Eight Bowling Green seniors will make their final regular-season appearances in the Ice Arena this
weekend.
The eight are Brett Mohler, Jake Sloat, Chad Sumsion, Ryan Viselli, Andrew Wallace, Bryce Williamson, Cam
Wojtala and Scott Zacharias.
The Falcons host Bemidji State tonight and Saturday.
"They’ve meant more than I can put into words," Bergeron said. "They’re leaving Bowling
Green better than they found it. This program looks different. It feels different. The perceptions are
different. The results are different in a positive way.
"If we have a bunch of classes in a row that can say what this class is saying, that we left Bowling
Green better than we found it, we’re going to have a program we can all be proud of. That’s a pretty
proud statement for these young guys. That’s a great thing from a program building perspective."
The seniors have helped the Falcons steadily improve during their four seasons.
This weekend, BG tries to clinch a playoff berth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and perhaps
earn home ice for the league quarterfinals.
BG hasn’t hosted a playoff series since 2008, but it’s won at least one playoff series in each of the
last three seasons.
Wojtala was the first player to be commit to BG after Bergeron was named the team’s head coach.
The other seven were recruited by former head coach Dennis Williams when the program still faced an
uncertain future.
The eight have played varying roles on the team. Wojtala and Williamson are the only regulars this
season.
"We got them as great people, but they’re leaving as better people for whatever the next phase of
their life brings them," Bergeron said. "They’ve helped turn this thing around. They’ve made
an impact on this program on a daily basis, and that impact has been outstanding."
All eight have had a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher every semester, Bergeron said.
"They’ve set the bar ridiculously high in the classroom," Bergeron said, also praising them for
their community service.
WINNING: The Falcons, 14-14-4 and 11-11-4 in the WCHA, are seeking their first winning record overall
since the the 1996-97 season when they were 17-16-5.
BG’s last winning record in league play came during the 2004-05 season when it was 13-12-3 in the
now-defunct Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
CHALLENGE: The Falcons have scored a power-play goal in three straight games and are fifth in the league
at 17.4 percent. BG was 2-of-4 at Northern Michigan last weekend.
The BG power play faces a big challenge against Bemidji, which is fourth nationally in penalty-killing at
87.2 percent.
PP/PK: The Falcon penalty-killing has fared well over the last 12 games, killing of 31 of its 36
short-handed situations.
BG is fourth in the league at 83.9 percent, while Bemidji’s power play is eighth in the league at 16
percent
STATS: Bemidji is next-to-last in the league in scoring (2.50 goals per game) and tied for seventh in
goals allowed (2.85 per game).
But in league games only, the Beavers are third in goals allowed (2.54 per game).
The Falcons are averaging 3.0 goals per game, fourth in the league.
PENALTIES: Bemidji is the WCHA’s least-penalized team, averaging just 10.2 minutes per game. BG is fourth
(13.1 minutes per game).
LEADERS: Sophomore forward Cory Ward leads the Beavers in scoring with 26 points on 18 goals and eight
assists, while sophomore forward Markus Gerbrandt has 13 goals and nine assists, and junior defenseman
Matt Prapavessis has five goals and 17 assists.
Junior Andrew Walsh (23 games, 2.81 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) and freshman Jesse
Wilkins (11 games, 2.27 .929) have split time in goal.
Wlkins started both games against Alabama-Huntsville last weekend as Walsh is recovering from a
lower-body injury.
