Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications
Bowling Green Hockey's Path To 1,000 Victories In Program History
January 20, 2021 | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University hockey program recently became the NCAA's 26th Division-I hockey program to reach 1,000 wins, doing so on Jan. 16 with a win over Northern Michigan. While Bowling Green is the 26th program all-time to achieve the milestone, they are just the third program to do so that began after the second World War. Needing 2,011 games to reach the milestone, the Falcons accumulated a 1,000-863-148 record en route to reaching the millennium mark for a .534 winning percentage.
On the path to 1,000 program wins, the milestone marks for the Falcons were achieved against six different teams. Northern Michigan was the opponent in three of the games while Rensselaer and Lake Superior State were the opposition for a pair. Nine of the 10 games were settled in regulation while four were won at the Slater Family Ice Arena and the other six coming on the road. Six of the victories were won in conference games and two in tournament play, both of which came at the RPI Invitational.
The marks of history also came from various eras through BG Falcon Hockey. Jerry York was on the bench for three of the milestone wins while Ron Mason, Buddy Powers and Chris Bergeron each claimed a duo of wins and, of course, Ty Eigner capped the list with the program's 1,000th win.
Of the 10 milestone wins, four were won in the state of Ohio as well as another four in Michigan. The remaining two were accomplished in New York. As for the opponents, seven of the wins came against teams hailing from Michigan, two from New York and one from Alabama.
The longest drought between milestone wins came between the 700th and 800th wins in program history, spanning more than nine seasons. However, the shortest run between victories was between the 400th and 500th win, taking just 1,126 days to capture 100 wins. Over that span, the Falcons played in 157 games, going 100-50-7.
Wins
100 – Dec. 28, 1974, 6-5 at Rensselaer (RPI Invitational, Troy, N.Y.) / Ron Mason Coach
The first milestone win for the Falcons came during the program's sixth season, being 1974-75. After coming up short in the first two games of the season, the Falcons rattled off eight straight wins and would later enter the RPI Invitational with a 10-4 record.
After defeating Sir George Williams in the first round of the tournament, the Falcons moved on to face Rensselaer on Dec. 28, 1974. The game would end in a 6-5 victory for Bowling Green, capturing the program's 100th win. The next night the Orange and Brown skated to a 4-4 tie against Northeastern to close out play in the Invitational. The Falcons would go on to finish second in the CCHA that season with a 23-10-2 record as well as a 4-3-1 CCHA standing.
200 – Nov. 24, 1978, 4-1 at Northern Michigan (CCHA victory) / Ron Mason Coach
In just the program's 10th season and less than four years after capturing victory 100, the Falcons reached the next milestone mark with their 200th win. After another hot start to the season, Ron Mason led the Orange and Brown into a game against Northern Michigan with an 8-3 record and 199 program wins.
Coming off a 6-3 victory over Ohio State just three days earlier, the Falcons headed north to face Northern Michigan on Nov. 24, 1978 for just their second CCHA game of the season. Bowling Green was able to walk away with a 4-1 victory in the game for the program's 200th win and the first win of a weekend sweep as well.
The Orange and Brown finished the 1978-79 campaign with a 37-6-2 standing, marking the second consecutive 30-win season for the team as well as back-to-back CCHA Championships, Tournament Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, marking a third straight CCHA Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. The season also marked the final of the Ron Mason era as Bowling Green transitioned to Jerry York the next year.
300 – Jan. 8, 1983, 4-2 vs. Michigan State (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
In his fourth season at the helm of the Falcons, Jerry York and his squad were able to snag the program's 300th win in just the second game of 1983. While the first two milestone wins came towards the beginning of their respective seasons, win 300 was in the heart of the 1982-83 campaign.
After defeating Michigan State the night before in a 6-4 final, Bowling Green entered play on Jan. 8, 1983 with 299 wins under their belt as a program. In the end, the Falcons came away with a 4-2 victory, a series sweep and win No. 300. The win was the third of nine straight for the Orange and Brown, propelling the team towards a CCHA Championship before capturing the National Championship the following season.
400 – Oct. 25, 1986, 7-3 at Lake Superior State (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
Sticking with an average of around four years between milestones, the Falcons next mark came in just the sixth game of the 1986-87 season. Bowling Green began the season with a split against Michigan, a sweep over New Hampshire and then a win against Lake Superior State, setting up another opportunity to not only reach a milestone win, but capture a sweep in the process.
For the Falcons, it was a 7-3 victory that clinched the 400th win, the fifth of what would be 33 during the 1986-87 that ended in a 33-10-2 record. Bowling Green also went 24-6-2 in the CCHA, winning the conference and making another NCAA Tournament appearance.
500 – Jan. 13, 1990, 9-8 (OT) vs. Michigan (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
In the shortest span between milestone victories, Jerry York and the Falcons found themselves staring down win 500 just three seasons later. Heading into a game against Michigan with a 15-10 record, the Falcons were in position to capture win 500 and a sweep in what would turn into a wild game.
Bowling Green and Michigan ended up going into overtime tied 8-8 after 16 regulation goals between the two teams. In overtime, it was the Falcons that were able to net the golden goal to hit the halfway mark to 1,000 wins. Overall, that season saw the Orange and Brown finish 25-17-2 with a 20-10-2 CCHA standing while also making yet another NCAA Tournament appearance.
600 – Oct. 28, 1995, 6-4 vs. Rensselaer / Buddy Powers Coach
The next milestone wouldn't come until the 1995-96 season, being the second year under Buddy Powers. In just the fifth time the Falcons took to the ice during the season, they were able to capture the program's 600th win, becoming the second-fastest program to reach 600 wins behind only Wisconsin, needing 26 years as a program to do so.
After starting the season with four straight wins, Bowling Green entered the contest against Rensselaer with confidence, especially coming off a 3-2 win the night before. The Orange and Brown were able to skate to a 6-4 victory to reach the milestone. In addition to the six goals, Bowling Green fired 59 shots in the game. The win helped push the Falcons to a 26-14-1 finish that season.
700 – Nov. 23, 2001, 3-2 at Lake Superior State (CCHA victory) / Buddy Powers Coach
While the first milestone victory under Buddy Powers came towards the beginning of his tenure, the second was towards the end, being his final season with the program in 2001-02. While the Falcons only picked up nine wins during the season, one was the program's 700th. The second of back-to-back wins, Bowling Green was able to best Lake Superior State on Nov. 23, 2001 to capture the 700th win all-time in program history.
800 – Nov. 26, 2010, 5-1 vs. Alabama Huntsville (RPI Tournament, Troy, N.Y.) / Chris Bergeron Coach
Ending the drought between milestone victories, the next mark came for the Falcons during Chris Bergeron's first season on the bench in 2010-11. What was just Bergeron's sixth win as the head coach of the Falcons was also the program's 800th all-time. The win also came on the 42nd anniversary of the University Athletic Committee voting to make hockey a varsity sport.
The beginning of the resurgence of BG Falcon Hockey saw a boost from the 800th win, being one of 10 in Bergeron's first season. From there, the win totals began to grow again, achieving the program's first 20-win season since 1995-96 five seasons later in 2014-15.
900 – Nov. 12, 2016, 5-3 at Northern Michigan (WCHA victory) / Chris Bergeron Coach
The second milestone victory of the Bergeron era came in the fall of 2016 when the Falcons entered the second game of a series against Northern Michigan with 899 program wins following a 5-1 victory the night before.
In the second game of the series the Falcons came out firing and were able to capture a 5-3 victory and win 900 all-time. For Bowling Green, the goals came from five different players in the win with Kevin Dufour, Mark Friedman, Matt Pohlkamp, Matt Meier and John Schilling all netting scores. The Orange and Brown went on to finish that season 21-18-2 with a 14-13-1 standing in the WCHA.
1000 - Jan. 16, 2021, 6-2 vs. Northern Michigan / Ty Eigner Coach
The most recent milestone win for the Falcons came in a near deju vu matter as the last one. Going into the second leg of a series against Northern Michigan, Bowling Green eyed a sweep following a 5-1 win.
While the same amount of goals were totaled in win 1,000 as win 900, the Falcons claimed one more of them, being a 6-2 victory. Again, the Orange and Brown saw a different scorer on each goal with Will Cullen, Alex Barber, Max Johnson, Taylor Schneider, Cameron Wright and Brandon Kruse all finding the back of the net in the historic victory, continuing one of the most impressive starts to a season in program history.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons hockey team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGFalconHockey
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgfalconhockey'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
On the path to 1,000 program wins, the milestone marks for the Falcons were achieved against six different teams. Northern Michigan was the opponent in three of the games while Rensselaer and Lake Superior State were the opposition for a pair. Nine of the 10 games were settled in regulation while four were won at the Slater Family Ice Arena and the other six coming on the road. Six of the victories were won in conference games and two in tournament play, both of which came at the RPI Invitational.
The marks of history also came from various eras through BG Falcon Hockey. Jerry York was on the bench for three of the milestone wins while Ron Mason, Buddy Powers and Chris Bergeron each claimed a duo of wins and, of course, Ty Eigner capped the list with the program's 1,000th win.
Of the 10 milestone wins, four were won in the state of Ohio as well as another four in Michigan. The remaining two were accomplished in New York. As for the opponents, seven of the wins came against teams hailing from Michigan, two from New York and one from Alabama.
The longest drought between milestone wins came between the 700th and 800th wins in program history, spanning more than nine seasons. However, the shortest run between victories was between the 400th and 500th win, taking just 1,126 days to capture 100 wins. Over that span, the Falcons played in 157 games, going 100-50-7.
Wins
100 – Dec. 28, 1974, 6-5 at Rensselaer (RPI Invitational, Troy, N.Y.) / Ron Mason Coach
The first milestone win for the Falcons came during the program's sixth season, being 1974-75. After coming up short in the first two games of the season, the Falcons rattled off eight straight wins and would later enter the RPI Invitational with a 10-4 record.
After defeating Sir George Williams in the first round of the tournament, the Falcons moved on to face Rensselaer on Dec. 28, 1974. The game would end in a 6-5 victory for Bowling Green, capturing the program's 100th win. The next night the Orange and Brown skated to a 4-4 tie against Northeastern to close out play in the Invitational. The Falcons would go on to finish second in the CCHA that season with a 23-10-2 record as well as a 4-3-1 CCHA standing.
200 – Nov. 24, 1978, 4-1 at Northern Michigan (CCHA victory) / Ron Mason Coach
In just the program's 10th season and less than four years after capturing victory 100, the Falcons reached the next milestone mark with their 200th win. After another hot start to the season, Ron Mason led the Orange and Brown into a game against Northern Michigan with an 8-3 record and 199 program wins.
Coming off a 6-3 victory over Ohio State just three days earlier, the Falcons headed north to face Northern Michigan on Nov. 24, 1978 for just their second CCHA game of the season. Bowling Green was able to walk away with a 4-1 victory in the game for the program's 200th win and the first win of a weekend sweep as well.
The Orange and Brown finished the 1978-79 campaign with a 37-6-2 standing, marking the second consecutive 30-win season for the team as well as back-to-back CCHA Championships, Tournament Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, marking a third straight CCHA Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance. The season also marked the final of the Ron Mason era as Bowling Green transitioned to Jerry York the next year.
300 – Jan. 8, 1983, 4-2 vs. Michigan State (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
In his fourth season at the helm of the Falcons, Jerry York and his squad were able to snag the program's 300th win in just the second game of 1983. While the first two milestone wins came towards the beginning of their respective seasons, win 300 was in the heart of the 1982-83 campaign.
After defeating Michigan State the night before in a 6-4 final, Bowling Green entered play on Jan. 8, 1983 with 299 wins under their belt as a program. In the end, the Falcons came away with a 4-2 victory, a series sweep and win No. 300. The win was the third of nine straight for the Orange and Brown, propelling the team towards a CCHA Championship before capturing the National Championship the following season.
400 – Oct. 25, 1986, 7-3 at Lake Superior State (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
Sticking with an average of around four years between milestones, the Falcons next mark came in just the sixth game of the 1986-87 season. Bowling Green began the season with a split against Michigan, a sweep over New Hampshire and then a win against Lake Superior State, setting up another opportunity to not only reach a milestone win, but capture a sweep in the process.
For the Falcons, it was a 7-3 victory that clinched the 400th win, the fifth of what would be 33 during the 1986-87 that ended in a 33-10-2 record. Bowling Green also went 24-6-2 in the CCHA, winning the conference and making another NCAA Tournament appearance.
500 – Jan. 13, 1990, 9-8 (OT) vs. Michigan (CCHA victory) / Jerry York Coach
In the shortest span between milestone victories, Jerry York and the Falcons found themselves staring down win 500 just three seasons later. Heading into a game against Michigan with a 15-10 record, the Falcons were in position to capture win 500 and a sweep in what would turn into a wild game.
Bowling Green and Michigan ended up going into overtime tied 8-8 after 16 regulation goals between the two teams. In overtime, it was the Falcons that were able to net the golden goal to hit the halfway mark to 1,000 wins. Overall, that season saw the Orange and Brown finish 25-17-2 with a 20-10-2 CCHA standing while also making yet another NCAA Tournament appearance.
600 – Oct. 28, 1995, 6-4 vs. Rensselaer / Buddy Powers Coach
The next milestone wouldn't come until the 1995-96 season, being the second year under Buddy Powers. In just the fifth time the Falcons took to the ice during the season, they were able to capture the program's 600th win, becoming the second-fastest program to reach 600 wins behind only Wisconsin, needing 26 years as a program to do so.
After starting the season with four straight wins, Bowling Green entered the contest against Rensselaer with confidence, especially coming off a 3-2 win the night before. The Orange and Brown were able to skate to a 6-4 victory to reach the milestone. In addition to the six goals, Bowling Green fired 59 shots in the game. The win helped push the Falcons to a 26-14-1 finish that season.
700 – Nov. 23, 2001, 3-2 at Lake Superior State (CCHA victory) / Buddy Powers Coach
While the first milestone victory under Buddy Powers came towards the beginning of his tenure, the second was towards the end, being his final season with the program in 2001-02. While the Falcons only picked up nine wins during the season, one was the program's 700th. The second of back-to-back wins, Bowling Green was able to best Lake Superior State on Nov. 23, 2001 to capture the 700th win all-time in program history.
800 – Nov. 26, 2010, 5-1 vs. Alabama Huntsville (RPI Tournament, Troy, N.Y.) / Chris Bergeron Coach
Ending the drought between milestone victories, the next mark came for the Falcons during Chris Bergeron's first season on the bench in 2010-11. What was just Bergeron's sixth win as the head coach of the Falcons was also the program's 800th all-time. The win also came on the 42nd anniversary of the University Athletic Committee voting to make hockey a varsity sport.
The beginning of the resurgence of BG Falcon Hockey saw a boost from the 800th win, being one of 10 in Bergeron's first season. From there, the win totals began to grow again, achieving the program's first 20-win season since 1995-96 five seasons later in 2014-15.
900 – Nov. 12, 2016, 5-3 at Northern Michigan (WCHA victory) / Chris Bergeron Coach
The second milestone victory of the Bergeron era came in the fall of 2016 when the Falcons entered the second game of a series against Northern Michigan with 899 program wins following a 5-1 victory the night before.
In the second game of the series the Falcons came out firing and were able to capture a 5-3 victory and win 900 all-time. For Bowling Green, the goals came from five different players in the win with Kevin Dufour, Mark Friedman, Matt Pohlkamp, Matt Meier and John Schilling all netting scores. The Orange and Brown went on to finish that season 21-18-2 with a 14-13-1 standing in the WCHA.
1000 - Jan. 16, 2021, 6-2 vs. Northern Michigan / Ty Eigner Coach
The most recent milestone win for the Falcons came in a near deju vu matter as the last one. Going into the second leg of a series against Northern Michigan, Bowling Green eyed a sweep following a 5-1 win.
While the same amount of goals were totaled in win 1,000 as win 900, the Falcons claimed one more of them, being a 6-2 victory. Again, the Orange and Brown saw a different scorer on each goal with Will Cullen, Alex Barber, Max Johnson, Taylor Schneider, Cameron Wright and Brandon Kruse all finding the back of the net in the historic victory, continuing one of the most impressive starts to a season in program history.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons hockey team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGFalconHockey
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgfalconhockey'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
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