 Star of the Week, No. 4 spot on SportCenter's Top 10 Plays of the Night over the course of the 2016-17 season.

>>ON THE MIC

All games this season can be heard on the radio by tuning into the Falcon Radio Network and can be heard globally on www.bgsufalcons.com and WBGUFM.com. Falcon Hockey play-by-play broadcaster Ryan Vallon will begin the pregame show 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off, and can also be heard on WTOD/WQQO-HD2 (Talk Radio 100.7) and WLQR-FM (106.5 The Ticket).

>>WCHA.tv

For as low as 60¢ per game for the 2017-18 season, Bowling Green hockey fans can watch all regular season home games as well as all Western Collegiate Hockey Association matchups live or on-demand with WCHA.tv – the Association's official online streaming platform. WCHA.tv provides fans with high-quality, HD broadcasts (when available from the originating arena) on multiple platforms, including – new for this season – TV-connected devices via custom apps on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
A WCHA.tv Season Pass would provide Bowling Green hockey fans 32 regular season games, including 14 of the team's 18 road matchups. It would also include all of the Falcons' action in the 2018 WCHA Playoffs. Bowling Green's first official WCHA.tv broadcast will be on Friday, Oct. 13 as the team hosts Michigan State at 7:37 p.m.

>>LIVE STATS

Live stats for all Bowling Green home games and road matchups are available on the BGSU website at BGSUFalcons.com. Navigate to the hockey schedule for links to all available ways to follow the action while the Falcons are both at home and on the road.

>>FOLLOW THE FALCONS

Twitter: @BGFalconHockey and @BGathletics
Instagram: @BGFalconHockey and @BGFalcons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BGSUathletic
Snapchat: bgathletics
Ticketing Information: https://spark.adobe.com/page/1D4rbBUtBaXtr/

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Stephen Baylis

Ryan Bednard

Shane Bednard

Lukas Craggs

Sam Craggs

Brett D'Andrea

Eric Dop

Connor Ford

Max Johnson

Brandon Kruse

Frederic Letourneau

Connor McDonald

Mitch McLain

Chris Pohlkamp

Alec Rauhauser

John Schilling

Tyler Spezia

Justin Wells

Cameron Wright

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