Bowling Green State University Athletics
Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Hockey In The 2010s
February 21, 2020 | Ice Hockey
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Bowling Green State University hockey at the varsity level, the BGSU Department of Athletics will take a look back at the history of the program. This is the final part of a five-part series looking back at each decade of the program. Today we review the era from 2010-19. BGSU will celebrate the 50th anniversary on Feb. 22 as the Falcons host Ferris State.
PART ONE: 1969-79
PART TWO: 1980-89
PART THREE: 1990-99
PART FOUR: 2000-09
2010-19
Overall Record: 166-177-52 (.486)
The Bowling Green State University hockey team began the decade with many questions about the future of the program, winning just five games in 2009-10. Thanks to the "Bring Back the Glory" campaign and the leadership of Chris Bergeron, the Falcons closed the decade with the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1990. It was a near-impossible turnaround, but Bowling Green was able to return to the national spotlight after a stretch of frustrating seasons.
Former Falcon Dennis Williams was named interim head coach in June 2009 after Scott Paluch departed for USA Hockey. Williams scored 12 goals for BGSU as a player, including the lone goal in a 1997 victory over No. 1 Michigan State. The Falcons' roster featured eight seniors and ten freshmen, and they finished with a 5-25-6 record. At the start of that season, Bowling Green State University started the "Bring Back the Glory" campaign. The campaign had a goal of raising $5 million to solidify the future of the program. Falcon legends from the past were integral in the fundraising. Jack Vivian, the program's first head coach, donated $250,000 to kick start the campaign. The committee included Rob Blake, who was an NHL defenseman at the time, and Garry Galley and Mike Pikul, who were members of the 1984 NCAA Championship team.
While the fundraising goals were achieved, the program still needed a head coach to officially bring back the glory. Athletics Director Greg Christopher named Chris Bergeron as the program's seventh head coach, and Bergeron rebuilt a conference powerhouse throughout the decade. In just his second season, the No. 11-seeded Falcons reached the CCHA semifinals. Their second round victory over Ferris State was a landmark win for the program, as the Bulldogs were the CCHA regular season champions and the No. 2 team in the country. In the decisive third game of the series, BGSU trailed 3-0 at the end of the first period. Ryan Carpenter scored to trim the Bulldog lead to two, then Dan DeSalvo took over. The freshman scored the game's next two goals, tying the game with just over four minutes remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes into overtime, DeSalvo capped his iconic performance with a game-winning goal that sent the Falcons to the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. In the first six postseason games, DeSalvo tallied ten goals and three assists.
After the 2012-13 season, the CCHA dissolved. The Falcons joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and immediately became one of the conference's top teams. The Falcons tied for third place in their first season, once again winning an opening round playoff series. They repeated those achievements the next two seasons, winning over 20 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1994-96. Their Nov. 2014 matchup against Ohio State brought a crowd of 5,353 fans to the Madhouse on Mercer, the highest total in program history. The 2016-17 season featured another magical postseason run, with the Falcons playing in their first conference championship game since 1988. The late-season win streak featured a scoreless streak of over 220 minutes for goaltender Chris Nell, who earned wins in seven consecutive games. The following season, the Falcons were an overtime loss away from returning to the WCHA Championship. That season featured ACHA/CCM All-American Second Team honors for defenseman Alec Rauhauser, who scored a team-high 39 points.
The program's storied tradition added another chapter in 2018-19, with the Falcons returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost 30 years. The announcement was fittingly made on the 35th anniversary of the program's national championship. Bowling Green finished the season with 25 overall wins, 16 conference victories, a berth in the WCHA title game, and an NCAA Tournament berth. Just ten years after nearly losing the program, Bowling Green had a hockey program that was one of the top in the country.
Notable Win Streak – 7 games in 2016-17
Following a pair of overtime victories, Bowling Green lost three consecutive games to fall to 14-17-2. With just three regular season games remaining before the conference tournament, the Falcons needed a late push to clinch home ice in the first round of the WCHA Tournament. During the three-game losing streak, BGSU failed to net a single goal. However, the Falcons and goaltender Chris Nell flipped the script, closing the regular season with three consecutive shutout victories. The streak began with a 3-0 victory over Mercyhurst, a game that also served as the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Bowling Green State University Ice Arena.
After nearly two weeks off, the Falcons returned to action for a weekend series against Alabama Huntsville. Kevin Dufour's hat trick was a key part of an offensive explosion for the Orange and Brown, who won the first game 7-0. The following night, BGSU scored two first period goals that proved more than enough thanks to Chris Nell. The senior goalie collected a season-high 38 saves, earning his third consecutive shutout and helping the Falcons claim home ice in the first round of the WCHA Tournament.
In the first game of the WCHA Tournament, Matt Pohlkamp led the Falcons to a 6-1 victory over Ferris Street. The alternate captain scored two goals and tallied two assists, with captain Sean Walker backing him with a goal and two assists. Brett D'Andrea and Tyler Spezia also had multiple-point nights, tallying two assists each. Chris Nell allowed just one goal, which ended his scoreless streak at 220:18, the longest in program history. He collected 27 saves on the night, with 15 coming in the final period.
The following night, the Falcons controlled the game early, scoring the game's first two goals. Ferris State answered with three straight scores, the final two coming in a span of 1:04. With less than eight minutes remaining, the Falcons trailed 3-2. A five-minute major penalty on the Bulldogs led to a Falcon power play with 6:40 on the clock. With just over a minute remaining on the power play, Kevin Dufour netted the game-tying goal. The power play continued, with freshman Alec Rauhauser scoring the go-ahead goal just 36 seconds later. Jeremy Spezia scored an empty-netter to ice the game with 33 seconds left, clinching a thrilling 5-3 victory for the Orange and Brown. With the win, BGSU extended their winning streak to five and advanced to the WCHA semifinals.
In the dramatic first game of the semifinals, Kevin Dufour collected his second hat trick in five games. He opened the game with a first period goal, then Matt Pohlkamp answered two Bemidji State goals with an early third period goal. The Beavers capitalized on a BGSU line change to take a 3-2 lead, but Dufour scored his second goal with 6:30 remaining in regulation. Chris Nell held strong between the pipes to send the game to overtime. The senior made 15 saves in the third period and a career-high 45 saves in the game. In overtime, Dufour notched his third goal of the night with just over 2:30 remaining. The victory gave the Falcons their sixth consecutive win and left them just 60 minutes away from a berth in the conference championship.
Bemidji State opened the second game with an early goal, but two familiar Falcons scored in the second and third periods. Kevin Dufour lit the lamp just 1:35 into the second period to tie the game, marking his 18th goal of the season and eighth goal in seven games. Less than four minutes into the final period, Matt Pohlkamp took a pass from Mitch McLain and netted the game-winning goal. This was the senior's ninth point of the tournament. Chris Nell once again kept the Falcons on top, finishing the game with 25 saves. The Falcons won their seventh straight game and advanced to the WCHA Championship for the first time in program history. Although they lost a double overtime battle to Michigan Tech, the Falcons finished with 21 wins and their longest win streak since 1987-88.
Notable Performance
The 2018-19 Falcons closed the first month of the season with a home-and-home series against Ohio State. In the first game of the series, BGSU traveled to Columbus and dominated, winning 8-2 over the fourth-ranked Buckeyes. Sophomore Max Johnson lit the lamp just 2:19 into the game, scoring a power play goal to put the Falcons on top. This was the first of seven consecutive goals for the Falcons, all coming in the first two periods. Four of those scores were on the power play, with Johnson tallying three for his first career hat trick.
The Falcons allowed two goals in the third period before Stephen Baylis netted a shorthanded goal to close the scoring. Johnson remains the last Falcon to score three power play goals in a game. The decisive victory set the tone for the rest of the season, as the Orange and Brown won 25 games, played in the WCHA Championship, and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Notable Players
Andrew Hammond (G): One of Bowling Green's most efficient goalies, current Buffalo Sabre Andrew Hammond ranks second in program history in minutes played. He spent 6,606:40 minutes between the pipes for the Falcons, racking up 3,030 saves in 119 games. He is one of just four goaltenders in school history to accumulate over 3,000 saves. Hammond's save percentage of .906 ranks seventh in school history and his goals against average of 2.84 is fifth.
Hammond was especially spectacular during the 2011-12 campaign, when he made 1,114 saves in 44 games. He was a stalwart for the Falcons during the CCHA Tournament, helping the Orange and Brown advance to the semifinals before suffering a double overtime loss to Michigan. His season minutes total of 2,651:18 is the most in program history. For his efforts, Hammond was named Jim Sears Most Valuable Player and Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player.
After spending a year and a half in the AHL, Hammond was called up to the Ottawa Senators in 2014. The following season, he made his first start, leading the Senators to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. He earned his first professional shutout two games later, a mark he achieved seven times as a Falcon. He allowed two goals or fewer in each of his first 12 starts, becoming the second player in NHL history to do so. He concluded the regular season with a 20-1-2 record, leading the Senators to the playoffs. "The Hamburglar" currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres, who recalled him on Feb. 9, 2020.
Sean Walker (D): In the two seasons Sean Walker was a captain, the Bowling Green hockey team won 43 games, including 29 in the WCHA. Walker was also a second team All-WCHA selection and WCHA All-Academic those two seasons. During the 2015-16 season, Walker led the team with 18 assists in 42 games. The following season, he was named Jim Sears Most Valuable Player. He was the program's Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and the Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player in 2014-15.
In Walker's four seasons, the Falcons won 84 games. As a senior, he led the program to the WCHA Championship for the first time. This was also the first time BGSU played in a conference championship since 1988. In 2018, Walker made his NHL debut and scored a point for the Los Angeles Kings. He scored his first career NHL goal on Dec. 31, 2018, a 3-2 overtime victory for the Kings. Walker also played in the 2019 AHL All-Star Game.
Ryan Carpenter (F): Another two-time captain for the Falcons, Ryan Carpenter led the 2013-14 squad to an 18-15-6 record, the program's first winning season since 1996-97. The Falcons played their first season in the WCHA that year, with Carpenter scoring four points in the first round of the tournament to send the Falcons to the WCHA Final Five. A Second Team All-CCHA and Academic All-WCHA selection, Carpenter led the team in scoring in two seasons. He was also the 2011-12 Rookie of the Year. He finished his career with 79 points in 100 games played.
Carpenter currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks, previously playing for the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights. He has scored 52 points in 190 games, scoring his first career goal for the Sharks in 2016. In 17 career playoff games, Carpenter has tallied five assists.
Mitch McLain (F): A four-year mainstay in the Falcon lineup, Mitch McLain helped the Falcons become a force in the WCHA and return to the national spotlight. McLain tallied 101 points in 161 games, including a team-high 33 points in 2016-17. He was a first team All-WCHA selection that season, leading the Falcons to the WCHA Championship for the first time in program history. The following season, McLain was named team captain and earned second team All-WCHA honors. He led the Falcons with 18 goals, returning to the conference semifinals for the second straight season.
McLain was also a three-time Academic All-WCHA selection. He earned honors as the WCHA Rookie of the Week, WCHA Forward of the Week, and WCHA Player of the Month. His career total of seven shorthanded goals is tied for fifth in program history. McLain currently plays for the Iowa Wild of the AHL, where he has tallied 25 points in 96 career games.
Notable Coach
Chris Bergeron (2010-19): Entering the 2009-10 season, the future of the Bowling Green hockey program was in jeopardy. The Falcons were led by interim head coach Dennis Williams and won just five games. Thanks to a donation from former coach Jack Vivian, Bowling Green had the funding to keep their varsity hockey program. However, the Orange and Brown needed a coach to lead them back to national prominence. Enter Chris Bergeron. The former Miami captain and assistant was hired in 2010, and he faced the tall task of resurrecting a program that was near its demise. In his first season, the Falcon won 10 games to double their win total from the previous season. Two of those wins came in the first round of the CCHA Tournament, the first time Bowling Green advanced past the first round since 2008.
Bergeron's second season featured 14 wins and even more postseason success. After another first round victory, the Falcons won an improbable series against Ferris State, the country's second-ranked team. A Dan DeSalvo overtime goal sent the No. 11-seeded Falcons to the CCHA semifinals, making them the lowest seed in conference history to play in the semifinals. The Falcons won 15 games the following season, including 10 in the CCHA. BGSU once again had success in the conference tournament, winning its opening round series against Lake Superior State. After losing the first game 2-0, the Falcons won the next two by a combined score of 13-3. Ryan Carpenter scored two goals in the 6-3 game two victory, then Dan DeSalvo netted two scores in the 7-0 game three victory.
The 2013-14 season was Bergeron's first winning season as BGSU's head coach. In their first season in the newly formed WCHA, the Falcons tied for third in regular season play to earn home ice in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Orange and Brown took advantage of the home crowd, sweeping Michigan Tech in the first round to help them finish with an overall record of 18-15-6. The Falcons improved to 23 wins the following season, their highest win total since 1995-96. This season featured another home playoff sweep, as well as the program's first outdoor contest, a 2-2 tie against Robert Morris.
2015-16 saw much of the same success for the Falcons, who won 22 games and finished third in the WCHA regular season standings. They won another opening round series, rebounding from a game one loss to defeat Bemidji State. Although the Falcons hovered around .500 the following season, a late-season win streak pushed them to a home series in the conference tournament. The win streak extended through the first round and the semifinals of the WCHA Tournament. Kevin Dufour and Matt Pohlkamp dominated throughout the streak, with Dufour earning a pair of hat tricks and Pohlkamp scoring nine points in the first four tournament games. A thrilling victory of Bemidji State gave the Falcons their first conference championship game berth since 1988. The Orange and Brown took Michigan Tech to two overtimes before falling, but the postseason run marked the return of prominent hockey in Bowling Green.
Bergeron's run of 20-win seasons continued in 2017-18, when the Falcons went 23-12-6. Their stellar 17-6-5 conference record placed them third in the conference, good for another home playoff series. A sweep of Ferris State put the Falcons in the semifinals again, this time against Northern Michigan. After a disappointing 1-6 loss in the first game, Connor Ford scored a power play goal to give Bowling Green a 1-0 victory to force a decisive third game. Captain Mitch McLain scored a game-tying goal with less than nine seconds remaining to force overtime, where the Falcons eventually fell to the Wildcats.
The Bergeron era culminated in 2018-19, when the Falcons won 25 games and returned to the WCHA Championship. At the season's halfway point, the Falcons were 13-3-3, including an 8-2 romp over Ohio State. Their success carried over to the second half, when they closed with a 16-8-4 record in conference play. With an opening round sweep of Michigan Tech, the Falcons advanced to the semifinal for the third consecutive year. In the semifinals, Bowling Green swept Northern Michigan, advancing to the conference championship with a 2-1 double overtime victory. Sam Craggs lit the lamp just over two minutes into the second overtime, sending the Falcons back to the WCHA title game.
Although the Falcons lost a heartbreaking title game to Minnesota State, their stellar 25-10-5 record gave them a shot at an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. On March 24, 2019, the 35th anniversary of Bowling Green's national championship, the Falcons earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in 29 seasons. The Falcons took defending national champions Minnesota-Duluth to overtime before falling 2-1. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive championship that season, with Bowling Green being the only team to lead them or take them to overtime during their run.
After the 2018-19 season, Bergeron returned to his roots and took the head coach position at Miami. He departed from Bowling Green with 171 wins, the second-most in school history. His .619 winning percentage in the WCHA ranks third in conference history. The Falcons won at least one conference tournament series in each of Bergeron's nine seasons at the helm. After his departure, the Falcons appointed former team captain Ty Eigner to head coach. Eigner was an assistant to Bergeron for nine seasons, helping Bowling Green return to NCAA Hockey glory.
PART ONE: 1969-79
PART TWO: 1980-89
PART THREE: 1990-99
PART FOUR: 2000-09
2010-19
Overall Record: 166-177-52 (.486)
The Bowling Green State University hockey team began the decade with many questions about the future of the program, winning just five games in 2009-10. Thanks to the "Bring Back the Glory" campaign and the leadership of Chris Bergeron, the Falcons closed the decade with the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1990. It was a near-impossible turnaround, but Bowling Green was able to return to the national spotlight after a stretch of frustrating seasons.
Former Falcon Dennis Williams was named interim head coach in June 2009 after Scott Paluch departed for USA Hockey. Williams scored 12 goals for BGSU as a player, including the lone goal in a 1997 victory over No. 1 Michigan State. The Falcons' roster featured eight seniors and ten freshmen, and they finished with a 5-25-6 record. At the start of that season, Bowling Green State University started the "Bring Back the Glory" campaign. The campaign had a goal of raising $5 million to solidify the future of the program. Falcon legends from the past were integral in the fundraising. Jack Vivian, the program's first head coach, donated $250,000 to kick start the campaign. The committee included Rob Blake, who was an NHL defenseman at the time, and Garry Galley and Mike Pikul, who were members of the 1984 NCAA Championship team.
While the fundraising goals were achieved, the program still needed a head coach to officially bring back the glory. Athletics Director Greg Christopher named Chris Bergeron as the program's seventh head coach, and Bergeron rebuilt a conference powerhouse throughout the decade. In just his second season, the No. 11-seeded Falcons reached the CCHA semifinals. Their second round victory over Ferris State was a landmark win for the program, as the Bulldogs were the CCHA regular season champions and the No. 2 team in the country. In the decisive third game of the series, BGSU trailed 3-0 at the end of the first period. Ryan Carpenter scored to trim the Bulldog lead to two, then Dan DeSalvo took over. The freshman scored the game's next two goals, tying the game with just over four minutes remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes into overtime, DeSalvo capped his iconic performance with a game-winning goal that sent the Falcons to the CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. In the first six postseason games, DeSalvo tallied ten goals and three assists.
After the 2012-13 season, the CCHA dissolved. The Falcons joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and immediately became one of the conference's top teams. The Falcons tied for third place in their first season, once again winning an opening round playoff series. They repeated those achievements the next two seasons, winning over 20 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1994-96. Their Nov. 2014 matchup against Ohio State brought a crowd of 5,353 fans to the Madhouse on Mercer, the highest total in program history. The 2016-17 season featured another magical postseason run, with the Falcons playing in their first conference championship game since 1988. The late-season win streak featured a scoreless streak of over 220 minutes for goaltender Chris Nell, who earned wins in seven consecutive games. The following season, the Falcons were an overtime loss away from returning to the WCHA Championship. That season featured ACHA/CCM All-American Second Team honors for defenseman Alec Rauhauser, who scored a team-high 39 points.
The program's storied tradition added another chapter in 2018-19, with the Falcons returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost 30 years. The announcement was fittingly made on the 35th anniversary of the program's national championship. Bowling Green finished the season with 25 overall wins, 16 conference victories, a berth in the WCHA title game, and an NCAA Tournament berth. Just ten years after nearly losing the program, Bowling Green had a hockey program that was one of the top in the country.
Notable Win Streak – 7 games in 2016-17
Following a pair of overtime victories, Bowling Green lost three consecutive games to fall to 14-17-2. With just three regular season games remaining before the conference tournament, the Falcons needed a late push to clinch home ice in the first round of the WCHA Tournament. During the three-game losing streak, BGSU failed to net a single goal. However, the Falcons and goaltender Chris Nell flipped the script, closing the regular season with three consecutive shutout victories. The streak began with a 3-0 victory over Mercyhurst, a game that also served as the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Bowling Green State University Ice Arena.
After nearly two weeks off, the Falcons returned to action for a weekend series against Alabama Huntsville. Kevin Dufour's hat trick was a key part of an offensive explosion for the Orange and Brown, who won the first game 7-0. The following night, BGSU scored two first period goals that proved more than enough thanks to Chris Nell. The senior goalie collected a season-high 38 saves, earning his third consecutive shutout and helping the Falcons claim home ice in the first round of the WCHA Tournament.
In the first game of the WCHA Tournament, Matt Pohlkamp led the Falcons to a 6-1 victory over Ferris Street. The alternate captain scored two goals and tallied two assists, with captain Sean Walker backing him with a goal and two assists. Brett D'Andrea and Tyler Spezia also had multiple-point nights, tallying two assists each. Chris Nell allowed just one goal, which ended his scoreless streak at 220:18, the longest in program history. He collected 27 saves on the night, with 15 coming in the final period.
The following night, the Falcons controlled the game early, scoring the game's first two goals. Ferris State answered with three straight scores, the final two coming in a span of 1:04. With less than eight minutes remaining, the Falcons trailed 3-2. A five-minute major penalty on the Bulldogs led to a Falcon power play with 6:40 on the clock. With just over a minute remaining on the power play, Kevin Dufour netted the game-tying goal. The power play continued, with freshman Alec Rauhauser scoring the go-ahead goal just 36 seconds later. Jeremy Spezia scored an empty-netter to ice the game with 33 seconds left, clinching a thrilling 5-3 victory for the Orange and Brown. With the win, BGSU extended their winning streak to five and advanced to the WCHA semifinals.
In the dramatic first game of the semifinals, Kevin Dufour collected his second hat trick in five games. He opened the game with a first period goal, then Matt Pohlkamp answered two Bemidji State goals with an early third period goal. The Beavers capitalized on a BGSU line change to take a 3-2 lead, but Dufour scored his second goal with 6:30 remaining in regulation. Chris Nell held strong between the pipes to send the game to overtime. The senior made 15 saves in the third period and a career-high 45 saves in the game. In overtime, Dufour notched his third goal of the night with just over 2:30 remaining. The victory gave the Falcons their sixth consecutive win and left them just 60 minutes away from a berth in the conference championship.
Bemidji State opened the second game with an early goal, but two familiar Falcons scored in the second and third periods. Kevin Dufour lit the lamp just 1:35 into the second period to tie the game, marking his 18th goal of the season and eighth goal in seven games. Less than four minutes into the final period, Matt Pohlkamp took a pass from Mitch McLain and netted the game-winning goal. This was the senior's ninth point of the tournament. Chris Nell once again kept the Falcons on top, finishing the game with 25 saves. The Falcons won their seventh straight game and advanced to the WCHA Championship for the first time in program history. Although they lost a double overtime battle to Michigan Tech, the Falcons finished with 21 wins and their longest win streak since 1987-88.
Notable Performance
The 2018-19 Falcons closed the first month of the season with a home-and-home series against Ohio State. In the first game of the series, BGSU traveled to Columbus and dominated, winning 8-2 over the fourth-ranked Buckeyes. Sophomore Max Johnson lit the lamp just 2:19 into the game, scoring a power play goal to put the Falcons on top. This was the first of seven consecutive goals for the Falcons, all coming in the first two periods. Four of those scores were on the power play, with Johnson tallying three for his first career hat trick.
The Falcons allowed two goals in the third period before Stephen Baylis netted a shorthanded goal to close the scoring. Johnson remains the last Falcon to score three power play goals in a game. The decisive victory set the tone for the rest of the season, as the Orange and Brown won 25 games, played in the WCHA Championship, and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Notable Players
Andrew Hammond (G): One of Bowling Green's most efficient goalies, current Buffalo Sabre Andrew Hammond ranks second in program history in minutes played. He spent 6,606:40 minutes between the pipes for the Falcons, racking up 3,030 saves in 119 games. He is one of just four goaltenders in school history to accumulate over 3,000 saves. Hammond's save percentage of .906 ranks seventh in school history and his goals against average of 2.84 is fifth.
Hammond was especially spectacular during the 2011-12 campaign, when he made 1,114 saves in 44 games. He was a stalwart for the Falcons during the CCHA Tournament, helping the Orange and Brown advance to the semifinals before suffering a double overtime loss to Michigan. His season minutes total of 2,651:18 is the most in program history. For his efforts, Hammond was named Jim Sears Most Valuable Player and Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player.
After spending a year and a half in the AHL, Hammond was called up to the Ottawa Senators in 2014. The following season, he made his first start, leading the Senators to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. He earned his first professional shutout two games later, a mark he achieved seven times as a Falcon. He allowed two goals or fewer in each of his first 12 starts, becoming the second player in NHL history to do so. He concluded the regular season with a 20-1-2 record, leading the Senators to the playoffs. "The Hamburglar" currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres, who recalled him on Feb. 9, 2020.
Sean Walker (D): In the two seasons Sean Walker was a captain, the Bowling Green hockey team won 43 games, including 29 in the WCHA. Walker was also a second team All-WCHA selection and WCHA All-Academic those two seasons. During the 2015-16 season, Walker led the team with 18 assists in 42 games. The following season, he was named Jim Sears Most Valuable Player. He was the program's Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and the Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player in 2014-15.
In Walker's four seasons, the Falcons won 84 games. As a senior, he led the program to the WCHA Championship for the first time. This was also the first time BGSU played in a conference championship since 1988. In 2018, Walker made his NHL debut and scored a point for the Los Angeles Kings. He scored his first career NHL goal on Dec. 31, 2018, a 3-2 overtime victory for the Kings. Walker also played in the 2019 AHL All-Star Game.
Ryan Carpenter (F): Another two-time captain for the Falcons, Ryan Carpenter led the 2013-14 squad to an 18-15-6 record, the program's first winning season since 1996-97. The Falcons played their first season in the WCHA that year, with Carpenter scoring four points in the first round of the tournament to send the Falcons to the WCHA Final Five. A Second Team All-CCHA and Academic All-WCHA selection, Carpenter led the team in scoring in two seasons. He was also the 2011-12 Rookie of the Year. He finished his career with 79 points in 100 games played.
Carpenter currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks, previously playing for the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights. He has scored 52 points in 190 games, scoring his first career goal for the Sharks in 2016. In 17 career playoff games, Carpenter has tallied five assists.
Mitch McLain (F): A four-year mainstay in the Falcon lineup, Mitch McLain helped the Falcons become a force in the WCHA and return to the national spotlight. McLain tallied 101 points in 161 games, including a team-high 33 points in 2016-17. He was a first team All-WCHA selection that season, leading the Falcons to the WCHA Championship for the first time in program history. The following season, McLain was named team captain and earned second team All-WCHA honors. He led the Falcons with 18 goals, returning to the conference semifinals for the second straight season.
McLain was also a three-time Academic All-WCHA selection. He earned honors as the WCHA Rookie of the Week, WCHA Forward of the Week, and WCHA Player of the Month. His career total of seven shorthanded goals is tied for fifth in program history. McLain currently plays for the Iowa Wild of the AHL, where he has tallied 25 points in 96 career games.
Notable Coach
Chris Bergeron (2010-19): Entering the 2009-10 season, the future of the Bowling Green hockey program was in jeopardy. The Falcons were led by interim head coach Dennis Williams and won just five games. Thanks to a donation from former coach Jack Vivian, Bowling Green had the funding to keep their varsity hockey program. However, the Orange and Brown needed a coach to lead them back to national prominence. Enter Chris Bergeron. The former Miami captain and assistant was hired in 2010, and he faced the tall task of resurrecting a program that was near its demise. In his first season, the Falcon won 10 games to double their win total from the previous season. Two of those wins came in the first round of the CCHA Tournament, the first time Bowling Green advanced past the first round since 2008.
Bergeron's second season featured 14 wins and even more postseason success. After another first round victory, the Falcons won an improbable series against Ferris State, the country's second-ranked team. A Dan DeSalvo overtime goal sent the No. 11-seeded Falcons to the CCHA semifinals, making them the lowest seed in conference history to play in the semifinals. The Falcons won 15 games the following season, including 10 in the CCHA. BGSU once again had success in the conference tournament, winning its opening round series against Lake Superior State. After losing the first game 2-0, the Falcons won the next two by a combined score of 13-3. Ryan Carpenter scored two goals in the 6-3 game two victory, then Dan DeSalvo netted two scores in the 7-0 game three victory.
The 2013-14 season was Bergeron's first winning season as BGSU's head coach. In their first season in the newly formed WCHA, the Falcons tied for third in regular season play to earn home ice in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Orange and Brown took advantage of the home crowd, sweeping Michigan Tech in the first round to help them finish with an overall record of 18-15-6. The Falcons improved to 23 wins the following season, their highest win total since 1995-96. This season featured another home playoff sweep, as well as the program's first outdoor contest, a 2-2 tie against Robert Morris.
2015-16 saw much of the same success for the Falcons, who won 22 games and finished third in the WCHA regular season standings. They won another opening round series, rebounding from a game one loss to defeat Bemidji State. Although the Falcons hovered around .500 the following season, a late-season win streak pushed them to a home series in the conference tournament. The win streak extended through the first round and the semifinals of the WCHA Tournament. Kevin Dufour and Matt Pohlkamp dominated throughout the streak, with Dufour earning a pair of hat tricks and Pohlkamp scoring nine points in the first four tournament games. A thrilling victory of Bemidji State gave the Falcons their first conference championship game berth since 1988. The Orange and Brown took Michigan Tech to two overtimes before falling, but the postseason run marked the return of prominent hockey in Bowling Green.
Bergeron's run of 20-win seasons continued in 2017-18, when the Falcons went 23-12-6. Their stellar 17-6-5 conference record placed them third in the conference, good for another home playoff series. A sweep of Ferris State put the Falcons in the semifinals again, this time against Northern Michigan. After a disappointing 1-6 loss in the first game, Connor Ford scored a power play goal to give Bowling Green a 1-0 victory to force a decisive third game. Captain Mitch McLain scored a game-tying goal with less than nine seconds remaining to force overtime, where the Falcons eventually fell to the Wildcats.
The Bergeron era culminated in 2018-19, when the Falcons won 25 games and returned to the WCHA Championship. At the season's halfway point, the Falcons were 13-3-3, including an 8-2 romp over Ohio State. Their success carried over to the second half, when they closed with a 16-8-4 record in conference play. With an opening round sweep of Michigan Tech, the Falcons advanced to the semifinal for the third consecutive year. In the semifinals, Bowling Green swept Northern Michigan, advancing to the conference championship with a 2-1 double overtime victory. Sam Craggs lit the lamp just over two minutes into the second overtime, sending the Falcons back to the WCHA title game.
Although the Falcons lost a heartbreaking title game to Minnesota State, their stellar 25-10-5 record gave them a shot at an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. On March 24, 2019, the 35th anniversary of Bowling Green's national championship, the Falcons earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in 29 seasons. The Falcons took defending national champions Minnesota-Duluth to overtime before falling 2-1. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive championship that season, with Bowling Green being the only team to lead them or take them to overtime during their run.
After the 2018-19 season, Bergeron returned to his roots and took the head coach position at Miami. He departed from Bowling Green with 171 wins, the second-most in school history. His .619 winning percentage in the WCHA ranks third in conference history. The Falcons won at least one conference tournament series in each of Bergeron's nine seasons at the helm. After his departure, the Falcons appointed former team captain Ty Eigner to head coach. Eigner was an assistant to Bergeron for nine seasons, helping Bowling Green return to NCAA Hockey glory.
| Year | Overall Record | Conference Record, Accomplishments | Head Coach | Team Captain(s) |
| 2009-10 | 5-25-6 | 4-18-6 (CCHA) | Dennis Williams | Kyle Page (C), David Solway (A), Tommy Dee (A) |
| 2010-11 | 10-27-4 | 3-21-4 (CCHA) | Chris Bergeron | David Solway (C) |
| 2011-12 | 14-25-5 | 5-19-4 (CCHA) | Chris Bergeron | None |
| 2012-13 | 15-21-5 | 10-15-3 (CCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Camden Wojtala (C), Ryan Carpenter (C) |
| 2013-14 | 18-15-6 | 13-11-4 (WCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Camden Wojtala (C), Ryan Carpenter (C) |
| 2014-15 | 23-11-5 | 17-8-3 (WCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Dan DeSalvo (C), Adam Berkle (A), Mark Cooper (A), Brent Tate (A) |
| 2015-16 | 22-14-6 | 16-7-5 (WCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Sean Walker (C), Mark Cooper (A), Brent Tate (A) |
| 2016-17 | 21-18-2 | 14-13-1 (WCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Sean Walker (C), Matt Pohlkamp (A) |
| 2017-18 | 23-12-6 | 17-6-5 (WCHA) | Chris Bergeron | Mitch McLain (C), Tyler Spezia (A) |
| 2018-19 | 25-11-5 | 16-8-4 (WCHA) NCAA Tournament Participants |
Chris Bergeron | Stephen Baylis (C), Chris Pohlkamp (A) |
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/ Ice HockeyWednesday, May 13
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