Most Improved Player
This may be the hardest award to have to pick in this series. As was stated in a previous post, this season is like watching a completely new team. There's no one player whose performance has improved so much more than the others that he's a total lock for this one.
An argument was made on AyZiggyZoomba.com that the entire team should be chosen for this award. It's a fair point, and one that I did consider for a short time. I decided against it, but I do think it's important to point out the overall improvement of the team. Everyone's playing solid hockey. Many of the losses this year were games that the Falcons were "in" to the very end. This is a big improvement from last year.
But, while I do recognize that pretty much the entire team has improved, I feel compelled to make myself choose a winner and a runner-up.
So, without further ado, I give you your 2009 Mid-Season Most Improved Player - Tommy Dee.
For the past three years, Dee has been a hard-working player who always gave it all on the ice. His efforts didn't show up much on the score sheet until this year. His point totals for his first three years were:
2006-2007: 2G-2A-4P in 29 games.
2007-2008: 3G-3A-6P in 28 games.
2008-2009: 7G-1A-8P in 37 games.
Through 18 games this season, Dee has already surpassed his previous season-high with 6G-5A-11P while continuing to be one of the hardest-working players on the team. He never quits on a play and always keeps his feet moving to make things happen for the Falcons. His balanced and consistent output has been a key this season.
I'm no brilliant hockey prognosticator (I just play one in the internet), but I have to say I called this one. I went to a pre-season practice this season and immediately noticed a change in Dee's game. He looked like he had developed an offensive spark and instinct that had been missing before. I guess I was right. Chalk a point up in my column.
Runner-Up
The runner-up for this award is Tomas Petruska. The gap here wasn't very big.
Petruska is a gritty, physical player for the Falcons, but he has added a lot to his offensive game this season. His point totals have increased from 1G-3A-4P in 36 games last season to 10G-4A-14P in just 18 games this season. He is making smarter decisions, rather than just making the physical play and taking himself out of the action. His increased offensive output, along with that of Tommy Dee, are a big reason for the Falcons' competitiveness this season.
Odds and Ends
The argument was made in the comments section of the initial awards post for Andrew Krelove as the Most Improved Player. I will admit that he has come a long way since last season, but he still inspires me to do my best Mr. Spacely impression more often than not ("KRELOOOOVE! YOU'RE FIRED!"). He's making progress, and that's the important thing. Hopefully he continues to improve. No matter how frustrated I've been with his decision-making at times, I want him to succeed here. I have faith that the coaching staff and his fellow players will help him continue to improve as the season progresses.
Next Time
The next award to be named will be Defensive MVP.
I've also decided to add one more award, which I'll call the Flying Under the Radar award. It will be given to the player I think shows the most potential for the future.
In the mean-time, comment with your thoughts on this award and your nominations for the new one.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Quid Pro Quo?
I'm fairly certain the title of this post is a misuse of the term, but I'm also fairly certain I don't care.
Just wanted to drop another post to acknowledge a blog for posting a link to my site.
I checked my Google Analytics stats today to see that I had nearly doubled my previous highest total for visitors in a day. Wondering what may have caused this jump, I checked the referrer stats to find that 12 visitors had been referred to my site by mgoblog - Michigan football, basketball, hockey, and general what-have-you.
Seeing as I didn't know a link had been posted there, this was quite a pleasant surprise. Given the amount of added traffic, I felt it was only fair to thank them for the link and provide one back.
Now, I don't know that I'll be doing this for every link to my site that gets added to the blogosphere or the internet tubes in general, but I felt this one was appropriate, both because of the boost in traffic and the fact that I grew up watching and rooting for Michigan (living in Columbus, no less!). Additionally, it turns out that mgoblog is a damn fine site, with enough recruiting information and general U of M knowledge to impress most fans of college athletics.
You'll never catch me cheering for the Weas.... Wolverines when they play BG, but I still have a bit of a soft spot for the maize and blue, and root for them in most games where I have no other rooting interest.
Anyway, that's enough for that soliloquy. Thanks for the link, mgoblog!
Just wanted to drop another post to acknowledge a blog for posting a link to my site.
I checked my Google Analytics stats today to see that I had nearly doubled my previous highest total for visitors in a day. Wondering what may have caused this jump, I checked the referrer stats to find that 12 visitors had been referred to my site by mgoblog - Michigan football, basketball, hockey, and general what-have-you.
Seeing as I didn't know a link had been posted there, this was quite a pleasant surprise. Given the amount of added traffic, I felt it was only fair to thank them for the link and provide one back.
Now, I don't know that I'll be doing this for every link to my site that gets added to the blogosphere or the internet tubes in general, but I felt this one was appropriate, both because of the boost in traffic and the fact that I grew up watching and rooting for Michigan (living in Columbus, no less!). Additionally, it turns out that mgoblog is a damn fine site, with enough recruiting information and general U of M knowledge to impress most fans of college athletics.
You'll never catch me cheering for the Weas.... Wolverines when they play BG, but I still have a bit of a soft spot for the maize and blue, and root for them in most games where I have no other rooting interest.
Anyway, that's enough for that soliloquy. Thanks for the link, mgoblog!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
BG Sports Blog Links
A link to my site was featured today on what I consider to be one of the better BGSU sports blogs out there, so I figured I'd return the favor.
If you're a fan of BGSU football or basketball, check out FalconBlog--Trials and Triumphs in the Falcon Nation.
The site features great coverage of BG basketball and football (and the MAC in general), including in-depth statistical insights and coverage of games and press conferences.
Also, if you're interested in BG hockey - and if you're here I'd assume you are - pay a visit to Bring Back the Glory for Falcon Hockey commentary, previews, recaps, press conferences and liveblogs. It's a fantastic site for any BG hockey fan or hockey fan in general.
If you know of any other BG sports blogs you think are deserving of a feature, let me know in the comments section!
If you're a fan of BGSU football or basketball, check out FalconBlog--Trials and Triumphs in the Falcon Nation.
The site features great coverage of BG basketball and football (and the MAC in general), including in-depth statistical insights and coverage of games and press conferences.
Also, if you're interested in BG hockey - and if you're here I'd assume you are - pay a visit to Bring Back the Glory for Falcon Hockey commentary, previews, recaps, press conferences and liveblogs. It's a fantastic site for any BG hockey fan or hockey fan in general.
If you know of any other BG sports blogs you think are deserving of a feature, let me know in the comments section!
Mid-Season Awards: Freshman of the Year
Freshman of the Year
I decided to start with the most obvious award. One freshman has stood out from the rest during the first half of this season, and that player is Jordan Samuels-Thomas (or, as I like to call him, "Hyphen").
Samuels-Thomas leads the team in goals and overall scoring and is second in assists. He is currently tied for 20th in the CCHA in overall scoring and tied for third among freshmen in scoring. Through 18 games JS-T has 15 points (6G-9A). His combination of speed, size, and strength have given opponents fits and led to a number of scoring opportunities for the Falcons. Beyond that, he has been the Falcons' shootout star, scoring winning goals against both "Duh Mavs" of Nebraska-Omaha and the Irish of Notre Dame.
Yes, yes, I know the UN-O shootout goal was "disputed." Guess what? We got the point for the shootout win. Thankyouverymuch.
Runner-up
This was actually a very tough choice. JS-T has performed so well that it's hard to look past him, which is a shame, because there are other freshmen who have made a big impact on the team this season. Ultimately, the runner-up decision came down to Ian Ruel and Nathan Pageau.
Pageau has the second-most points (3G-3A-6P) of all Falcon freshmen, and seems to score in big games for the team. His three goals have come in the shootout victory against Nebraska-Omaha, the first game of the series against Notre Dame, and the first game against Michigan State.
Ruel hasn't shown up as much on the scoring side of things, but his defensive presence is apparent when looking at one statistic: blocked shots. Ruel currently has 27 blocked shots this season, placing him second on the team behind captain Kyle Page.
People can (and probably will) debate the value of offense vs. defense, but I've always held a special place in my hockey heart for defensively-minded, shot-blocking players. For that reason, the runner-up spot goes to Ian Ruel.
If you'd like to weigh in on this decision, name your own winner, or congratulate me on my spectacular picks and hockey insight, leave a comment here.
Stay tuned for the next award, Most Improved Player. As usual, feel free to comment and tell me who you think should win. Make an argument if you'd like. I'm interested in other opinions, even if mine is the only correct one.
I decided to start with the most obvious award. One freshman has stood out from the rest during the first half of this season, and that player is Jordan Samuels-Thomas (or, as I like to call him, "Hyphen").
Samuels-Thomas leads the team in goals and overall scoring and is second in assists. He is currently tied for 20th in the CCHA in overall scoring and tied for third among freshmen in scoring. Through 18 games JS-T has 15 points (6G-9A). His combination of speed, size, and strength have given opponents fits and led to a number of scoring opportunities for the Falcons. Beyond that, he has been the Falcons' shootout star, scoring winning goals against both "Duh Mavs" of Nebraska-Omaha and the Irish of Notre Dame.
Yes, yes, I know the UN-O shootout goal was "disputed." Guess what? We got the point for the shootout win. Thankyouverymuch.
Runner-up
This was actually a very tough choice. JS-T has performed so well that it's hard to look past him, which is a shame, because there are other freshmen who have made a big impact on the team this season. Ultimately, the runner-up decision came down to Ian Ruel and Nathan Pageau.
Pageau has the second-most points (3G-3A-6P) of all Falcon freshmen, and seems to score in big games for the team. His three goals have come in the shootout victory against Nebraska-Omaha, the first game of the series against Notre Dame, and the first game against Michigan State.
Ruel hasn't shown up as much on the scoring side of things, but his defensive presence is apparent when looking at one statistic: blocked shots. Ruel currently has 27 blocked shots this season, placing him second on the team behind captain Kyle Page.
People can (and probably will) debate the value of offense vs. defense, but I've always held a special place in my hockey heart for defensively-minded, shot-blocking players. For that reason, the runner-up spot goes to Ian Ruel.
If you'd like to weigh in on this decision, name your own winner, or congratulate me on my spectacular picks and hockey insight, leave a comment here.
Stay tuned for the next award, Most Improved Player. As usual, feel free to comment and tell me who you think should win. Make an argument if you'd like. I'm interested in other opinions, even if mine is the only correct one.
Mid-Season Awards
Seeing as we've reached mid-season and the Falcons don't play again until early January, I'm going to fill the time with some mid-season awards. I'll announce picks for awards between now and the end of the year. The first pick will come later this week. A winner and a runner-up will be announced for the following awards:
Freshman of the Year
Most Improved Player
Offensive MVP
Defensive MVP
Team MVP
Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP do not have to be forwards or defensemen, respectively. If I find it to be too difficult to decide, I may name winners for best defensive forward and best offensive defenseman in addition to the previously named awards. Also, a player may be named for more than one award.
Obviously these honors are meaningless outside of this blog, but I think it'll be a fun exercise. Feel free to comment with nominations for any award not yet given, and your own picks for all of the awards. I'm interested to see what people think of the team and the players thus far in the season.
Check back later in the week to see my pick for Freshman of the Year. I'm sure the suspense is killing you.
Freshman of the Year
Most Improved Player
Offensive MVP
Defensive MVP
Team MVP
Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP do not have to be forwards or defensemen, respectively. If I find it to be too difficult to decide, I may name winners for best defensive forward and best offensive defenseman in addition to the previously named awards. Also, a player may be named for more than one award.
Obviously these honors are meaningless outside of this blog, but I think it'll be a fun exercise. Feel free to comment with nominations for any award not yet given, and your own picks for all of the awards. I'm interested to see what people think of the team and the players thus far in the season.
Check back later in the week to see my pick for Freshman of the Year. I'm sure the suspense is killing you.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Falcons Lose OT Heartbreaker to Spartans
The Falcons dropped a 3-2 decision to the Michigan State Spartans tonight.BG jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Boyd and Pageau and the Ice Arena was rocking.
Unfortunately, MSU scored 3 unanswered goals including the OT winner just :35 into the extra period.Stats and further details to (probably) follow in the next day or so.
[This version corrects an earlier one which incorrectly credited the second goal to Wade Finnegan.]
Unfortunately, MSU scored 3 unanswered goals including the OT winner just :35 into the extra period.Stats and further details to (probably) follow in the next day or so.
[This version corrects an earlier one which incorrectly credited the second goal to Wade Finnegan.]
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sexton Continues to Impress
Dan Sexton continued to shine tonight in the Ducks' 3-2 OT loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Dan tallied a goal and an assist with a +2 rating and 2 shots on goal. He now has 3 goals and 1 assist on 11 shots over his last 2 games.
Dan and the Ducks take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus tomorrow at 7. The game will be on Fox Sports Ohio.
Dan tallied a goal and an assist with a +2 rating and 2 shots on goal. He now has 3 goals and 1 assist on 11 shots over his last 2 games.
Dan and the Ducks take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus tomorrow at 7. The game will be on Fox Sports Ohio.
Sexton's Ducks Take On Detroit & Columbus
Exciting news for any BGSU fans in the Detroit, Toledo, Bowling Green, or Columbus areas: Dan Sexton and the Ducks play both the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets this weekend. Both games will be televised.
Anaheim and Detroit face off Friday night at 7:30PM ET at Joe Louis Arena. The game will be shown on Fox Sports Detroit. Check here to see if your cable provider carries FS-D and what channel it will be.
Saturday night Sexton and his Ducks fly south to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in Nationwide Arena. The puck drops for that game at 7PM ET. Check here to see if you can catch the game on Fox Sports Ohio.
Be sure to watch as Dan Sexton looks to follow up his impressive performance against the Stars with more heroics against the Wings and the Jackets.
Anaheim and Detroit face off Friday night at 7:30PM ET at Joe Louis Arena. The game will be shown on Fox Sports Detroit. Check here to see if your cable provider carries FS-D and what channel it will be.
Saturday night Sexton and his Ducks fly south to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in Nationwide Arena. The puck drops for that game at 7PM ET. Check here to see if you can catch the game on Fox Sports Ohio.
Be sure to watch as Dan Sexton looks to follow up his impressive performance against the Stars with more heroics against the Wings and the Jackets.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Bowling Green Falcons v. Michigan State Spartans
Friday, 12/11/2009 @ 7:05PM - Bowling Green, OH
Saturday, 12/12/2009 @ 7:05PM - East Lansing, MI
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 2-12-2 (2-8-2)
-Last game: v. Lake Superior L 5-2
MSU:
-Record: 10-6-2 (7-3-2)
-Last game: v. Western Michigan L 3-2 (OT)
Looking back...
Falcons Falter, Spartans Hit the Skids:
Both teams are in the midst of serious slumps, and are looking to shake the rust off with a solid performance.
The Falcons come into this series winless in regulation since their November 20th contest against the Michigan Wolverines.
Last weekends series with Lake Superior was ugly on the scoreboard and on the ice. The Lakers took the tightly contested first game by a margin of 2-1. The second game was decidedly more lopsided, with the Lakers coming out on top 5-2. Unfortunately, things took a rough turn on the ice as well, as freshman defenseman Robert Shea ran over LSSU goalie Pat Inglis in the final moments of the second game, leading to a number of scuffles and 11 penalties for a total of 30 minutes. Because of his part in the incident, Shea received a game DQ and will be unavailable for Friday's game against MSU.
The Spartans are slumping as well, with losses in the last few weeks to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Western Michigan. Despite their less than stellar performance, they remain ranked in the USCHO (14) and INCH (12) polls.
In their previous series, the Spartans split with the Northern Michigan Wildcats in Marquette, MI. MSU won a close game, 1-0 on Friday night, but couldn't repeat their success on Saturday, losing 3-2 in overtime.
Spartans still daydreaming about being Leonidas
This week the Falcons play a split series with the Michigan State Egg Suckers -err... Spartans. Friday night's contest will be held in the BGSU Ice Arena, and then State will "Go Green, Go White, Go Home" to the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing for the second half of the weekend tilt.
While MSU's record is intimidating, things are not as they seem. Since winning 10 of their first 13 games, the Spartans have gone 1-4-1 in their last six contests, with the tie game ending in a shootout loss.
In the interest of humor, let's take a look at MSU's roster.
Sophomore defenseman Tim Buttery may pose a problem for the Falcons this weekend, due to his slippery style of play.
Junior forward Andrew "Rowe, Rowe, Rowe Your Boat" looks to continue merrily down his scoring stream, as he currently ranks fourth on the team in total points scored (7-3-10).
And, finally, according to Assistant Coach Tim Newton's first and second laws of motion, the Spartans will continue to slide in the standings at a consistent pace unless accelerated by the outside force of a Falcon sweep.
What to watch for: Michigan State
The good:
The Spartans' roster features six NHL draft picks: Daultan Leveille (1st round, Atlanta), Jeff Petry (2nd round, Edmonton), Corey Tropp (3rd round, Buffalo), Derek Grant (4th round, Ottawa), Nick Sucharski (5th round, Columbus), and Trevor Nill (7th round, St. Louis). Tropp, Grant, and Petry lead the team in scoring with 21, 17, and 13 points, respectively. Leveille and Sucharski are both in the top ten as well.
Also worth noting is freshman forward #40 Dean Chelios, the oldest son of NHL legend Chris Chelios.
The bad:
As was previously mentioned, the Spartans have fallen on tough times lately, winning only one of their last six games. I am a bit hesitant to mention this fact in this part of the preview after the results of a similar tactic last weekend, but I'll say it anyway. Hopefully the Falcons can snap their winless streak and drop the Spartans even further in the standings.
The ugly:
The Spartan defense has given up three or more goals in eight of their 18 games this season, with their worst effort being a 7-3 home loss to Wisconsin.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
Freshman sensation Jordan Samuels-Thomas continues to impress, as he is currently tied for second in the CCHA in freshman scoring (6-6-12) through twelve conference games. His 12 points in 12 games are also good enough for a sixth-place tie in overall scoring in the conference.
Samuels-Thomas was notably absent from the scoring sheet last week, tallying only one assist over the weekend series against Lake Superior. JST will have to step it up this weekend if the Falcons hope to have some success against the Spartans.
The bad:
The Falcon powerplay unit was a measly 1-8 against the Lakers last weekend. Saturday's effort was markedly better, with the BG icers managing 13 shots in four PP opportunities, as opposed to five shots in the same number of man-advantage situations on Friday.
The ugly:
The end of Saturday's game is all I can think to put here. As a result of the chaos that ended the series with Lake State, the Falcons will be without Robert Shea for the first of the two games this weekend. For a short time, it looked as if the toll from the mess would be even higher, as LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis stayed down on the ice for an extended period of time following the collision. It was good to see him get to his feet and finish the game, and hopefully no serious injuries were sustained by anyone in the chaos.
Also deserving of a mention here is LSSU co-captain Zac MacVoy's exit from the ice on Saturday. After being pulled out of the scrum, MacVoy was being escorted off of the ice, but instead demanded to go to the penalty box, where he proceeded to start a shouting match with the BGSU players seated on their side of the box. This led to a shouting down from one of the scorers and MacVoy's eventual removal from the ice, with various motions and gestures to the student section on his way past.
Emotions run high in hockey, that much is understood, but I would expect a senior captain to have a little more restraint.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
The rules for this fantasy game can be found in the Bowling Green v. Lake Superior preview post. One rule I forgot to post previously is that shootout goals do not count toward player points or total goals predictions.
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Tomas Petruska, and David Solway. The top three scorers from Michigan State are Corey Tropp, Derek Grant, and Jeff Petry. These players are considered ineligible for this fantasy contest.
Friday:
Forwards: Nick Sucharski (MSU), Tommy Dee (BGSU), James Perkin (BGSU)
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BGSU), Kyle Page (BGSU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Daultan Leveille (MSU), Marc Rodriguez (BGSU), Josh Boyd (BGSU)
Defensemen: Zach Josepher (MSU), Matt Crandell (MSU)
Game score picks:
Friday: BGSU 3 - MSU 1
Saturday: BGSU 2 - MSU 2
Total Goals: 8
Saturday, 12/12/2009 @ 7:05PM - East Lansing, MI
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 2-12-2 (2-8-2)
-Last game: v. Lake Superior L 5-2
MSU:
-Record: 10-6-2 (7-3-2)
-Last game: v. Western Michigan L 3-2 (OT)
Looking back...
Falcons Falter, Spartans Hit the Skids:
Both teams are in the midst of serious slumps, and are looking to shake the rust off with a solid performance.
The Falcons come into this series winless in regulation since their November 20th contest against the Michigan Wolverines.
Last weekends series with Lake Superior was ugly on the scoreboard and on the ice. The Lakers took the tightly contested first game by a margin of 2-1. The second game was decidedly more lopsided, with the Lakers coming out on top 5-2. Unfortunately, things took a rough turn on the ice as well, as freshman defenseman Robert Shea ran over LSSU goalie Pat Inglis in the final moments of the second game, leading to a number of scuffles and 11 penalties for a total of 30 minutes. Because of his part in the incident, Shea received a game DQ and will be unavailable for Friday's game against MSU.
The Spartans are slumping as well, with losses in the last few weeks to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Western Michigan. Despite their less than stellar performance, they remain ranked in the USCHO (14) and INCH (12) polls.
In their previous series, the Spartans split with the Northern Michigan Wildcats in Marquette, MI. MSU won a close game, 1-0 on Friday night, but couldn't repeat their success on Saturday, losing 3-2 in overtime.
Spartans still daydreaming about being Leonidas
This week the Falcons play a split series with the Michigan State Egg Suckers -err... Spartans. Friday night's contest will be held in the BGSU Ice Arena, and then State will "Go Green, Go White, Go Home" to the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing for the second half of the weekend tilt.
While MSU's record is intimidating, things are not as they seem. Since winning 10 of their first 13 games, the Spartans have gone 1-4-1 in their last six contests, with the tie game ending in a shootout loss.
In the interest of humor, let's take a look at MSU's roster.
Sophomore defenseman Tim Buttery may pose a problem for the Falcons this weekend, due to his slippery style of play.
Junior forward Andrew "Rowe, Rowe, Rowe Your Boat" looks to continue merrily down his scoring stream, as he currently ranks fourth on the team in total points scored (7-3-10).
And, finally, according to Assistant Coach Tim Newton's first and second laws of motion, the Spartans will continue to slide in the standings at a consistent pace unless accelerated by the outside force of a Falcon sweep.
What to watch for: Michigan State
The good:
The Spartans' roster features six NHL draft picks: Daultan Leveille (1st round, Atlanta), Jeff Petry (2nd round, Edmonton), Corey Tropp (3rd round, Buffalo), Derek Grant (4th round, Ottawa), Nick Sucharski (5th round, Columbus), and Trevor Nill (7th round, St. Louis). Tropp, Grant, and Petry lead the team in scoring with 21, 17, and 13 points, respectively. Leveille and Sucharski are both in the top ten as well.
Also worth noting is freshman forward #40 Dean Chelios, the oldest son of NHL legend Chris Chelios.
The bad:
As was previously mentioned, the Spartans have fallen on tough times lately, winning only one of their last six games. I am a bit hesitant to mention this fact in this part of the preview after the results of a similar tactic last weekend, but I'll say it anyway. Hopefully the Falcons can snap their winless streak and drop the Spartans even further in the standings.
The ugly:
The Spartan defense has given up three or more goals in eight of their 18 games this season, with their worst effort being a 7-3 home loss to Wisconsin.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
Freshman sensation Jordan Samuels-Thomas continues to impress, as he is currently tied for second in the CCHA in freshman scoring (6-6-12) through twelve conference games. His 12 points in 12 games are also good enough for a sixth-place tie in overall scoring in the conference.
Samuels-Thomas was notably absent from the scoring sheet last week, tallying only one assist over the weekend series against Lake Superior. JST will have to step it up this weekend if the Falcons hope to have some success against the Spartans.
The bad:
The Falcon powerplay unit was a measly 1-8 against the Lakers last weekend. Saturday's effort was markedly better, with the BG icers managing 13 shots in four PP opportunities, as opposed to five shots in the same number of man-advantage situations on Friday.
The ugly:
The end of Saturday's game is all I can think to put here. As a result of the chaos that ended the series with Lake State, the Falcons will be without Robert Shea for the first of the two games this weekend. For a short time, it looked as if the toll from the mess would be even higher, as LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis stayed down on the ice for an extended period of time following the collision. It was good to see him get to his feet and finish the game, and hopefully no serious injuries were sustained by anyone in the chaos.
Also deserving of a mention here is LSSU co-captain Zac MacVoy's exit from the ice on Saturday. After being pulled out of the scrum, MacVoy was being escorted off of the ice, but instead demanded to go to the penalty box, where he proceeded to start a shouting match with the BGSU players seated on their side of the box. This led to a shouting down from one of the scorers and MacVoy's eventual removal from the ice, with various motions and gestures to the student section on his way past.
Emotions run high in hockey, that much is understood, but I would expect a senior captain to have a little more restraint.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
The rules for this fantasy game can be found in the Bowling Green v. Lake Superior preview post. One rule I forgot to post previously is that shootout goals do not count toward player points or total goals predictions.
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Tomas Petruska, and David Solway. The top three scorers from Michigan State are Corey Tropp, Derek Grant, and Jeff Petry. These players are considered ineligible for this fantasy contest.
Friday:
Forwards: Nick Sucharski (MSU), Tommy Dee (BGSU), James Perkin (BGSU)
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BGSU), Kyle Page (BGSU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Daultan Leveille (MSU), Marc Rodriguez (BGSU), Josh Boyd (BGSU)
Defensemen: Zach Josepher (MSU), Matt Crandell (MSU)
Game score picks:
Friday: BGSU 3 - MSU 1
Saturday: BGSU 2 - MSU 2
Total Goals: 8
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Falcon Alumni News: Sexton Shines in Ducks' Comeback Win!
Dan Sexton scored his first two goals of his young NHL career tonight, leading a comeback that ended in a 4-3 overtime victory by the Ducks.
Sexton led all skaters with nine shots in the game, including the Ducks' second and third goals, both in the third period.
His performance landed him on Top Plays on the late edition of SportsCenter, with an additional mention during the game recap later in the show.
Here's to more nights like this for Sexton, who is affectionately referred to in the "Game Log" at the bottom of the recap (linked above) as "Sexy."
Keep it up, Dan! Make us proud!
Sexton led all skaters with nine shots in the game, including the Ducks' second and third goals, both in the third period.
His performance landed him on Top Plays on the late edition of SportsCenter, with an additional mention during the game recap later in the show.
Here's to more nights like this for Sexton, who is affectionately referred to in the "Game Log" at the bottom of the recap (linked above) as "Sexy."
Keep it up, Dan! Make us proud!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
BGSU v. LSSU Pictures
Because we're a classy, high-tech outfit here at FHH, we're using this post to show you some shots taken from last night's game on our cutting edge photographic equipment.
(If you can't tell I'm joking by now, you haven't been paying attention.)
And now, courtesy of my BlackBerry Curve's totally inadequate camera, here are 3 shots from last night's slug-fest.
LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis lays on the ice after being bowled over by Robert Shea as several scuffles go on around them.
Order is (somewhat) restored and Robert Shea (left side of image) is escorted off of the ice.
BGSU captain Kyle Page and LSSU captain Steven Kaunisto sort things out with the officials as two Falcons and four Lakers have a seat in the box.
(If you can't tell I'm joking by now, you haven't been paying attention.)
And now, courtesy of my BlackBerry Curve's totally inadequate camera, here are 3 shots from last night's slug-fest.
LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis lays on the ice after being bowled over by Robert Shea as several scuffles go on around them.
Order is (somewhat) restored and Robert Shea (left side of image) is escorted off of the ice.
BGSU captain Kyle Page and LSSU captain Steven Kaunisto sort things out with the officials as two Falcons and four Lakers have a seat in the box.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
BGSU v. LSSU 12/5/09 : Unofficial Scoring Stats & Fantasy Update
Fresh off of the LSSU Lakers' website, here are is the unofficial scoring summary from tonight's game:
Scoring summary:
1 - LSSU - John Scrymgeour from Pat Aubry (0-1 LSSU)
2 - BG - James Perkin from Nathan Pageau (1-1 tied)
3 - LSSU - Dan Barczuk from Zac MacVoy (1-2 LSSU)
4 - LSSU - Rick Schofield from Ben Power and Will Acton (1-3 LSSU)
5 - LSSU - Nick McParland from Zach Trotman and Will Acton (1-4 LSSU)
6 - BG - Tommy Dee from David Solway and Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2-4 LSSU)
7 - LSSU - Dillin Stonehouse from Rick Schofield and Pat Aubry (2-5 LSSU)
[Picks (Team) - Points]
Forwards:
Kai Kantola (BG) - 0
Marc Rodriguez (BG) - 0
Brad Cooper (LSSU) - 0
Defensemen:
Ian Ruel (BG) - 0
Tyson Hobbins (LSSU) - 0
And, just for fun, the penalty summary. All of the penalties from the game-ending scrum are in bold. Interesting to note MacVoy didn't actually get a game DQ. I guess they just sent him off for being a pain.
1st Peltoma,Ryan BGSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 15:33
1st Zach Trotman LSSU 2 INTERFERENCE 13:19
1st Ruel,Ian BGSU 2 INTERFERENCE 10:31
2nd John Scrymgeour LSSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 09:29
2nd Will Acton LSSU 2 HOOKING 02:34
3rd Perkin,James BGSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 16:34
3rd John Scrymgeour LSSU 2 CTH ROUGHING 14:44
3rd Finegan,Wade BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Kyle Haines LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Sinclair,Cameron BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Kyle Pobur LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Ruel,Ian BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Eric Kraft LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Nick McParland LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Vargas,Brennan BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Zac MacVoy LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Shea,Robert BGSU 2 CHARGING THE GOALIE 00:21
3rd Shea,Robert BGSU 10 DISQUALIFICATION 00:21
Scoring summary:
1 - LSSU - John Scrymgeour from Pat Aubry (0-1 LSSU)
2 - BG - James Perkin from Nathan Pageau (1-1 tied)
3 - LSSU - Dan Barczuk from Zac MacVoy (1-2 LSSU)
4 - LSSU - Rick Schofield from Ben Power and Will Acton (1-3 LSSU)
5 - LSSU - Nick McParland from Zach Trotman and Will Acton (1-4 LSSU)
6 - BG - Tommy Dee from David Solway and Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2-4 LSSU)
7 - LSSU - Dillin Stonehouse from Rick Schofield and Pat Aubry (2-5 LSSU)
[Picks (Team) - Points]
Forwards:
Kai Kantola (BG) - 0
Marc Rodriguez (BG) - 0
Brad Cooper (LSSU) - 0
Defensemen:
Ian Ruel (BG) - 0
Tyson Hobbins (LSSU) - 0
And, just for fun, the penalty summary. All of the penalties from the game-ending scrum are in bold. Interesting to note MacVoy didn't actually get a game DQ. I guess they just sent him off for being a pain.
1st Peltoma,Ryan BGSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 15:33
1st Zach Trotman LSSU 2 INTERFERENCE 13:19
1st Ruel,Ian BGSU 2 INTERFERENCE 10:31
2nd John Scrymgeour LSSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 09:29
2nd Will Acton LSSU 2 HOOKING 02:34
3rd Perkin,James BGSU 2 CROSS-CHECKING 16:34
3rd John Scrymgeour LSSU 2 CTH ROUGHING 14:44
3rd Finegan,Wade BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Kyle Haines LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Sinclair,Cameron BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Kyle Pobur LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Ruel,Ian BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Eric Kraft LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Nick McParland LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Vargas,Brennan BGSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Zac MacVoy LSSU 2 ROUGHING ATW 00:21
3rd Shea,Robert BGSU 2 CHARGING THE GOALIE 00:21
3rd Shea,Robert BGSU 10 DISQUALIFICATION 00:21
BGSU v. Lake Superior "Live Blog"?
This is my attemp at liveblogging. By that I mean I'll be posting updates from my phone throughout the game if I remember.
First note - LSSU starts Inglis tonight in goal. If you remember my series preview, Inglis has been pretty disappointing in net this season. Hopefully this bodes well for the Falcons.
Update #1 - 12:29 left in the 1st. LSSU up 1-0 already on a bad rebound by Eno.
Update #2 - 1:37 left in the first. 1-1. Perkin with the equalizer after a gorgeous move to get by the defender at the blueline.
BG has definitely turned it on in the second half of this period.
Update #3 - 1:49 remaining in the 2nd. 3-1 LSSU on two quick goals. Eno dropped a pair of shots right on his glove. He's been pulled and Hammond has stepped in. Momentum is definitely in the Lakers' favor right now.
Update #4 - 11:42 remaining in the 3rd. 4-1 LSSU. Hammond got beat on a tough rebound. Wide open net.
BG just had over a minute of sustained pressure on Inglis on the PP and came away with nothing. At least a dozen chances, but no goals. Just one of those nights.
Update #5 - 7:12 left in the 3rd. 5-2 LSSU. BG scored on a trickler that found its way past Inglis. Tommy Dee, if I remember correctly.
LSSU answered almost immediately. The goal chant had barely finished.
Update #6 - Just over :20 remaining in the game. Huge collision in front of the LSSU net. Robert Shea bowls over Pat Inglis and a huge scuffle erupts. Lots of pushing, shoving, and punches thrown.
When it's all said and done, Shea is sent off the ice, and four Lakers make their way to the box. MacVoy is being escorted off the ice, but instead insists on going to the box. He immediately begins jawing at the BG players, leading one of the scorers to stand up and shout him down. He is then sent off, giving some interesting hand gestures to the Ice Arena faithful.
Two more BG players make the long skate to the sin bin, and we're up to eight in the box and two sent to the locker room.
Inglis is down for a few minutes, and the crowd is still stirred up due to the scrum. The final :20 tick off of the clock, and LSSU wins. Dillin Stonehouse smacks the boards in front of the student section and skates through the handshake line and off the ice to a chorus of boos and insults.
Tough loss, but an interesting game. Goaltending and defensive lapses were a major issue. Aside from the one sustained PP, BG wasn't able to accomplish much with the advantage. These issues are going to have to be addressed.
I'll have the scoring summary and an update on my fantasy picks as soon as I get the information.
First note - LSSU starts Inglis tonight in goal. If you remember my series preview, Inglis has been pretty disappointing in net this season. Hopefully this bodes well for the Falcons.
Update #1 - 12:29 left in the 1st. LSSU up 1-0 already on a bad rebound by Eno.
Update #2 - 1:37 left in the first. 1-1. Perkin with the equalizer after a gorgeous move to get by the defender at the blueline.
BG has definitely turned it on in the second half of this period.
Update #3 - 1:49 remaining in the 2nd. 3-1 LSSU on two quick goals. Eno dropped a pair of shots right on his glove. He's been pulled and Hammond has stepped in. Momentum is definitely in the Lakers' favor right now.
Update #4 - 11:42 remaining in the 3rd. 4-1 LSSU. Hammond got beat on a tough rebound. Wide open net.
BG just had over a minute of sustained pressure on Inglis on the PP and came away with nothing. At least a dozen chances, but no goals. Just one of those nights.
Update #5 - 7:12 left in the 3rd. 5-2 LSSU. BG scored on a trickler that found its way past Inglis. Tommy Dee, if I remember correctly.
LSSU answered almost immediately. The goal chant had barely finished.
Update #6 - Just over :20 remaining in the game. Huge collision in front of the LSSU net. Robert Shea bowls over Pat Inglis and a huge scuffle erupts. Lots of pushing, shoving, and punches thrown.
When it's all said and done, Shea is sent off the ice, and four Lakers make their way to the box. MacVoy is being escorted off the ice, but instead insists on going to the box. He immediately begins jawing at the BG players, leading one of the scorers to stand up and shout him down. He is then sent off, giving some interesting hand gestures to the Ice Arena faithful.
Two more BG players make the long skate to the sin bin, and we're up to eight in the box and two sent to the locker room.
Inglis is down for a few minutes, and the crowd is still stirred up due to the scrum. The final :20 tick off of the clock, and LSSU wins. Dillin Stonehouse smacks the boards in front of the student section and skates through the handshake line and off the ice to a chorus of boos and insults.
Tough loss, but an interesting game. Goaltending and defensive lapses were a major issue. Aside from the one sustained PP, BG wasn't able to accomplish much with the advantage. These issues are going to have to be addressed.
I'll have the scoring summary and an update on my fantasy picks as soon as I get the information.
Fantasy Hockey Update
Well, in case you're keeping score at home, here's the scoring summary and an update of my scoring picks after game 1.
Scoring summary:
1 - LSSU - Matt Cowie from Ben Power and Rick Schofield
2 - LSSU - Simon Gysbers from Zac MacVoy
3 - BGSU - Tomas Petruska from David Solway and Kyle Page
[Picks (Team) - Points]
Forwards:
Josh Boyd (BG) - 0
James Perkin (BG) - 0
David Solway (BG) - 1A
Defensemen:
Kyle Page (BG) - 1A
Steven Kaunisto (LSSU) - 0
As it stands, I'm in a five-way tie for first in the Ay Ziggy Zoomba version of this contest. Fortunately, nobody else entered here, so it looks like I'll win my own contest for sure! Have to learn to appreciate the little victories in life.
Scoring summary:
1 - LSSU - Matt Cowie from Ben Power and Rick Schofield
2 - LSSU - Simon Gysbers from Zac MacVoy
3 - BGSU - Tomas Petruska from David Solway and Kyle Page
[Picks (Team) - Points]
Forwards:
Josh Boyd (BG) - 0
James Perkin (BG) - 0
David Solway (BG) - 1A
Defensemen:
Kyle Page (BG) - 1A
Steven Kaunisto (LSSU) - 0
As it stands, I'm in a five-way tie for first in the Ay Ziggy Zoomba version of this contest. Fortunately, nobody else entered here, so it looks like I'll win my own contest for sure! Have to learn to appreciate the little victories in life.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Falcon Alumni News: Movin' On Up!
Congratulations are in order for former Falcons Jimmy Spratt and Dan Sexton.
Jimmy Spratt signed with the Toledo Walleye as an emergency backup goaltender today. For those who don't know, Spratt was drafted by Calgary in the seventh round in 2007, but had little luck finding his way into their system. In his career at BGSU, Jimmy went 27-62-5, with a 3.25 GAA and a save percentage of 88.2.
Best of luck to him finding a permanent roster spot in Toledo or elsewhere.
2008-2009 Falcon points leader Dan Sexton also received good news today, getting the call up to the Anaheim Ducks in the wake of a rash of injuries to their forwards, including Teemu Selanne, Jeoffrey Lupul, Kyle Calder, and Ryan Carter.
Sexton accumulated 39 points in 38 games last season as part of the spectacular "S-Line" along with David Solway and Brandon Svendsen.
Congratulations to Dan, and good luck on sticking in Anaheim.
Jimmy Spratt signed with the Toledo Walleye as an emergency backup goaltender today. For those who don't know, Spratt was drafted by Calgary in the seventh round in 2007, but had little luck finding his way into their system. In his career at BGSU, Jimmy went 27-62-5, with a 3.25 GAA and a save percentage of 88.2.
Best of luck to him finding a permanent roster spot in Toledo or elsewhere.
2008-2009 Falcon points leader Dan Sexton also received good news today, getting the call up to the Anaheim Ducks in the wake of a rash of injuries to their forwards, including Teemu Selanne, Jeoffrey Lupul, Kyle Calder, and Ryan Carter.
Sexton accumulated 39 points in 38 games last season as part of the spectacular "S-Line" along with David Solway and Brandon Svendsen.
Congratulations to Dan, and good luck on sticking in Anaheim.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Fantasy Hockey!
If you're interested in a little friendly competition, check out the BGSU v. LSSU preview post and try out the Fantasy Hockey game described in the post. Comment with your picks and I'll post the scores of participants and winners before the next series. There's no prize for winning, at least not yet, but you get internet bragging rights for a week, and what's better than that?!
Remember to read the rules carefully and make sure all of your chosen players are eligible.
I have a pretty good track record in this game. See if you can beat me!
Remember to read the rules carefully and make sure all of your chosen players are eligible.
I have a pretty good track record in this game. See if you can beat me!
The Times, They Are A-Changing
Going into this series against Lake Superior, even casual observers of Falcon hockey can tell there's something different going on. They may not be able to put a finger on it, or spell it out completely, but there's a feel in the air that hasn't been present in some time.
To me, the only way to describe it is with one word: optimism.
This may seem a strange word to use to describe the situation of a 2-10-2 team who faced the very realistic possibility of the elimination of their program this off-season, but I stand by my point. Yes, the team faced some very scary, very dark moments in the long off-season months, but it is my feeling that the team has even more reason to feel optimistic and hopeful because of that situation.
Some outside the circle of Falcon hockey and its fans have asked me why I'm so excited about a two-win hockey team who lost most of the previous year's stars. I suppose at the root of it is the fact that where we are now, even at 2-10-2, is a heck of a lot better than where it looked like we were heading.
But beyond the feelings of, "We're just happy to be here," are some real reasons for hope.
Last week the Falcons took the #13/14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the wire in a pair of weekend contests, losing the first in the final two seconds and winning the second in a 1-0 shootout. While the series officially goes down as an overtime loss and a tie in the standings, it means a lot more to the Falcon hockey team and its community of supporters. Prior to the shootout victory, the Falcons had lost 12 straight to the Irish. That's not a blip on the radar. That's the kind of streak that cripples a fan-base. That's the kind of streak that stirs up talk of curses. So, while the Falcons didn't officially win either of the games against the Irish this year, the fact that they pulled off even the smallest of victories in the shootout is certainly cause for celebration.
Furthermore, watching the team on the ice, there is a clearly renewed sense of urgency, energy, determination, and will to win. In the later years of the Scott Paluch era, Falcon teams were often said to have "given up" on games that got away from them early. A 3-1 game in favor of the opponent could easily become 7-1 before all was said and done. This season, things seem to be different.
Take, for example, the second game of the series with the #9 Alaska Nanooks. In the first game of the series, the Falcons fought to a surprising 3-1 victory, their first of the season. Early in the second game, however, it became clear that a sweep wasn't going to come easy. The Nanooks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and the feeling in the arena was that of dread. The fans had seen this movie before, and it didn't end well for the good guys. Instead of giving up, the Falcons fought back and went into the third period trailing 4-2. With only a few minutes remaining in the game, David Solway put home a goal that cut the Nanooks' lead to one. The arena was electric. The players were energized, and it looked for a moment like the icers might fight back and get the sweep. While the game ended in a 5-3 loss courtesy of an empty net goal, the fighting spirit shown by the Falcons served as even further evidence that change was in the air.
That change could be, and probably is, coming from a number of different sources, but it would be silly to go through this whole article without mentioning the most obvious possibility - Interim Head Coach Dennis Williams. It is apparent in his press conferences and his general demeanor that Coach Williams is a key part of the recovery and eventual resurgence of this program. While a player at BGSU, Coach Williams received the Howard Brown Coaches' Award in recognition of his professional attitude on and off the ice, and that professional attitude continues to this day.
Have the results fully materialized on the ice yet? No. This sort of turnaround takes time and patience. The team may continue to struggle in the standings for the rest of the season. They may end up surprising all of the critics and placing well in the CCHA tournament. Either way, a few things are clear: this is a team that wants to not just survive, but thrive, and they have many of the pieces in place to make that a reality.
Hopefully the next few pieces of the puzzle fall into place this weekend against the Lakers. Here's to the first Falcon sweep of the season.
To me, the only way to describe it is with one word: optimism.
This may seem a strange word to use to describe the situation of a 2-10-2 team who faced the very realistic possibility of the elimination of their program this off-season, but I stand by my point. Yes, the team faced some very scary, very dark moments in the long off-season months, but it is my feeling that the team has even more reason to feel optimistic and hopeful because of that situation.
Some outside the circle of Falcon hockey and its fans have asked me why I'm so excited about a two-win hockey team who lost most of the previous year's stars. I suppose at the root of it is the fact that where we are now, even at 2-10-2, is a heck of a lot better than where it looked like we were heading.
But beyond the feelings of, "We're just happy to be here," are some real reasons for hope.
Last week the Falcons took the #13/14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the wire in a pair of weekend contests, losing the first in the final two seconds and winning the second in a 1-0 shootout. While the series officially goes down as an overtime loss and a tie in the standings, it means a lot more to the Falcon hockey team and its community of supporters. Prior to the shootout victory, the Falcons had lost 12 straight to the Irish. That's not a blip on the radar. That's the kind of streak that cripples a fan-base. That's the kind of streak that stirs up talk of curses. So, while the Falcons didn't officially win either of the games against the Irish this year, the fact that they pulled off even the smallest of victories in the shootout is certainly cause for celebration.
Furthermore, watching the team on the ice, there is a clearly renewed sense of urgency, energy, determination, and will to win. In the later years of the Scott Paluch era, Falcon teams were often said to have "given up" on games that got away from them early. A 3-1 game in favor of the opponent could easily become 7-1 before all was said and done. This season, things seem to be different.
Take, for example, the second game of the series with the #9 Alaska Nanooks. In the first game of the series, the Falcons fought to a surprising 3-1 victory, their first of the season. Early in the second game, however, it became clear that a sweep wasn't going to come easy. The Nanooks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and the feeling in the arena was that of dread. The fans had seen this movie before, and it didn't end well for the good guys. Instead of giving up, the Falcons fought back and went into the third period trailing 4-2. With only a few minutes remaining in the game, David Solway put home a goal that cut the Nanooks' lead to one. The arena was electric. The players were energized, and it looked for a moment like the icers might fight back and get the sweep. While the game ended in a 5-3 loss courtesy of an empty net goal, the fighting spirit shown by the Falcons served as even further evidence that change was in the air.
That change could be, and probably is, coming from a number of different sources, but it would be silly to go through this whole article without mentioning the most obvious possibility - Interim Head Coach Dennis Williams. It is apparent in his press conferences and his general demeanor that Coach Williams is a key part of the recovery and eventual resurgence of this program. While a player at BGSU, Coach Williams received the Howard Brown Coaches' Award in recognition of his professional attitude on and off the ice, and that professional attitude continues to this day.
Have the results fully materialized on the ice yet? No. This sort of turnaround takes time and patience. The team may continue to struggle in the standings for the rest of the season. They may end up surprising all of the critics and placing well in the CCHA tournament. Either way, a few things are clear: this is a team that wants to not just survive, but thrive, and they have many of the pieces in place to make that a reality.
Hopefully the next few pieces of the puzzle fall into place this weekend against the Lakers. Here's to the first Falcon sweep of the season.
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