Bowling Green’s hockey team played consistently well during the second half of last
season to overcome a slow start.
The team is hoping to do the same this season.
The Falcons – 3-10-4 overall and 2-7-3-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
– begin the second half Saturday when they host 17th-ranked Niagara in a
nonconference game at 7:05.
The Falcon players are returning to BG today after being idle since a 4-1 loss Dec.
15 to No. 3 Notre Dame.
"I want them to continue to reflect on their own game and where our program is
in terms of every day," BG coach Chris Bergeron said of the break. "I
hope they come back with a mind-set that where we are is not good enough because
they’re the ones who can control that. They’re the ones who can make it
better."
Although BG has played better than its record, the reality is it hasn’t played well
enough in any phase of the game to win consistently.
"We have to stop settling for playing well or playing hard and losing because we
don’t execute," Bergeron said. "We can’t settle for that. We have to
focus on finishing, which means from the start of the game to the finish, and
executing.
"Our work ethic is well-established. Now, we have to execute at that level of
work, and we need to start demanding results."
Last season, the Falcons were 5-5 in their last 10 games and advanced to the
semifinals of the CCHA playoffs.
BG was 6-10-3, 1-10-2 going into Christmas last season.
"We’ve been frustrated with the first half," Bergeron said. "It was an
opportunity for us to really make some strides and kind of use the momentum we
created at the end of last year, and we haven’t been able to do that
consistently."
WHY: Bergeron said the biggest reason for BG’s record is its special teams.
The power play ranks 52nd nationally out of 59 teams at 9.3 percent, scoring just
seven goals in 75 attempts. The penalty-killing is 57th at 75.7 percent
(56-of-74).
BG is a minus-16 on special-teams goals this season.
"It’s really disappointing because I thought they had a chance to be a lot
better," Bergeron said. "Our penalty-kill is taking steps backwards.
Our power play is basically staying the same."
The Falcons have allowed 13 power-play goals in their last nine games.
OFFENSE: The ineffective power play is a large part of the reason the Falcons haven’t
scored more. BG has scored just 31 goals in 17 games, including only 20 goals in
12 league games.
"We have to score more goals and bear down on our chances," Bergeron said.
"When you’re struggling to score, it gives you a smaller margin for error
and puts a lot of pressure on the other parts of your game."
BG’s top forwards have all been inconsistent so far.
Dan DeSalvo, who leads the team with 11 points, has just one goal. Ryan Carpenter
recently ended a four-game goal drought. Adam Berkle has only two goals in the
last 15 games. Cam Wojtala, who missed four games with a lower body injury, has
just two goals in his last nine games.
Dajon Mingo has no goals in the last 13 games, while Brett Mohler and Bryce
Williamson each have only two goals.
CCHA: The Falcons and Northern Michigan each have 10 points in the CCHA, six out of a
home-ice playoff berth. BG still has 16 of its 28 league games to play.
"I know where we are in the league standings, but I’m not focused on that,"
Bergeron said. "That’s not what gets us out of bed in the morning, that’s
not what makes us execute better in practice on a daily basis. We are a work in
progress in regards to our culture and our brand, and that will continue to be
the focus."
ACADEMICS: BG had a 3.49 team grade-point average during the fall semester.