With the second half of the season underway, Bowling Green State University’s hockey team firmly holds
its destiny in its own hands.
With a 8-1-1 record in 10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association games, the No. 11 Falcons have the best
winning percentage (.850) in conference play, despite checking in at third in the league standings.
With 17 points, Bowling Green trails both Minnesota State (23) and Michigan Tech (20). However, the
Mavericks have played 14 league games, while the Huskies have played 12.
"We can control where we finish in terms of a lot of our goals," said Bowling Green head coach
Chris Bergeron. "Those goals are real. We talked about them at the beginning of the year. We’ve had
a good first half to put us in position to achieve those goals."
By virtue of playing catch up, the Falcons could theoretically surpass both Minnesota State and Michigan
Tech should the three teams maintain similar records. Bowling Green has 18 WCHA games remaining,
Michigan Tech has 16 and Minnesota State has 14.
Teams are awarded two points for each conference win and one point for a tie.
"We’ve only played 10 league games, that’s real," Bergeron said. "Ten out of 28 is a
pretty snap shot. We have played OK. And of the 18 league games we have left, 10 are home and eight are
on the road. It really is in our hands."
The challenge for the Falcons is maintaining focus in the present, instead of on the future. That was
easier in past years, when the team was floating in the middle or bottom of the league standings.
Now, with the potential stakes increasing every week, even the smallest slip up could prove costly.
"What we’re trying to do is really focus on the small picture and not get too far ahead of ourselves
because of the first half we’ve had," Bergeron said. "You want to think in small terms; I
think it’s the best way for us to operate. If we can take care of today, then tomorrow will take care of
itself in terms of standings, the polls and that stuff."
ALASKA: The Falcons are 2-0-0 against the Nanooks this season, coming away with a pair of 3-2 wins Nov.
7-8 in Fairbanks.
However, Alaska is one of the biggest challenges remaining on the Falcons’ regular-season schedule.
The Nanooks were third in the "others receiving votes" category of the USCHO top-20 poll. They
check in as the No. 20 team in Pairwise rankings.
Since getting swept by the Falcons 10 games ago, Alaska is 7-3, including four consecutive wins.
"This is a hungry team. They’ve won four straight games and they’re playing well," Bergeron
said. "We know they’re a good team. Whether they’re playing well or not today, they’re a good team.
"They’re an in-your-face team. They’re hard to play against. I’ve always been a fan of the way they
play on the road. It’s going to be a difficult series."
From a standings perspective, Alaska is fourth in the WCHA with 14 points in 14 games. However, due to
sanctions levied against the program earlier this season, the Nanooks are ineligible for the WCHA
playoffs.
"They’re coming in with not a whole lot to lose because there’s no postseason for them and they’ve
got a chip on their shoulder because of that," Bergeron said. "And there’s probably a chip on
their shoulder because of the way the series with us went in Fairbanks."
HOME: Tonight’s game will be the first time since Nov. 22 against Bemidji State that the Falcons have
played at the BGSU Ice Arena.
Of Bowling Green’s final nine WCHA weekend series’, including this weekend, five of them will be played
at home.
"We have a very difficult opponent coming in this weekend and the opportunity to play a couple
league games at home, and we haven’t been at home in a while," Bergeron said. "Whether it’s
this weekend or the whole second half, we’re going to need the support of our fans for us to take
advantage of those 10 home games in the league."
