And now, after excessive delay, here is the final installment of the Falcon Hockey Hooligan Post-Season Awards.
Award winners previously named:
Flying Under the Radar: Andrew Hammond
Runner(s)-up: Cameron Sinclair, Marc Rodriguez, and Max Grover, Ian Ruel
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Runner(s)-up: Nathan Pageau
Defensive MVP: Kyle Page
Runner(s)-up: Ian Ruel
Offensive MVP:Tomas Petruska
Runner(s)-up: Tommy Dee
This week's awards: Most Improved Player and Team MVP.
For those who don't remember or didn't see it at the time, the mid-season Most Improved Player was Tommy Dee.
The post-season award will go to someone who has already been named for a previous award - Tomas Petruska.
I won't go into too much detail, because Petruska's accomplishments this season have been spelled out pretty well over the last half-dozen posts or so. It's safe to say he went from a well-liked and respected role player last season, to a star this season, especially over the final few weeks.
Runner-up: Nick Eno
And, finally, after weeks and weeks of waiting, here it is - Team MVP.
Choosing the Team MVP was a very difficult decision. Among the players considered were Tomas Petruska, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Kyle Page, and Nick Eno. Ultimately, I decided to stick with the mid-season winner, Nick Eno.
As is usually the case when I have put praise on Falcon goaltenders this season, I'm sure there are people out there who would simply look at the team's record and dismiss the pick. If you're one of those people, you're certainly entitled to that stance. The win-loss record was abysmal and that can't be ignored.
But it's important to also look beyond the record. Anyone who watched Eno (and Hammond, for that matter) in games would know that the team's goaltending kept them in a position to win, most of the time.
Nick Eno made great strides this year as he continued to get back to form after an inconsistent sophomore season. Eno deserves a ton of credit for his improvement and performance this season.
Runner-up: Dennis Williams
The awards are for the players, which is why I didn't consider Coach Williams for the Team MVP, but I think he's at least deserving of a runner-up nod. Coach took a team that was on the verge of non-existence and losing players, and managed to salvage a season of hard-fought games and a team that never gave up.
As the University conducts its hiring search for the next BGSU hockey head coach, I sincerely hope they take into consideration what Coach Williams did in such extreme circumstances, the energy he brought to the team, and the faith the fans have in the job he can do.
If you ask me, my vote is safely with Coach Williams.
Anyway, that concludes the Post-Season Awards for 2009-2010. As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts about the whole thing in the comments.
Showing posts with label Eno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eno. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Season Wrap-Up
As the BGSU ice hockey season draws to a close, I inevitably start trying to put the season into perspective. What did we achieve? What did we learn? Who stood out and who faded away?
Following the conclusion of the Falcons' run in the CCHA playoffs, the bulk of the posts will be about looking back on the season that was. As was the case at mid-season, I will name the "winners" of a series of awards. To review, I will name players for the following awards:
Freshman of the Year (Midseason winner: Jordan Samuels-Thomas)
Most Improved Player (Midseason winner: Tommy Dee)
Offensive MVP (Midseason winner: Tommy Dee)
Defensive MVP (Midseason winner: Kyle Page)
Flying Under the Radar (Midseason winner: Wade Finegan)
Team MVP (Midseason winner: Nick Eno)
In addition to these individual awards, I'll be giving commentary on all sorts of other issues as they come to mind. If you have any specific topics you'd like to see discussed, feel free to leave them in the comments. Also, if you'd like to give your opinions on any of the topics or awards I've pointed out here (or anything else, for that matter). Leave them in a comment and maybe I'll share them on the blog.
Anyway, BG is down 4-1 right now to Duh Mavs (Brennan Vargas just scored!) but things aren't looking pretty. Anything's possible, but it's going to take something surprising to turn this around. Anyone who knows me knows I don't believe it's over until the buzzer sounds, so I still have hope. But, should this game not go the way of the Falcons, you can expect the wrap-up posts to start within the next few days.
Following the conclusion of the Falcons' run in the CCHA playoffs, the bulk of the posts will be about looking back on the season that was. As was the case at mid-season, I will name the "winners" of a series of awards. To review, I will name players for the following awards:
Freshman of the Year (Midseason winner: Jordan Samuels-Thomas)
Most Improved Player (Midseason winner: Tommy Dee)
Offensive MVP (Midseason winner: Tommy Dee)
Defensive MVP (Midseason winner: Kyle Page)
Flying Under the Radar (Midseason winner: Wade Finegan)
Team MVP (Midseason winner: Nick Eno)
In addition to these individual awards, I'll be giving commentary on all sorts of other issues as they come to mind. If you have any specific topics you'd like to see discussed, feel free to leave them in the comments. Also, if you'd like to give your opinions on any of the topics or awards I've pointed out here (or anything else, for that matter). Leave them in a comment and maybe I'll share them on the blog.
Anyway, BG is down 4-1 right now to Duh Mavs (Brennan Vargas just scored!) but things aren't looking pretty. Anything's possible, but it's going to take something surprising to turn this around. Anyone who knows me knows I don't believe it's over until the buzzer sounds, so I still have hope. But, should this game not go the way of the Falcons, you can expect the wrap-up posts to start within the next few days.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Bowling Green Falcons v. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Friday, 3/5/2010 @ 8:35PM - Qwest Center Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Saturday, 3/6/2010 @ 8:05PM - Qwest Center Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Sunday, 3/7/2010 @ 8:05PM (If necessary) - Qwest Center Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 5-23-6 (4-18-6-5)
-Last game: v. Michigan State T 2-2 (SOW)
Nebraska-Omaha:
-Record: 18-14-6 (13-12-3-2)
-Last game: v. Bemidji State W 3-2
Last time out...
Does MSU know everyone dies at the end of 300?
Last week the Falcons faced off against the Spartans of Michigan State University in the customary end of the season home-and-home series. Friday night's game at Munn was MSU's senior night, and Saturday's game in the BG Ice Arena was senior night for the Falcons. The home fans went home happy both nights.
The Spartans won the first matchup 5-2, dominating play throughout the game. Josh Boyd and Marc Rodriguez scored for the Falcons, but it wasn't enough. The Spartans cruised to an easy victory, allowing senior netminder Bobby Jarosz to take the ice for the final 9:00 of the game (and his college hockey career).
Saturday night was a much closer contest. MSU's Andrew Rowe opened the scoring just over 8:00 into the first period, assisted by Nick Sucharski and Dustin Gazley. David Solway answered early in the second to tie the game, setup by last week's hero Tomas Petruska and freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Samuels-Thomas went on to score a goal of his own, with Solway returning the assist favor, and help from Tommy Dee. With just 5:00 remaining in the game, Trevor Nill and Torey Krug set up MSU's Chris Forfar for the game-tying goal. The extra period was scoreless, resulting in a shootout.
The only successful conversion of the shootout was tallied by senior Tomas Petruska, giving the Falcons a Saturday shootout win for the second week in a row.
Falcons Look to Give "Duh Mavs" Unhappy Exit
Tonight BGSU takes the show on the road to Omaha, Nebraska for the first round of the CCHA Playoffs. The Falcons are hoping to see the Mavs out of the conference with a playoff defeat as they run along to the WCHA.
The teams have a rocky history, with UN-O fans insisting the teams are rivals, and BGSU fans not really caring one way or the other.
This year the matchup has a bit more drama, as the first meeting ended in disappointment and controversy for Nebraska. For those unfamiliar with the situation, freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas (AKA "The Hyphen") scored the shootout winning goal, despite being technically ineligible due to being in the penalty box at the end of OT. Despite a late protest by Nebraska, the goal stood, and the Falcons picked up the extra point. Much bitterness ensued.
Duh Mavs' fans also like to point out a particular dark moment in the history of BGSU hockey (which I won't detail here), accusing the Falcons of all sorts of sexual deviancy. But, I guess, if anyone knows anything about sexual deviancy, it would probably be people from Nebraska.
In the "funny names" department, Nebraska is surprisingly deficient, with only forward Nick "Dontcha Wanna" Fanto standing head and shoulders above the rest. I think that's good enough.
What to watch for: Nebraska-Omaha
In terms of scoring, the Mavericks are led by junior Rich Purslow (14-13-27) and senior Eddie DelGrosso (6-21-27). Seven more Mavs have more than 20 points for the season, and a total of five UN-O players have more than 10 goals.
Redshirt freshman John Faulkner (13-10-4, 2.69 GAA, 90.5%) has taken care of the majority of the goaltending duties this season, backed up by senior Jeremie Dupont (5-4-2, 2.97 GAA, 88.6%).
After starting the new year 1-4-1, the Mavericks have turned things around, going 8-3-1-1 leading up to the playoffs. That run has included sweeps of Northern Michigan and the University of Michigan, as well as splits with #1 Miami and nationally ranked Bemidji State.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The Falcons head into the playoffs on the upswing, after a regulation win and a shootout win against Notre Dame and an exciting shootout victory over Michigan State. Production has picked up from young and old Falcons, including a great showing by the underclassmen in the Notre Dame series and the breakout clutch play of senior Tomas Petruska.
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (11-13-24) and Tomas Petruska (9-14-23) lead the Falcons in scoring for the season.
The Falcons have allowed an average of 3.7 goals/game this season, which means the defense will have to step up to keep the Mavericks' strong scorers at bay. Fortunately, the play of the Falcon goaltenders has been impressive at the end of the season, so hopefully that bodes well for BGSU. Nick Eno, in his the Notre Dame series, had a save percentage of 93.7. Andrew Hammond, in the shootout win against MSU had a save percentage of 94.1.
The last time the two teams met, Eno stopped 40 of 43 (93.5%) shot attempts in regulation and overtime as the Falcons took a shootout win. The next night, Hammond fought off 30 of 33 shots (90.9%) in a 3-1 loss.
Here's to a great series and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs.
Saturday, 3/6/2010 @ 8:05PM - Qwest Center Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Sunday, 3/7/2010 @ 8:05PM (If necessary) - Qwest Center Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 5-23-6 (4-18-6-5)
-Last game: v. Michigan State T 2-2 (SOW)
Nebraska-Omaha:
-Record: 18-14-6 (13-12-3-2)
-Last game: v. Bemidji State W 3-2
Last time out...
Does MSU know everyone dies at the end of 300?
Last week the Falcons faced off against the Spartans of Michigan State University in the customary end of the season home-and-home series. Friday night's game at Munn was MSU's senior night, and Saturday's game in the BG Ice Arena was senior night for the Falcons. The home fans went home happy both nights.
The Spartans won the first matchup 5-2, dominating play throughout the game. Josh Boyd and Marc Rodriguez scored for the Falcons, but it wasn't enough. The Spartans cruised to an easy victory, allowing senior netminder Bobby Jarosz to take the ice for the final 9:00 of the game (and his college hockey career).
Saturday night was a much closer contest. MSU's Andrew Rowe opened the scoring just over 8:00 into the first period, assisted by Nick Sucharski and Dustin Gazley. David Solway answered early in the second to tie the game, setup by last week's hero Tomas Petruska and freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Samuels-Thomas went on to score a goal of his own, with Solway returning the assist favor, and help from Tommy Dee. With just 5:00 remaining in the game, Trevor Nill and Torey Krug set up MSU's Chris Forfar for the game-tying goal. The extra period was scoreless, resulting in a shootout.
The only successful conversion of the shootout was tallied by senior Tomas Petruska, giving the Falcons a Saturday shootout win for the second week in a row.
Falcons Look to Give "Duh Mavs" Unhappy Exit
Tonight BGSU takes the show on the road to Omaha, Nebraska for the first round of the CCHA Playoffs. The Falcons are hoping to see the Mavs out of the conference with a playoff defeat as they run along to the WCHA.
The teams have a rocky history, with UN-O fans insisting the teams are rivals, and BGSU fans not really caring one way or the other.
This year the matchup has a bit more drama, as the first meeting ended in disappointment and controversy for Nebraska. For those unfamiliar with the situation, freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas (AKA "The Hyphen") scored the shootout winning goal, despite being technically ineligible due to being in the penalty box at the end of OT. Despite a late protest by Nebraska, the goal stood, and the Falcons picked up the extra point. Much bitterness ensued.
Duh Mavs' fans also like to point out a particular dark moment in the history of BGSU hockey (which I won't detail here), accusing the Falcons of all sorts of sexual deviancy. But, I guess, if anyone knows anything about sexual deviancy, it would probably be people from Nebraska.
In the "funny names" department, Nebraska is surprisingly deficient, with only forward Nick "Dontcha Wanna" Fanto standing head and shoulders above the rest. I think that's good enough.
What to watch for: Nebraska-Omaha
In terms of scoring, the Mavericks are led by junior Rich Purslow (14-13-27) and senior Eddie DelGrosso (6-21-27). Seven more Mavs have more than 20 points for the season, and a total of five UN-O players have more than 10 goals.
Redshirt freshman John Faulkner (13-10-4, 2.69 GAA, 90.5%) has taken care of the majority of the goaltending duties this season, backed up by senior Jeremie Dupont (5-4-2, 2.97 GAA, 88.6%).
After starting the new year 1-4-1, the Mavericks have turned things around, going 8-3-1-1 leading up to the playoffs. That run has included sweeps of Northern Michigan and the University of Michigan, as well as splits with #1 Miami and nationally ranked Bemidji State.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The Falcons head into the playoffs on the upswing, after a regulation win and a shootout win against Notre Dame and an exciting shootout victory over Michigan State. Production has picked up from young and old Falcons, including a great showing by the underclassmen in the Notre Dame series and the breakout clutch play of senior Tomas Petruska.
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (11-13-24) and Tomas Petruska (9-14-23) lead the Falcons in scoring for the season.
The Falcons have allowed an average of 3.7 goals/game this season, which means the defense will have to step up to keep the Mavericks' strong scorers at bay. Fortunately, the play of the Falcon goaltenders has been impressive at the end of the season, so hopefully that bodes well for BGSU. Nick Eno, in his the Notre Dame series, had a save percentage of 93.7. Andrew Hammond, in the shootout win against MSU had a save percentage of 94.1.
The last time the two teams met, Eno stopped 40 of 43 (93.5%) shot attempts in regulation and overtime as the Falcons took a shootout win. The next night, Hammond fought off 30 of 33 shots (90.9%) in a 3-1 loss.
Here's to a great series and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bowling Green Bucks the Trend
Friday night, after years of futility, the Falcons ended the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's 18-game reign of terror. Saturday they proved that what some were calling "the Notre Dame curse" is officially over.
Notre Dame scored in the second period, as Kyle Palmieri drew first blood. Tomas Petruska scored the equalizer in the third, bringing the BGSU Ice Arena to its feet. The rest of the third period remained scoreless, as did the overtime period.
The Falcons had an earlier chance to take a lead, but the goal was waved off after an extended review by the officiating crew as the puck did not completely cross the goal line. In the third period, another would-be goal was negated after Notre Dame's Mike Johnson bumped the goal off of its pegs while scrambling to make a save.
Both goalies stopped the first attempts against them in the shootout, then both teams' second shooters converted on their chances (Dan Kissel and James Perkin). Notre Dame's third shooter, Ryan Thang, lost the puck as he tried one too many moves, and Tomas Petruska again came to the rescue, pulling off a great move and putting the puck past Johnson.
Petruska and Eno were clearly the stars of the game, with Petruska scoring the only Falcon goal in regulation and netting the shootout winner. Eno stopped 38 of 39 shots in regulation and overtime and 2 of 3 in the shootout to pick up the extra point for the Falcons. Both skated off of the ice to volleys of cheers from the BGSU faithful.
The underclassmen, after coming up big in the third period of Friday's game, were a presence again on Saturday. Ryan Peltoma notched an assist on Petruska's goal, Cameron Sinclair showed a great deal of hustle on the forecheck, and Marc Rodriguez and Max Grover brought the physical game and kept the Irish on edge all night.
Notre Dame scored in the second period, as Kyle Palmieri drew first blood. Tomas Petruska scored the equalizer in the third, bringing the BGSU Ice Arena to its feet. The rest of the third period remained scoreless, as did the overtime period.
The Falcons had an earlier chance to take a lead, but the goal was waved off after an extended review by the officiating crew as the puck did not completely cross the goal line. In the third period, another would-be goal was negated after Notre Dame's Mike Johnson bumped the goal off of its pegs while scrambling to make a save.
Both goalies stopped the first attempts against them in the shootout, then both teams' second shooters converted on their chances (Dan Kissel and James Perkin). Notre Dame's third shooter, Ryan Thang, lost the puck as he tried one too many moves, and Tomas Petruska again came to the rescue, pulling off a great move and putting the puck past Johnson.
Petruska and Eno were clearly the stars of the game, with Petruska scoring the only Falcon goal in regulation and netting the shootout winner. Eno stopped 38 of 39 shots in regulation and overtime and 2 of 3 in the shootout to pick up the extra point for the Falcons. Both skated off of the ice to volleys of cheers from the BGSU faithful.
The underclassmen, after coming up big in the third period of Friday's game, were a presence again on Saturday. Ryan Peltoma notched an assist on Petruska's goal, Cameron Sinclair showed a great deal of hustle on the forecheck, and Marc Rodriguez and Max Grover brought the physical game and kept the Irish on edge all night.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Bowling Green Falcons v. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(This will be a shortened series preview. Work, once again, interferes with my hobby writing. My apologies.)
Friday, 2/19/2010 @ 7:05PM
Saturday, 2/20/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 4-22-4 (3-17-4-3)
-Last game: v. Miami L 2-10
Notre Dame:
-Record: 12-13-7 (8-10-6-2)
-Last game: v. Western Michigan L 1-4
Last time out...
Black Eyes for Both Teams
I'm going to keep this fairly simple, because I've covered the previous series in depth in the last three posts.
Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:
Friday night was a hard fought game which ended in a 3-2 loss for the Falcons after the Redhawks took a late lead on a goal that found its way into the net after it deflected off of Andrew Hammond's shoulder and the Falcons failed to convert on a quality scoring chance in the closing moments of the game. There were moments of tension and some chippy play that would foreshadow the mess that would be the second game of the series.
Saturday's game was an absolute shelling, with the Redhawks winning 10-2 and over 150 penalty minutes. Dirty play by both teams, fights, and arguments led to player ejections and the ejection of Miami coach Enrico Blasi. An altogether disappointing display for any hockey fan.
Irish Looking For Their Pot of Gold, Falcons Hopeful
Let's get right to the point here - Who on the Irish team has a funny name. I know that's why you're still reading, and I aim to please.
First off, a reminder to "Always Practice Safe Checks - Use A Condon" (Nick, #14).
Next, Ryan "Shake Your Groove" Thang (#9). And, finally, the Falcons will hope the Irish are saying (Billy) Maday (#17) by the end of the series.
What to watch for: Notre Dame
Notre Dame suffered an unexpected sweep at the hands of the Western Michigan Broncos last weekend and currently stand in 10th place in the CCHA. This season has been a mixed bag for the Irish, who have gone 2-1-1 against Michigan State (T-2nd CCHA) and split with Miami (OH) (1st CCHA), outscoring them 4-1 over two games. Despite their relative success against some of the CCHA's best, they have also gone 4-3-3 against the bottom half of the league.
In terms of scoring, the Irish are led by Calle Ridderwall (17-7-24), Kyle Lawson (4-18-22), and Billy Maday (7-12-19). Three goaltenders have seen starting time, with Mike Johnson (9-9-4 record, 2.36 GAA, 92% SV) shouldering the majority of the load, Brad Phillips (2-3-3 record, 2.47 GAA, 91% SV) starting eight games, and Tom O'Brien (1-1-0 record, 2.12 GAA, 90% SV) starting two.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
Bowling Green is coming to the end of a disappointing regular season. With only four wins this season, results are certainly below expectations. A number of reasons and explanations could be given for the lack of success so far, but the team's focus needs to be on finishing the season in strong form.
If the Falcons play this series the way they played the first of the two games against Miami, we could very well see the first Falcon win over Notre Dame in regulation in the last 18 meetings.
Freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas, AKA "The Hyphen," (10-12-22) currently leads the team in scoring. Thomas Petruska (8-13-21) trails him slightly, and captain Kyle Page (3-14-17) is third.
Nick Eno (4-10-3 record, 3.25 GAA, 89% SV) has been the goaltender of choice for most of the season, starting 17 games. Andrew Hammond (0-11-1 record, 4.37 GAA, 87% SV) has been solid at times, but has yet to record his first collegiate regulation win. He was, however, very impressive in the 3-2 loss to Miami last week. Phil Greer saw his first action of the season during last Saturday's blowout loss to Miami, much to the delight of fans who have appreciated his commitment to the team the last 4 years.
Due to game disqualification penalties assessed during the Miami melee, James Perkin and Max Grover will be unavailable for Friday's game against the Irish.
Friday, 2/19/2010 @ 7:05PM
Saturday, 2/20/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 4-22-4 (3-17-4-3)
-Last game: v. Miami L 2-10
Notre Dame:
-Record: 12-13-7 (8-10-6-2)
-Last game: v. Western Michigan L 1-4
Last time out...
Black Eyes for Both Teams
I'm going to keep this fairly simple, because I've covered the previous series in depth in the last three posts.
Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:
Friday night was a hard fought game which ended in a 3-2 loss for the Falcons after the Redhawks took a late lead on a goal that found its way into the net after it deflected off of Andrew Hammond's shoulder and the Falcons failed to convert on a quality scoring chance in the closing moments of the game. There were moments of tension and some chippy play that would foreshadow the mess that would be the second game of the series.
Saturday's game was an absolute shelling, with the Redhawks winning 10-2 and over 150 penalty minutes. Dirty play by both teams, fights, and arguments led to player ejections and the ejection of Miami coach Enrico Blasi. An altogether disappointing display for any hockey fan.
Irish Looking For Their Pot of Gold, Falcons Hopeful
Let's get right to the point here - Who on the Irish team has a funny name. I know that's why you're still reading, and I aim to please.
First off, a reminder to "Always Practice Safe Checks - Use A Condon" (Nick, #14).
Next, Ryan "Shake Your Groove" Thang (#9). And, finally, the Falcons will hope the Irish are saying (Billy) Maday (#17) by the end of the series.
What to watch for: Notre Dame
Notre Dame suffered an unexpected sweep at the hands of the Western Michigan Broncos last weekend and currently stand in 10th place in the CCHA. This season has been a mixed bag for the Irish, who have gone 2-1-1 against Michigan State (T-2nd CCHA) and split with Miami (OH) (1st CCHA), outscoring them 4-1 over two games. Despite their relative success against some of the CCHA's best, they have also gone 4-3-3 against the bottom half of the league.
In terms of scoring, the Irish are led by Calle Ridderwall (17-7-24), Kyle Lawson (4-18-22), and Billy Maday (7-12-19). Three goaltenders have seen starting time, with Mike Johnson (9-9-4 record, 2.36 GAA, 92% SV) shouldering the majority of the load, Brad Phillips (2-3-3 record, 2.47 GAA, 91% SV) starting eight games, and Tom O'Brien (1-1-0 record, 2.12 GAA, 90% SV) starting two.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
Bowling Green is coming to the end of a disappointing regular season. With only four wins this season, results are certainly below expectations. A number of reasons and explanations could be given for the lack of success so far, but the team's focus needs to be on finishing the season in strong form.
If the Falcons play this series the way they played the first of the two games against Miami, we could very well see the first Falcon win over Notre Dame in regulation in the last 18 meetings.
Freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas, AKA "The Hyphen," (10-12-22) currently leads the team in scoring. Thomas Petruska (8-13-21) trails him slightly, and captain Kyle Page (3-14-17) is third.
Nick Eno (4-10-3 record, 3.25 GAA, 89% SV) has been the goaltender of choice for most of the season, starting 17 games. Andrew Hammond (0-11-1 record, 4.37 GAA, 87% SV) has been solid at times, but has yet to record his first collegiate regulation win. He was, however, very impressive in the 3-2 loss to Miami last week. Phil Greer saw his first action of the season during last Saturday's blowout loss to Miami, much to the delight of fans who have appreciated his commitment to the team the last 4 years.
Due to game disqualification penalties assessed during the Miami melee, James Perkin and Max Grover will be unavailable for Friday's game against the Irish.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Bowling Green Falcons v. Miami (OH) Redhawks
Friday, 2/12/2010 @ 7:05PM
Saturday, 2/13/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 4-20-4 (3-15-4-3)
-Last game: v. Michigan L 0-4
Miami (Ohio):
-Record: 20-4-6 (17-1-4-2)
-Last game: v. Lake Superior State W 10-4
Last time out...
Adding Insult to Injury
Last week This week Some time in the last week or so, the Falcons took on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half of one of the strangest season series (at least in terms of scheduling) that I've ever seen.
For those who don't remember, the first half of the season series began with a game at Yost, where the Falcons took home a 4-2 victory. The next night the teams faced off again, not in Bowling Green, but in the new Lucas County Arena in Toledo in a game that felt so uncomfortable that even I left early. The Falcons lost that game 4-1.
The second half was just as odd in terms of scheduling, but, sadly, the results were slightly more depressing.
The Falcons fell behind 2-1 in the first period of last Thursday's game at the BGSU Ice Arena. For the next two periods the teams fought to a stalemate and ultimately the game ended with the Wolverines picking up the victory. Five days and 70 miles later, the teams took to the ice again in Ann Arbor. Not only did the Falcons lose in a 4-0 shutout, but goalie Nick Eno went down just over three minutes into the second period.
All in all, a fairly disappointing couple of games.
"Falcons take on J-Crew U"
This week the Falcons face off against the polo-bedecked prep school all-stars of #1 Miami (of Ohio) University.
Obviously, this is looking like a very tough series. The Redhawks are #1 in the nation, have only lost one conference game this season, and have posted a number of impressive wins. It would be a pretty epic upset for the Falcons, who are ranked last in the conference, to defeat Miami. In spite of the long odds, you can bet that Coach Williams and the Falcons will, as they have all season, work hard to fight for the win.
Fortunately, Miami's success has no impact on the fact that they are one of the easiest schools in history to mock. I can tell you this much - I will be attending the game in a red polo shirt with the collar popped, some sick shades (like, totally, bro) and enough self-important attitude to put the entire cast of The Hills to shame. Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I say it's a pretty easy way to mock some trust fund bros.
Honestly, though, was there ever any doubt that a guy named Carter Camper would end up at Miami (Not The Real Miami, But The One In Oxford, Ohio) University? I would be shocked to learn that a guy with a name like that didn't escape from the womb in a collared shirt and a nice pair of khaki slacks.
Anyway, on to a closer look at the teams.
What to watch for: Miami
The good:
There's almost too much "good" in Miami's season to try to single anything out, but I'll settle on this: Miami hasn't lost a conference game since October 24th, when they lost an OT contest to Michigan State, 3-2. Yes, you read that right. Miami has only lost one conference game this season, and that was in overtime to the second best team in the conference.
The bad:
Let's see... what has Miami done badly this year... They've only won half of their shootouts? No?
OK, how about this - Miami has had six games end in ties this season. I know, I know, it doesn't seem that bad, but if a tie is like kissing your sister, what does that say about Miami?
The ugly:
Senior forward Gary Steffes (#12) has played in 15 games for the Redhawks, and has tallied one point, an assist. Sophomore goaltender Connor Knapp has played in 12 games (and is a goalie) and has one more assist than Steffes.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
As has been the case for most of the season, freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas continues to dominate the score sheet for the Falcons. He currently stands at a scoring total of 9 goals and 12 assists for a total of 21 points. Right along with him is senior Tomas Petruska, with 8 goals and 13 assists. It is encouraging to see both the senior leaders and the new talent on the team contributing.
The bad:
After the two last two losses to Michigan, BGSU now sits one point below Western Michigan for last place in the CCHA. Obviously this is a fairly disappointing position to be in, considering the optimism many fans felt coming into the season. It's not a complete shock, as any team that went through the kind of turmoil BGSU did this offseason would have to expect some difficulty, but still, it's a frustrating situation.
The ugly:
Obviously the injury to Nick Eno is a major setback for the team if he misses any substantial time. Eno has started 17 games for the Falcons this season, while Andrew Hammond has started only 9, and third-string goaltender Phil Greer has yet to start a game. Hammond is going to have to step his game up to make up for the loss of Eno.
In Memory:
In lieu of the usual fantasy pick 'em section, today this space will be used as a chance to recognize the unfortunate and untimely loss of Miami's student manager Brendan Burke, who passed away in a car accident on February 5th.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Miami University team and community, his family, his friends, and all who knew him and his passenger.
This blog usually strives to bring the snark, but some things are more important than sports and sarcasm. When any team tragically loses a member of their family, it is a loss for the entire league, the world of hockey, and all of us who follow it so closely.
Saturday, 2/13/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 4-20-4 (3-15-4-3)
-Last game: v. Michigan L 0-4
Miami (Ohio):
-Record: 20-4-6 (17-1-4-2)
-Last game: v. Lake Superior State W 10-4
Last time out...
Adding Insult to Injury
For those who don't remember, the first half of the season series began with a game at Yost, where the Falcons took home a 4-2 victory. The next night the teams faced off again, not in Bowling Green, but in the new Lucas County Arena in Toledo in a game that felt so uncomfortable that even I left early. The Falcons lost that game 4-1.
The second half was just as odd in terms of scheduling, but, sadly, the results were slightly more depressing.
The Falcons fell behind 2-1 in the first period of last Thursday's game at the BGSU Ice Arena. For the next two periods the teams fought to a stalemate and ultimately the game ended with the Wolverines picking up the victory. Five days and 70 miles later, the teams took to the ice again in Ann Arbor. Not only did the Falcons lose in a 4-0 shutout, but goalie Nick Eno went down just over three minutes into the second period.
All in all, a fairly disappointing couple of games.
"Falcons take on J-Crew U"
This week the Falcons face off against the polo-bedecked prep school all-stars of #1 Miami (of Ohio) University.
Obviously, this is looking like a very tough series. The Redhawks are #1 in the nation, have only lost one conference game this season, and have posted a number of impressive wins. It would be a pretty epic upset for the Falcons, who are ranked last in the conference, to defeat Miami. In spite of the long odds, you can bet that Coach Williams and the Falcons will, as they have all season, work hard to fight for the win.
Fortunately, Miami's success has no impact on the fact that they are one of the easiest schools in history to mock. I can tell you this much - I will be attending the game in a red polo shirt with the collar popped, some sick shades (like, totally, bro) and enough self-important attitude to put the entire cast of The Hills to shame. Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I say it's a pretty easy way to mock some trust fund bros.
Honestly, though, was there ever any doubt that a guy named Carter Camper would end up at Miami (Not The Real Miami, But The One In Oxford, Ohio) University? I would be shocked to learn that a guy with a name like that didn't escape from the womb in a collared shirt and a nice pair of khaki slacks.
Anyway, on to a closer look at the teams.
What to watch for: Miami
The good:
There's almost too much "good" in Miami's season to try to single anything out, but I'll settle on this: Miami hasn't lost a conference game since October 24th, when they lost an OT contest to Michigan State, 3-2. Yes, you read that right. Miami has only lost one conference game this season, and that was in overtime to the second best team in the conference.
The bad:
Let's see... what has Miami done badly this year... They've only won half of their shootouts? No?
OK, how about this - Miami has had six games end in ties this season. I know, I know, it doesn't seem that bad, but if a tie is like kissing your sister, what does that say about Miami?
The ugly:
Senior forward Gary Steffes (#12) has played in 15 games for the Redhawks, and has tallied one point, an assist. Sophomore goaltender Connor Knapp has played in 12 games (and is a goalie) and has one more assist than Steffes.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
As has been the case for most of the season, freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas continues to dominate the score sheet for the Falcons. He currently stands at a scoring total of 9 goals and 12 assists for a total of 21 points. Right along with him is senior Tomas Petruska, with 8 goals and 13 assists. It is encouraging to see both the senior leaders and the new talent on the team contributing.
The bad:
After the two last two losses to Michigan, BGSU now sits one point below Western Michigan for last place in the CCHA. Obviously this is a fairly disappointing position to be in, considering the optimism many fans felt coming into the season. It's not a complete shock, as any team that went through the kind of turmoil BGSU did this offseason would have to expect some difficulty, but still, it's a frustrating situation.
The ugly:
Obviously the injury to Nick Eno is a major setback for the team if he misses any substantial time. Eno has started 17 games for the Falcons this season, while Andrew Hammond has started only 9, and third-string goaltender Phil Greer has yet to start a game. Hammond is going to have to step his game up to make up for the loss of Eno.
In Memory:
In lieu of the usual fantasy pick 'em section, today this space will be used as a chance to recognize the unfortunate and untimely loss of Miami's student manager Brendan Burke, who passed away in a car accident on February 5th.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Miami University team and community, his family, his friends, and all who knew him and his passenger.
This blog usually strives to bring the snark, but some things are more important than sports and sarcasm. When any team tragically loses a member of their family, it is a loss for the entire league, the world of hockey, and all of us who follow it so closely.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Bowling Green Falcons v. Western Michigan Broncos
Friday, 1/22/2010 @ 7:05PM
Saturday, 1/23/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 3-18-3 (2-13-3)
-Last game: v. Northern Michigan SOL 3-3
WMU:
-Record: 6-12-4 (2-11-3)
-Last game: v. Michigan L 1-6
Last time out...
Pain, Misery, and Loss[es]...
The previous Falcon series ended much the same as those that preceded it. Friday night's game was a sound 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Saturday's game was significantly closer, but still a familiar experience, as the Falcons dropped a 3-1 3rd period lead, ended regulation 3-3, and finally lost the shootout 2-0.
Tomas Petruska (2-1-3), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1-1-2), and David Solway (0-2-2) all had big games on Saturday, and Nick Eno performed impressively, stopping 34 of 37 shots.
"Falcons Attempt to Buck the Trend"
This week it's on to one of the other directional Michigan schools, as the Falcons return home to take on the Broncos of Western Michigan in the friendly confines of their beloved nameless ice arena.
The Broncos, like the Falcons, currently reside near the bottom of the CCHA standings. In fact, they're the only CCHA team currently lower in the standings than BGSU. Their two CCHA wins have come in the form of a 2-1 victory over Lake Superior and a 3-1 win against Alaska.
We'll get into a little more detail about the Broncos later, but for now, let's have some fun at the Goons' expense.
There are actually not very many funny names to pick on here, but I'll do my best.
One Bronco you wouldn't want to go hunting with is freshman defenseman #6 David Chaney. Or at least make sure to wear a facemask and chest protector.
I also really hope senior forward Jared Katz eventually gets his Ph. D. someday. For those of you tragically unaware of where I'm going with this, I give you this. You're welcome.
Lastly, there's someone who I can't help but believe was poached from the Miami Redhawks - sophomore forward J.J. Crew. Yes. This guy's name is actually J. Crew. I wonder if he sewed a special collar onto his jersey so he could pop it.
What to watch for: Western Michigan
The good:
Despite their rough season this year, the Broncos have some hope for the future. Their top three scorers are all underclassmen. Sophomore J.J. Crew (7-8-15) leads WMU in scoring, with sophomore Greg Squires (2-13-15) and freshman Trevor Elias (5-6-11) filling out the top three.
The bad:
In their past six games, WMU has been outscored by their opponents by a margin of 20-7, including three shutouts, two of which were back-to-back in a weekend series with top-10 ranked Bemidji State.
The ugly:
There's not much more to be pointed out here than the Broncos' record. Don't worry, I'm no hypocrite. BG's record will be pointed out in the next section.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
After a 0-6 shutout loss to Northern Michigan last weekend, the Falcons bounced back and played a dominating 50 minutes of hockey in the second game of the series, outshooting NMU 26-21 through the first two periods of play. But then...
The bad:
...The 3-1 lead the Falcons took into the third period of last Friday's game evaporated into a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation, thanks to a 14-4 shooting disadvantage in the final period of play. What looked like a fairly exciting, successful game, turned into yet another disheartening loss.
The ugly:
I'm not usually the type to see the negative in things, but "the ugly" here is what is becoming more obvious by the week: This team just doesn't have what it takes to make a run at the CCHA this year. Let me make this clear - that's no knock against the players or coaches. The personnel we have this year are hard-working, dedicated individuals. The truth is that it's hard for a team to go through what this team went through and come out the other side and immediately be successful.
Yes, I was optimistic earlier in the season, but it's hard not to see the writing on the wall here. It seems like every time I write one of these previews, I point out that our opponent is in the midst of a bit of a slide. Every time, my thought is, "Good, we've caught them at a low point and should be able to get some wins." Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. The only explanation I can come up with is that we just don't have the tools to pull it off.
Regardless, being the eternal optimist, I'm still hoping the Falcons can put together a run in the CCHA tournament and surprise some people.
Hopefully the team can bring in some new talent and capitalize on the young players that have stepped up thus far and make some big improvements next season.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
Inspired by a BGSU Fantasy Hockey game from the spectacular Falcon fan-site Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba, I will be making fantasy scoring picks for each series. I will make five picks each game, consisting of three forwards and two defensemen each night. Players cannot be used twice in the same series. These picks will be a combination of players from either team, and I will be restricted to not picking any of the top three scorers from either team. (Thanks, Freddie!)
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Tomas Petruska, and David Solway.
The top three scorers from Western Michigan are J.J. Crew, Greg Squires, and Trevor Elias.
Friday:
Forwards: Tommy Dee (BG), Ian Slater (WMU), James Perkin (BG)
Defensemen: Kyle Page (BG), Tyler Ludwig (WMU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Josh Boyd (BG), Marc Rodriguez (BG), Chris Clackson (WMU
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BG), Jordan Collins (WMU)
Game score picks:
Friday: 4-1 BG
Saturday: 2-0 BG
Saturday, 1/23/2010 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 3-18-3 (2-13-3)
-Last game: v. Northern Michigan SOL 3-3
WMU:
-Record: 6-12-4 (2-11-3)
-Last game: v. Michigan L 1-6
Last time out...
Pain, Misery, and Loss[es]...
The previous Falcon series ended much the same as those that preceded it. Friday night's game was a sound 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Saturday's game was significantly closer, but still a familiar experience, as the Falcons dropped a 3-1 3rd period lead, ended regulation 3-3, and finally lost the shootout 2-0.
Tomas Petruska (2-1-3), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1-1-2), and David Solway (0-2-2) all had big games on Saturday, and Nick Eno performed impressively, stopping 34 of 37 shots.
"Falcons Attempt to Buck the Trend"
This week it's on to one of the other directional Michigan schools, as the Falcons return home to take on the Broncos of Western Michigan in the friendly confines of their beloved nameless ice arena.
The Broncos, like the Falcons, currently reside near the bottom of the CCHA standings. In fact, they're the only CCHA team currently lower in the standings than BGSU. Their two CCHA wins have come in the form of a 2-1 victory over Lake Superior and a 3-1 win against Alaska.
We'll get into a little more detail about the Broncos later, but for now, let's have some fun at the Goons' expense.
There are actually not very many funny names to pick on here, but I'll do my best.
One Bronco you wouldn't want to go hunting with is freshman defenseman #6 David Chaney. Or at least make sure to wear a facemask and chest protector.
I also really hope senior forward Jared Katz eventually gets his Ph. D. someday. For those of you tragically unaware of where I'm going with this, I give you this. You're welcome.
Lastly, there's someone who I can't help but believe was poached from the Miami Redhawks - sophomore forward J.J. Crew. Yes. This guy's name is actually J. Crew. I wonder if he sewed a special collar onto his jersey so he could pop it.
What to watch for: Western Michigan
The good:
Despite their rough season this year, the Broncos have some hope for the future. Their top three scorers are all underclassmen. Sophomore J.J. Crew (7-8-15) leads WMU in scoring, with sophomore Greg Squires (2-13-15) and freshman Trevor Elias (5-6-11) filling out the top three.
The bad:
In their past six games, WMU has been outscored by their opponents by a margin of 20-7, including three shutouts, two of which were back-to-back in a weekend series with top-10 ranked Bemidji State.
The ugly:
There's not much more to be pointed out here than the Broncos' record. Don't worry, I'm no hypocrite. BG's record will be pointed out in the next section.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
After a 0-6 shutout loss to Northern Michigan last weekend, the Falcons bounced back and played a dominating 50 minutes of hockey in the second game of the series, outshooting NMU 26-21 through the first two periods of play. But then...
The bad:
...The 3-1 lead the Falcons took into the third period of last Friday's game evaporated into a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation, thanks to a 14-4 shooting disadvantage in the final period of play. What looked like a fairly exciting, successful game, turned into yet another disheartening loss.
The ugly:
I'm not usually the type to see the negative in things, but "the ugly" here is what is becoming more obvious by the week: This team just doesn't have what it takes to make a run at the CCHA this year. Let me make this clear - that's no knock against the players or coaches. The personnel we have this year are hard-working, dedicated individuals. The truth is that it's hard for a team to go through what this team went through and come out the other side and immediately be successful.
Yes, I was optimistic earlier in the season, but it's hard not to see the writing on the wall here. It seems like every time I write one of these previews, I point out that our opponent is in the midst of a bit of a slide. Every time, my thought is, "Good, we've caught them at a low point and should be able to get some wins." Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. The only explanation I can come up with is that we just don't have the tools to pull it off.
Regardless, being the eternal optimist, I'm still hoping the Falcons can put together a run in the CCHA tournament and surprise some people.
Hopefully the team can bring in some new talent and capitalize on the young players that have stepped up thus far and make some big improvements next season.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
Inspired by a BGSU Fantasy Hockey game from the spectacular Falcon fan-site Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba, I will be making fantasy scoring picks for each series. I will make five picks each game, consisting of three forwards and two defensemen each night. Players cannot be used twice in the same series. These picks will be a combination of players from either team, and I will be restricted to not picking any of the top three scorers from either team. (Thanks, Freddie!)
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Tomas Petruska, and David Solway.
The top three scorers from Western Michigan are J.J. Crew, Greg Squires, and Trevor Elias.
Friday:
Forwards: Tommy Dee (BG), Ian Slater (WMU), James Perkin (BG)
Defensemen: Kyle Page (BG), Tyler Ludwig (WMU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Josh Boyd (BG), Marc Rodriguez (BG), Chris Clackson (WMU
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BG), Jordan Collins (WMU)
Game score picks:
Friday: 4-1 BG
Saturday: 2-0 BG
Friday, January 1, 2010
Mid-Season Awards: Er... Well... All The Rest
So what happens when you run a hockey blog and promise to post six mid-season awards, then begin a string of 60-80 hour work weeks?
You feel guilty for not getting them done and end up trying to force yourself to write them at 8:45 AM on New Year's Day. Then you fall asleep again.
So here is my marathon mid-season awards post where I'll attempt to write the remaining four before the puck drops on the next Falcon game.
So, to get started, a run-down of the previously named awards:
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Runner-up: Ian Ruel
Most-Improved Player: Tommy Dee
Runner-up: Tomas Petruska
Now, moving on to the remaining awards. The explanations in this post will be much shorter, due to the obvious time constraints.
First up, we have the award for:
Offensive MVP
My pick for Offensive MVP is Tommy Dee. Obviously any of the top three or four Falcon scorers could have been chosen for this one. Each of them have contributed a lot on the offensive side of the puck, but Tommy Dee has impressed me the most with his overall effort, work ethic, and character.
For those unaware, Dee has six goals and five assists for a total of 11 points. He also plays a very disciplined game, having spent only eight minutes in the penalty box through 18 games this season. His leadership and hard work on the ice have been a key for the Falcons.
Runner-up: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Defensive MVP
The FHH Mid-Season Defensive MVP is Kyle Page. Page has been an incredible asset to this team since he first suited up for BGSU. Despite his relative lack of size when compared to his opponents, Page has been able to exert his will on the ice. He plays much bigger than his 5'10", 189lb frame and has more heart than just about any player you'll see.
Looking at statistics, it's a mixed bag for the senior captain. Page is last on the team in terms of plus-minus rating, registering a -11. On the positive side, Page has blocked more shots than any other player on the team. In the 18 games thus far, he has stopped 34 shots from ever reaching the Falcon goaltender.
Runner-up: Ian Ruel
Flying Under the Radar
Even for me, the person who came up with it, this award is somewhat nebulous. As it's not based on specific offensive or defensive statistics and it's based as much on potential as anything else, it's truly the most wide-open award up for grabs in this exercise.
Pageau, Ruel and Rodriguez were all mentioned in reader comments, and all are worthy candidates for the award.
I'll be honest. I really don't have a winner for this one. I may have been a little bit hasty in adding it to the list. The main reason I even mentioned it was to give me an excuse to say this:
I think Wade Finegan has a ton of potential. He hasn't shown up much on the ice statistically, and my complete lack of hockey experience weighs against me pretty heavily, but there's something about his play that catches my eye when he's out on the ice.
He plays fast, he plays hard, and a lot of the time, he plays mean. The kid has a knack for contact and seems to come up with big emotion plays at key times, despite not seeing much ice time.
Call me crazy. That's just how I see it.
Runner-up: Nathan Pageau
And finally...:
Team MVP
While writing this post, I realized I should have named this player at least a runner-up for the Most Improved Player award.
Maybe this is a make-up call of sorts, but the FHH Team MVP is Nick Eno.
Eno has come a long way since he started here at BG. Held back by injuries, Eno had plenty of down moments last season. This season, though, he's beginning to show a renewed sense of stability.
After starting only 4 games, posting a 4.58 GAA and a save percentage of 80.5 last season, Eno's GAA this season is down to 3.14 (still higher than the Falcons and their fans would like it to be) and his save percentage is up to 90.1.
Yes, his record is 2-9. The wins haven't come yet, but thanks to Eno, the Falcons have been "in" just about every game this season right to the end. He has also showed incredible nerve in the Falcons' shootout contests.
Runner-up: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
--
So that wraps up the first annual mid-season awards here at Falcon Hockey Hooligan. Hopefully it has been fun to read. I know I've enjoyed writing them, and I have definitely enjoyed the reader commentary. Feel free to continue to voice your opinions on all of these.
Finally, I'd love to be able to get a series preview together in time for the tournament, but there's just no way it's going to happen. I'll be working all weekend, so I'm going to have to take a pass on this one.
Fortunately, there's someone else out there who did their work ahead of time, and has a preview posted for your reading pleasure. Check out the tournament preview over at Bring Back the Glory.
I'm sad I won't get the chance snark on the Goofers and the Falcons' other potential opponents, but Drew's preview should point you to all of the important information you'll need.
Thanks for reading, happy new year, and here's to a great second half of Falcon hockey!
You feel guilty for not getting them done and end up trying to force yourself to write them at 8:45 AM on New Year's Day. Then you fall asleep again.
So here is my marathon mid-season awards post where I'll attempt to write the remaining four before the puck drops on the next Falcon game.
So, to get started, a run-down of the previously named awards:
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Runner-up: Ian Ruel
Most-Improved Player: Tommy Dee
Runner-up: Tomas Petruska
Now, moving on to the remaining awards. The explanations in this post will be much shorter, due to the obvious time constraints.
First up, we have the award for:
Offensive MVP
My pick for Offensive MVP is Tommy Dee. Obviously any of the top three or four Falcon scorers could have been chosen for this one. Each of them have contributed a lot on the offensive side of the puck, but Tommy Dee has impressed me the most with his overall effort, work ethic, and character.
For those unaware, Dee has six goals and five assists for a total of 11 points. He also plays a very disciplined game, having spent only eight minutes in the penalty box through 18 games this season. His leadership and hard work on the ice have been a key for the Falcons.
Runner-up: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Defensive MVP
The FHH Mid-Season Defensive MVP is Kyle Page. Page has been an incredible asset to this team since he first suited up for BGSU. Despite his relative lack of size when compared to his opponents, Page has been able to exert his will on the ice. He plays much bigger than his 5'10", 189lb frame and has more heart than just about any player you'll see.
Looking at statistics, it's a mixed bag for the senior captain. Page is last on the team in terms of plus-minus rating, registering a -11. On the positive side, Page has blocked more shots than any other player on the team. In the 18 games thus far, he has stopped 34 shots from ever reaching the Falcon goaltender.
Runner-up: Ian Ruel
Flying Under the Radar
Even for me, the person who came up with it, this award is somewhat nebulous. As it's not based on specific offensive or defensive statistics and it's based as much on potential as anything else, it's truly the most wide-open award up for grabs in this exercise.
Pageau, Ruel and Rodriguez were all mentioned in reader comments, and all are worthy candidates for the award.
I'll be honest. I really don't have a winner for this one. I may have been a little bit hasty in adding it to the list. The main reason I even mentioned it was to give me an excuse to say this:
I think Wade Finegan has a ton of potential. He hasn't shown up much on the ice statistically, and my complete lack of hockey experience weighs against me pretty heavily, but there's something about his play that catches my eye when he's out on the ice.
He plays fast, he plays hard, and a lot of the time, he plays mean. The kid has a knack for contact and seems to come up with big emotion plays at key times, despite not seeing much ice time.
Call me crazy. That's just how I see it.
Runner-up: Nathan Pageau
And finally...:
Team MVP
While writing this post, I realized I should have named this player at least a runner-up for the Most Improved Player award.
Maybe this is a make-up call of sorts, but the FHH Team MVP is Nick Eno.
Eno has come a long way since he started here at BG. Held back by injuries, Eno had plenty of down moments last season. This season, though, he's beginning to show a renewed sense of stability.
After starting only 4 games, posting a 4.58 GAA and a save percentage of 80.5 last season, Eno's GAA this season is down to 3.14 (still higher than the Falcons and their fans would like it to be) and his save percentage is up to 90.1.
Yes, his record is 2-9. The wins haven't come yet, but thanks to Eno, the Falcons have been "in" just about every game this season right to the end. He has also showed incredible nerve in the Falcons' shootout contests.
Runner-up: Jordan Samuels-Thomas
--
So that wraps up the first annual mid-season awards here at Falcon Hockey Hooligan. Hopefully it has been fun to read. I know I've enjoyed writing them, and I have definitely enjoyed the reader commentary. Feel free to continue to voice your opinions on all of these.
Finally, I'd love to be able to get a series preview together in time for the tournament, but there's just no way it's going to happen. I'll be working all weekend, so I'm going to have to take a pass on this one.
Fortunately, there's someone else out there who did their work ahead of time, and has a preview posted for your reading pleasure. Check out the tournament preview over at Bring Back the Glory.
I'm sad I won't get the chance snark on the Goofers and the Falcons' other potential opponents, but Drew's preview should point you to all of the important information you'll need.
Thanks for reading, happy new year, and here's to a great second half of Falcon hockey!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Bowling Green Falcons v. Lake Superior Lakers
Friday, 12/4/2009 @ 7:05PM
Saturday, 12/5/2009 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 2-10-2 (2-6-2)
-Last game: v. Notre Dame T 4-4 (OT) 1-1 (SOW)
LSSU:
-Record: 6-7-3 (3-6-1)
-Last game: v. Bentley T 2-2 (OT) 0-2 (SOL)
Last time out...
Overtime: Life on the edge:
The Falcons and the Lakers are both coming off of very tightly contested series.
The Lakers dropped a pair of games in shootouts last week in the Renesselaer Holiday Tournament. LSSU and Union skated to a scoreless tie in regulation on Friday, with LSSU dropping the shootout decision 0-1. Saturday night wasn't much of an improvement, as Lake Superior ended regulation all-square at 2-2 with the Bentley Falcons before going on to lose the shootout 0-2.
Likewise, the Falcons took both of their games beyond regulation in this past weekend's series with cluster-mates Notre Dame. Friday's tilt ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss for BG as Notre Dame scored the game winning goal with 2.4 seconds remaining on the clock in the extra period. Saturday night had a decidedly better outcome. After 65 minutes of play, the game stood tied at 4-4. The Falcons jumped out early, scoring on their first shootout attempt, thanks to freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Nick Eno stopped all three Irish attempts to get the Falcons their second shootout win of the season.
It seems it's just that kind of year for the Irish. Bad luck on all fronts.
Falcons take on Lakers, Kobe still nowhere to be found
It's time once again for the Falcons to take on the oh-so-cleverly nicknamed Lake Superior Lakers. This series has budded into a mini-rivalry of sorts in the past few years, especially after the Falcons topped the Lakers in a thrilling three game playoff series in the 2007-2008 season, which was decided on an overtime winner by former Falcon (and current Minnesota Golden Gopher) Jacob Cepis.
Without even looking at their record, the Lakers are an embarrassment of riches for a satire writer. Glancing at their roster, names like (sophomore defenseman #17) Kyle "Wait'll we get our Haines on you," and (Athletic Trainer) Rick Mick just beg to be mocked. Furthermore, they play in the hilariously named Taffy Abel Arena.
Last season the Falcons went 1-2-1 against Lake Superior, who were led by Troy Schwab, a 5'8" captain, senior forward, and perpetual sufferer of a Napoleon Complex. Schwab has moved on to bigger (HA!) things, and is now playing for the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL.
What to watch for: Lake Superior
The good:
The Lakers are led by an upperclassman-heavy core of players, including top-scorers Chad Nehring, Zac MacVoy and Rick Schofield.
Also among the scoring leaders is senior forward Brad Cooper, who apparently had time while filming The Hangover to train in the off-season. Thus far this season, Cooper has racked up four goals and four assists, making him the Lakers' fourth-highest scorer.
Just behind Cooper in scoring is senior defenseman Simon "I'm Not Going To Take Any Chances With This Pronunciation" Gysbers. Gysbers currently has three goals and four assists. The Falcons will need to keep these scorers in check.
The bad:
After winning five of their first six games, the Lakers have fallen into a bit of a slump. Of their last 11 contests, Lake Superior has lost six in regulation, dropped three in shootouts, and won only two. Talk about a shipwreck... Hopefully their poor performance will continue, and the Falcons will get their first series sweep of the season.
The ugly:
Among the regular starters for Lake Superior, two have double-digit negative goal differential stats (Dan Barczuk, -10; Pat Aubry, -10).
Also unimpressive to this point in the season is backup goalie Pat Inglis, whose goals against average through three games is a cringe-worthy 4.88.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
Nothing excites a crowd like a phenomenal scoring talent, and the Falcons are witnessing what looks to be the beginning of a tremendous scoring career for freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas. JS-T, as he is affectionately known, has piled up 14 points (6G, 8A) in 14 games. His impact has also been felt in the Falcons' two shootouts. Samuels-Thomas scored the disputed winning goal in the shootout win over Nebraska-Omaha on Halloween weekend, then repeated his heroics last week as the Falcons edged the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their second shootout of the season.
Also important to note is the success of the Falcon goaltenders in ensuring an extra point in the shootouts this season. Junior Nick Eno and Freshman Andrew Hammond are both perfect in shootout contests this season, stopping three attempts each.
The bad:
The Falcons have struggled with consistency this season, performing impressively against ranked Alaska, Michigan and Notre Dame squads, but dropping lopsided decisions in games against The U.S. National Team Development Program, Providence, and Ferris State. As the season continues and the players develop more stamina and more chemistry with each other and the new coaching staff, hopefully this issue will be resolved.
The ugly:
Half of the Falcons' 10 losses have come by three goals or more. The defense will have to clamp down on some of these scoring chances as the season progresses.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
Inspired by a BGSU Fantasy Hockey game from the spectacular Falcon fan-site Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba, I will be making fantasy scoring picks for each series. I will make five picks each game, consisting of three forwards and two defensemen each night. Players cannot be used twice in the same series. These picks will be a combination of players from either team, and I will be restricted to not picking any of the top three scorers from either team. (Thanks, Freddie!)
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Thomas Petruska, and Tommy Dee. The top three scorers from Lake Superior are Chad Nehring, Rick Schofield, and Zac MacVoy.
Friday:
Forwards: Josh Boyd (BG), James Perkin (BG), David Solway (BG)
Defensemen: Kyle Page (BG), Steven Kaunisto (LSSU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Kai Kantola (BG), Marc Rodriguez (BG), Brad Cooper (LSSU)
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BG), Tyson Hobbins (LSSU)
Game score picks:
Friday: BGSU 4 - LSSU 3
Saturday: BGSU 2 - LSSU 1
Saturday, 12/5/2009 @ 5:05PM
Background:
BGSU:
-Record: 2-10-2 (2-6-2)
-Last game: v. Notre Dame T 4-4 (OT) 1-1 (SOW)
LSSU:
-Record: 6-7-3 (3-6-1)
-Last game: v. Bentley T 2-2 (OT) 0-2 (SOL)
Last time out...
Overtime: Life on the edge:
The Falcons and the Lakers are both coming off of very tightly contested series.
The Lakers dropped a pair of games in shootouts last week in the Renesselaer Holiday Tournament. LSSU and Union skated to a scoreless tie in regulation on Friday, with LSSU dropping the shootout decision 0-1. Saturday night wasn't much of an improvement, as Lake Superior ended regulation all-square at 2-2 with the Bentley Falcons before going on to lose the shootout 0-2.
Likewise, the Falcons took both of their games beyond regulation in this past weekend's series with cluster-mates Notre Dame. Friday's tilt ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss for BG as Notre Dame scored the game winning goal with 2.4 seconds remaining on the clock in the extra period. Saturday night had a decidedly better outcome. After 65 minutes of play, the game stood tied at 4-4. The Falcons jumped out early, scoring on their first shootout attempt, thanks to freshman phenom Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Nick Eno stopped all three Irish attempts to get the Falcons their second shootout win of the season.
It seems it's just that kind of year for the Irish. Bad luck on all fronts.
Falcons take on Lakers, Kobe still nowhere to be found
It's time once again for the Falcons to take on the oh-so-cleverly nicknamed Lake Superior Lakers. This series has budded into a mini-rivalry of sorts in the past few years, especially after the Falcons topped the Lakers in a thrilling three game playoff series in the 2007-2008 season, which was decided on an overtime winner by former Falcon (and current Minnesota Golden Gopher) Jacob Cepis.
Without even looking at their record, the Lakers are an embarrassment of riches for a satire writer. Glancing at their roster, names like (sophomore defenseman #17) Kyle "Wait'll we get our Haines on you," and (Athletic Trainer) Rick Mick just beg to be mocked. Furthermore, they play in the hilariously named Taffy Abel Arena.
Last season the Falcons went 1-2-1 against Lake Superior, who were led by Troy Schwab, a 5'8" captain, senior forward, and perpetual sufferer of a Napoleon Complex. Schwab has moved on to bigger (HA!) things, and is now playing for the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL.
What to watch for: Lake Superior
The good:
The Lakers are led by an upperclassman-heavy core of players, including top-scorers Chad Nehring, Zac MacVoy and Rick Schofield.
Also among the scoring leaders is senior forward Brad Cooper, who apparently had time while filming The Hangover to train in the off-season. Thus far this season, Cooper has racked up four goals and four assists, making him the Lakers' fourth-highest scorer.
Just behind Cooper in scoring is senior defenseman Simon "I'm Not Going To Take Any Chances With This Pronunciation" Gysbers. Gysbers currently has three goals and four assists. The Falcons will need to keep these scorers in check.
The bad:
After winning five of their first six games, the Lakers have fallen into a bit of a slump. Of their last 11 contests, Lake Superior has lost six in regulation, dropped three in shootouts, and won only two. Talk about a shipwreck... Hopefully their poor performance will continue, and the Falcons will get their first series sweep of the season.
The ugly:
Among the regular starters for Lake Superior, two have double-digit negative goal differential stats (Dan Barczuk, -10; Pat Aubry, -10).
Also unimpressive to this point in the season is backup goalie Pat Inglis, whose goals against average through three games is a cringe-worthy 4.88.
What to watch for: Bowling Green
The good:
Nothing excites a crowd like a phenomenal scoring talent, and the Falcons are witnessing what looks to be the beginning of a tremendous scoring career for freshman Jordan Samuels-Thomas. JS-T, as he is affectionately known, has piled up 14 points (6G, 8A) in 14 games. His impact has also been felt in the Falcons' two shootouts. Samuels-Thomas scored the disputed winning goal in the shootout win over Nebraska-Omaha on Halloween weekend, then repeated his heroics last week as the Falcons edged the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their second shootout of the season.
Also important to note is the success of the Falcon goaltenders in ensuring an extra point in the shootouts this season. Junior Nick Eno and Freshman Andrew Hammond are both perfect in shootout contests this season, stopping three attempts each.
The bad:
The Falcons have struggled with consistency this season, performing impressively against ranked Alaska, Michigan and Notre Dame squads, but dropping lopsided decisions in games against The U.S. National Team Development Program, Providence, and Ferris State. As the season continues and the players develop more stamina and more chemistry with each other and the new coaching staff, hopefully this issue will be resolved.
The ugly:
Half of the Falcons' 10 losses have come by three goals or more. The defense will have to clamp down on some of these scoring chances as the season progresses.
Pick me a winner:
Fantasy scoring picks:
Inspired by a BGSU Fantasy Hockey game from the spectacular Falcon fan-site Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba, I will be making fantasy scoring picks for each series. I will make five picks each game, consisting of three forwards and two defensemen each night. Players cannot be used twice in the same series. These picks will be a combination of players from either team, and I will be restricted to not picking any of the top three scorers from either team. (Thanks, Freddie!)
For this series, the top three scorers from Bowling Green are Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Thomas Petruska, and Tommy Dee. The top three scorers from Lake Superior are Chad Nehring, Rick Schofield, and Zac MacVoy.
Friday:
Forwards: Josh Boyd (BG), James Perkin (BG), David Solway (BG)
Defensemen: Kyle Page (BG), Steven Kaunisto (LSSU)
Saturday:
Forwards: Kai Kantola (BG), Marc Rodriguez (BG), Brad Cooper (LSSU)
Defensemen: Ian Ruel (BG), Tyson Hobbins (LSSU)
Game score picks:
Friday: BGSU 4 - LSSU 3
Saturday: BGSU 2 - LSSU 1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
