In the Nest: Hobey Baker Nominee Austen Swankler Talks Falcon Hockey
Medical Mutual
2/6/2023
Hobey Baker nominee Austen Swankler has been sensational in his sophomore season, leading the Falcons in goals, assists, and points. He ranks third in the NCAA in points and leads the CCHA in assists and points. The forward recently sat down to answer a few questions about hockey, the community, and his outstanding year.
Q: You are from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. What is one thing people should know about your hometown?
Swankler: We take great pride in our football, so me playing hockey wasn't too big of a deal. When they saw the success I was having in juniors, and now in college, they backed behind me and are always supporting me.
Q: How did you first start playing hockey, and when did you realize it was possible to continue playing at higher levels?
Swankler: My two older brothers played and my dad was always a fan. My dad played baseball, but he got my two older brothers into hockey, then they took me on the ice at a young age. I realized that things were working out like they were supposed to around 13 when I made my first triple-A team. I grew from there and was able to improve my game with Penguins Elite.
Q: Before coming to Bowling Green, you went an entire season without playing a game. How did to readjust to regular competition once your freshman season started?
Swankler: I came here early in the summer just to get some extra work in, meet the guys, and just get my feet a little wet with college hockey. I was able to do some workouts, get on the ice, and get ready for the season. There was definitely an impact and it took time to get my feet back under me towards the end of the year, because I wasn't used to playing a full year.
Q: You had a successful freshman campaign, earning All-CCHA Rookie honors and multiple weekly and monthly conference awards. This season, you’re among the national leaders in multiple statistical categories, you had the nation’s longest scoring streak, and you’ve been nominated for the Hobey Baker. What have been the biggest factors in elevating your game to this elite level?
Swankler: I've been going on the ice and having fun. Hockey is a game where you have to learn that guys are getting better each and every day, so if you go out there and have fun with it, without being really hard on yourself, you can improve. I think I’ve done a good job with that so far this year, just going on the ice, having fun with the guys, learning from them, and learning from my coaches.
Q: What is it like to see your name as a Hobey Baker nominee??
Swankler: It means a lot. I've been playing college hockey for about two years now, so it’s cool seeing how many guys have won the Hobey Baker or had a nomination, like Burkey (Nathan Burke) last year. Seeing the support and the factors that it has on the community and Bowling Green really means a lot to me. I try not to focus too much on it, but to be nominated for it was definitely nice to see. It's a special award so it feels good.
Q: When you think about your time as a Falcon, what moment sticks out as the most memorable?
Swankler: The Ohio State game my freshman year. Seeing the impact that the community and the students have on this hockey program and seeing how much they care about us as student-athletes really means a lot.
Q: You are majoring in Business at BGSU. What would you like to do when your playing career concludes?
Swankler: Right now, I just try to focus on hockey and school. I’m not really sure where the road ahead leads, but if I had a plan B, I'd probably be sticking to hockey or finding my way to impact youth hockey players. I still want to be involved in the sport when I'm done.
Q: Who inspired or encouraged you the most athletically growing up?
Swankler: My parents. To see how much they impacted my hockey career, then seeing how much time and money they spent to get me to where I am now, it definitely means a lot.
Q: Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines?
Swankler: I'm sure if you walk around the rink, there's a lot of stuff you’ll see me do. I do my little stick-handling routine, I put my legs up on the wall for about 10 minutes. I don't have any crazy ones, just trying to get ready for the game and trying to stay focused.
Q: What is your go-to restaurant and/or meal?
Swankler: Beckett’s Burger Bar. My parents and I go there after almost every game. They have a ton of different menu options.
Q: Where is your favorite spot on campus?
Swankler: The business building. I do most of my homework there and it's a really awesome building. It's brand new with a lot of windows that bring in light, so it makes it really homey.
Q: Who is the funniest player on the team?
Swankler: Jack Blake. Living with him is definitely an experience and he makes it a lot of fun. He’s a really good friend.
Q: Describe Coach Eigner in one word.
Swankler: Caring. Whether it's school or hockey, he's always there for you. He wants the best for every single one of us.
Q: Describe Scoot (equipment manager Scott Jess) in one word.
Swankler: Loving. Scoot’s the best. He loves every single one of us. Even if we give them a hard time, he still loves us all the same.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Falcon Hockey program?
Swankler: The history. Seeing all the alums come back and seeing how much this program really means to them is so cool.
Q: What is it like playing in Slater Family Ice Arena?
Swankler: It’s a surreal experience. As soon as you get on the ice and see the darkness, then everybody with their flashlights on, you get the chills. When you're on the ice you see how much the fans care and you think, “Wow, this is the best place to play college hockey.”
Q: You have four games remaining before the CCHA Tournament. What is one individual goal and one team goal you’d like to achieve by the end of the regular season?
Swankler: The most important thing is finishing as high as we can in the CCHA so we can to play at home for the playoffs. That's definitely number one. It would mean a lot to the guys and it would help us achieve our goal of making the NCAA tournament. As an individual, I want to continue having fun and help us finish high in the standings. I’d love to finish in the top five in the NCAA in points at the end of the year. I don’t want to be too focused on it during games, I just want to have fun and help us win. If the points come, they come.
