BG faces mental challenge (10-24-12)

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Bowling Green’s hockey team has the physical part of the game figured out.
The Falcons consistently work hard and compete hard.
The goal for BG is to fine-tune the mental part of its game.
The Falcons have had too many turnovers during the first five games, resulting in a 1-3-1 record entering
this weekend’s home series against Ohio State (1-2-1).
"Our challenge right now is way more mental than physical," BG coach Chris Bergeron said.
"A few of the details of the game, particularly with the puck, we’re struggling with and it’s every
day. Those lessons of making it habit, we’re still learning. If we can clean those things up in
practice, Friday and Saturday become easier. We don’t have to focus on those things Friday and Saturday
because we focus on them every day."
OSU: The Buckeyes are coming off a 1-1 tie and a 3-1 loss at Quinnipiac, ranked 20th this week. They
began the season at No. 14 Minnesota-Duluth, losing 6-2 in Game 1 and winning 3-2 in Game 2.
The Buckeyes have used 23 players this season, but only four seniors. The rest consist of six freshmen,
eight sophomores and five juniors.
"They’re big. They work extremely hard," Bergeron said of OSU. "Each game is going to come
down to six or seven plays and we need to be on the positive side of those plays, and Ohio State feels
the exact same day. We’re going to grind. We’re going to battle each other. They’ll be tight-checking
games and we’re going to have to find a way to will something good to happen by sticking to the process,
sticking to the details, by being intense the whole time."
OSU has scored just seven goals in its four games, while giving up 12.
"They’re a good defensive team and they block a lot of shots," Bergeron said.
Third-year OSU coach Mark Osiecki is one of the best shot blockers in college hockey history. He played
defense at Wisconsin from 1987-90.
PIMS: BG is tied for third in the league and 11th nationally for the fewest penalty minutes per game
(10.0).
"Our discipline has been pretty good for the most part," Bergeron said.
BG’s opponents have had an average of just four power-play attempts per game.
SHOTS: BG is averaging just 26 shots per game, third-fewest in the CCHA.
Bergeron said the lack of shots last weekend resulted from too many turnovers at the offensive blueline,
preventing the Falcons from controlling the puck deep in the offensive zone. The Falcons then develop
shots from that.
Earlier in the season, BG tried to do too much at times and passed up shots.
BG’s goal is 30 shots per game.
INJURIES: BG sophomore forward Ted Pletsch (shoulder) and freshman forward Brent Tate (back) are doubtful
for the weekend.
Because both need to play a physical style to be effective, both may be out until they’re fully healthy.

Tate hasn’t started skating in practice.
"He’s making progress, but it’s really slow," Bergeron said.
Bergeron said Pletsch is at "85 percent."
NOT AGAIN: BG is hosting OSU for the third straight season. The Falcons haven’t played at OSU since the
2009-10 season.

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