Bowling Green State University Athletics
Four Falcon Forwards To Return To Bowling Green For Fifth Year
March 23, 2022 | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Four senior forwards have announced their plans to return to the Bowling Green Hockey program for another season. Alex Barber, Nathan Burke, Evan Dougherty, and Taylor Schneider will each utilize their fifth year of eligibility to remain in Bowling Green and compete for the Falcons during the 2022-23 campaign.
Alex Barber, Forward – Dublin, Ohio
The captain of the 2021-22 squad, Alex Barber finished the season with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. He was third on the team in total points and second on the team in power-play points (12). The forward led the team in game-winning goals (3) and tied for the lead in shorthanded goals (1). He was one of two players that scored multiple goals in multiple games.
Barber leads all active players in several career categories, including goals (35), points (85), power-play goals (18), game-winning goals (9), multi-point efforts (18), and multi-goal performances (7). Barber is tied with Taylor Schneider for the active leader in career assists (50) and career multi-assist games (7).
"Coming back for a 5th year at BGSU was an easy decision for me. The opportunity to have another year of learning and maturing on the ice coupled with the chance to get my master's degree was hard to pass up. BGSU has been my home for the last four years and I am so blessed with the opportunity to make it five. We have some unfinished business! Roll Along!" – Alex Barber
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Year 5 🔜 @BGFalconHockey pic.twitter.com/mkJbrUNHxS
— Alex Barber (@barberalex13) March 23, 2022
Nathan Burke, Forward – Scottsdale, Arizona
A transfer from Minnesota, Nathan Burke joined the Falcons and scored a team-best 16 goals. He also tallied seven assists for a total of 23 points, ranking fourth on the team. He was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, one of 11 players from the CCHA. He was one of five players to skate in all 37 games for the Orange and Brown.
Burke netted a team-best six power-play goals and scored the game-winning goal in overtime against RPI for BGSU's first win of the year. It was his second goal of the game, marking the first of five multi-point performances for the forward. In games where Burke scored two points, the Falcons were 5-0-0. In the first shootout of the CCHA season, he netted a goal against Northern Michigan.
"Bowling Green felt like home from day one and coming back for the 5th year gives me a chance to further my development and education. No place I'd rather be! Ay Ziggy Zoomba!" – Nathan Burke
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Year 5 đź“š@BGFalconHockey pic.twitter.com/rSe1yGGvAp
— Nathan (@_nathanburke) March 23, 2022
Evan Dougherty, Forward – Kalamazoo, Michigan
An assistant captain on the 2021-22 team, Evan Dougherty notched three goals and two assists for five points in 15 games. The forward missed three months due to injury, then returned to the lineup and finished +2 with an assist in his second game back. The following weekend, Dougherty helped the Falcons defeat Ferris State with the game-winning goal, his lone power-play score of the season.
Dougherty tallied a goal and assist against Michigan Tech, guiding the Falcons to a win over the No. 14 Huskies. In-Game 3 of the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals, he scored Bowling Green's only goal. He won 51.9% of the faceoffs he took, the best percentage among the Falcons who took over 150 faceoffs. The forward also blocked six shots.
"Bowling Green State University has provided me so many unbelievable opportunities over the past four years. I have formed many relationships on and off the ice that I am thankful for. After a disappointing end to our season, I feel there is still a lot more hockey to be played moving forward. With that being said, I am ecstatic to announce that I will be returning to Bowling Green to play the 5th year while pursuing my Master of Business Administration." – Evan Dougherty
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Excited to be returning to Bowling Green next season to play a 5th year! #YCAGF @BGFalconHockey pic.twitter.com/bloqeGCBXr
— Evan Dougherty (@evan_dougherty) March 23, 2022
Taylor Schneider, Forward – Lakeville, Minnesota
The active leader in career games played (146), Taylor Schneider scored eight goals and registered team-highs in assists (22) and points (30). He also led the Falcons in power-play assists (11) and power-play points (16). The forward also led the team in faceoff wins (425) and multi-point games (10) and tied for the lead in multi-assist games (4). He led all forwards with 18 blocked shots.
Schneider scored one game-winning goal last season and has three in his career. The forward has 11 career power-play goals. He has 33 goals and 50 assists for 83 points in his career, tying Alex Barber for the active lead in assists. He has also tied with Barber in career multi-assist games (7). In 2021, he earned a hat trick against Northern Michigan in the WCHA Semifinals.
"I'm fortunate for another year to play college hockey and get another year of education. Ay Ziggy!" – Taylor Schneider
Ty's Take
"We are excited that Alex, Taylor, Nathan, and Evan will be back for another year! Their impact both on and off the ice will be very important to our program."
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