Almost overnight, Kevin Dufour has become a sort of folk hero among Bowling Green hockey fans, and for
good reason.
Entering a home series this weekend against Minnesota State, Dufour’s eight goals lead all of college
hockey. He’s scored a goal in all six games this season, making his success seem like clockwork.
His hot start has spawned a cult following on Twitter, which ironically, Dufour himself is not a part of.
The hashtag "ChurchOfDufour" began trending this weekend as Dufour added two goals to his
season tally against Clarkson.
A Twitter search of the hashtag yields comical results.
"’He who finds the soft areas of the ice shall find great success in tapping in empty net goals.’
Dufour 3:10 #ChurchOfDufour," tweeted Tomas Sholl, sophomore goalie on the team and one of Dufour’s
roommates.
What does the man whose play is responsible for this think of his new following? Let’s just say he’s
entertained.
"I don’t even know what to think about it. I was surprised because I don’t even have Twitter,"
said a laughing Dufour. "The guys in the room were kind of teasing me with it. I think it’s
funny."
While the jokes are great, Dufour’s play this season hasn’t left opponents laughing. He always seems to
be in the right place, something he credits to offseason work watching game film and trying to improve
his play without the puck on his stick.
He’s rediscovered chemistry with fellow sophomores – and roommates – Matt Pohlkamp and Pierre-Luc
Mercier. The trio played on the same line briefly last year, but due to their collective inexperience,
it didn’t last long.
A year later, they’re seasoned and, as it turns out, lethal.
"You can see the chemistry they have on the ice, and that’s developed," said Bowling Green head
coach Chris Bergeron. "This year they seem much more mature, much more comfortable at this level.
Then you put them back together and you see that chemistry."
But for Dufour and Mercier, that connection goes a little deeper than hockey or simply living together.
Both hail from Quebec, with Dufour growing up in Quebec City and Mercier coming from the Montreal area.

They are the first players Bowling Green signed out of Quebec junior leagues in nearly 30 years. Both are
primarily French speakers, which allowed for an instant connection.
"Obviously it’s easier for us to communicate because we’re both French-speaking first," Mercier
said. "We had a chance to be roommates freshman year, we’re still living together this year with
Pohlkamp and Sholl.
"So it’s really good because we’re almost always with each other, mostly speaking French. Sometimes
it’s just easier talking about a play on the bench in French so we can get our ideas a little bit better
than in English."
While Dufour’s NCAA-leading eight goals get the recognition, Mercier has helped drive the ship. That
sophomore line was reunited in game one against Alabama-Huntsville.
Dufour has scored five times in the four games since then, and Mercier has assisted on four of them.
Mercier has a goal and five assists in six games this season. Throw in Pohlkamp’s goal and four assists
and you have a line that has been among the most productive in the nation.
"It’s just going well," Dufour said. "(Mercier) is a really good player and can move the
puck, and Pohlkamp is good in the corners, strong on the puck and can score. So I feel like we have a
really good line."
The success started earlier than that, with Dufour scoring three times in two games against Miami to open
the season, before the trio was put back together.
Since then his production has almost been hyperbolic. Even his linemates poke fun at it.
"We’ve been working hard and doing the right things. And obviously Dufour scores on almost
everything he touches, so that helps out," Mercier said with a smile.
The seeds for this success were planted before the season. Bergeron said there’s still room for
improvement.
How much improvement? With Dufour already putting pucks in the net at a biblical pace, it’s a question
without a definitely answer.
But one thing is for sure – Bowling Green’s sophomore line looks like it’s here to stay. And they’re
going to continue to enjoy themselves in the process.
"When you play with good players it’s a little bit easier sometimes," Mercier said. "We’re
just trying to do the right things, passing the puck, moving it, and it’s been ending up in the back of
the net. It’s fun."