No. 9 Alaska next for BG hockey

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Bowling Green’s had a hard time scoring this season.
The Falcons won’t find it any easier to produce goals this weekend when they host ninth-ranked University
of Alaska in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association series.
The Nanooks are second in the nation in goals allowed (1.38) and sophomore goalie Scott Greenham has been
terrific with a 1.35 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage in eight games.
UA is 6-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the league, while the Falcons are 0-7-1, 0-3-1-1.
The teams play tonight at 7:05 and Saturday night at 7:35.
"I really admire the way they play," BG coach Dennis Williams said. "They’re playing well.
Their focus is on defense, but they still have the skill up front to capitalize on any turnovers you
give them.
"They take great pride in their defensive zone. They take great pride in their goaltending. They
take great pride in blocking shots."
The Nanooks are allowing only 22.5 shots per game and they’re one of the best shot-blocking teams in the
league.
"They’re like layers on defense," Williams said. "In order to get shots on these guys, you
have to beat three all three layers, forwards, defense and the goalie. They all sacrifice their bodies
to block shots."
BG is last in the league in goals scored (1.6 per game) and shots on goal (23.1 per game).
"It’ll be even more important to generate shots," Williams said. "We have to get pucks to
the net and find holes and shooting lanes."
UA scores 2.88 goals per game, sixth-best in the CCHA.
SOLWAY: BG junior forward David Solway has just one assist in six games since returning from a shoulder
injury.
He had 12 goals and 12 assists last season.
"He’s still playing well," Williams said. "He works so hard that the puck is going to
bounce his way before too much longer. Even though he’s not getting the points, you’d never know that
with him because he’s still blocking shots, working hard. He’s a team leader and the ultimate team guy.
He’s going to get his points."
EMERGING: Greenham has been outstanding as he’s taken over for Chad Johnson, who was a first-team
all-league puck last season. He played in just five games last season, posting a 1.02 goals-against
average and a .958 save percentage.
"He’s very confident and he’s a standup goalie, so he looks big in net right now," Williams
said. "Everything is going right for him and the puck is looking like a beach ball. He’s playing
well and catching everything."
He ranks third nationally in goals-against and sixth in save percentage.
"We have to get screens in front of him, we have to hack and whack for rebounds and be tenacious out
there. We can’t let him get settled into a groove."
STAR: UA senior center Dion Knelsen is fun to watch because of his sweet mix of skill and toughness. The
5-foot-9, 187-pounder is UA’s leading scorer with nine points, including six assists.
"He’s a difference-maker and a team leader for them," Williams said. "He can put up
numbers, but he also plays with an edge. He has good hands and he’s not afraid to mix it up. He has a
good all-around game."
FRIEND OR FOE: Former Falcon forward Ryan Hohl is in his third season at UA. He has one assist in five
games after totaling 10 goals and six assists in 55 games during his first two seasons.
SPECIALS: BG is last in the league in power-play conversions (8 percent, 4-of-50) and next-to-last in
penalty-killing (78 percent, 39-of-50).
UA’s power play is seventh in the league at 20.5 percent (8-of-39) and its penalty-killing is sixth at
86.7 percent (26-of-30).

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