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2020–21 Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey season

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2020–21 Bowling Green Falcons
men's ice hockey season
Conference3rd WCHA
Home iceSlater Family Ice Arena
Rankings
USCHO.com18
USA Today/
US Hockey Magazine
NR
Record
Overall20–10–1
Conference8–5–1–0–2–0
Home10–6–0
Road10–4–1
Neutral0–0–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachTy Eigner
Assistant coachesCurtis Carr
Maco Balkovec
Captain(s)Connor Ford
Alternate captain(s)Alex Barber
Brandon Kruse
Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey seasons
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The 2020–21 Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey season was the 52nd season of play for the program and the 8th in the WCHA conference. The Falcons represented Bowling Green State University and were coached by Ty Eigner, in his 2nd season.

Season

[edit]

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Bowling Green's players would lose a season of play.[1] However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.[2]

Despite COVID concerns, Bowling Green was able to play several non-WCHA teams early in the year and propelled themselves into the top-10 with a fantastic start. The Falcons won 12 of their first 13 games, including an impressive series sweep of Quinnipiac, and rose to the #5 ranking by mid-January. Unfortunately, when Bowling Green began facing stiff competition, the offense dropped off dramatically. Over a 4-week stretch, the Falcons went 2–6, losing the six games against teams that finished the season ranked. In those games the team scored just 6 goals. While the defense wasn't particularly bad, it wasn't good either. Bowling Green recovered with a 3–0–1 run to end the season but the damage had been done.

Even with a 19–8–1 record, the Falcons had fallen to 13th in the rankings and were considered a 'bubble team', since they possessed a 1–7 record against the other top teams in the WCHA.[3] To get themselves an NCAA Tournament bid, the team would need a good performance in their conference tournament. BG got off to a bad start, losing the opening game 3–4 to Northern Michigan, but rebounded with resounding 5–0 win. The turnaround didn't last long, however, and the Falcons dropped the deciding game 1–5. The team was ranked 16th the following poll and were passed over in favor of Notre Dame, who were just 1 game over .500.

Departures

[edit]
Player Position Nationality Cause
Jacob Dalton Defenseman  United States Graduation
Frédéric Letourneau Forward  Canada Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays)
Casey Linkenheld Forward  United States Graduation
Alec Rauhauser Defenseman  United States Graduation (signed with Florida Panthers)

Recruiting

[edit]
Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Chrystopher Collin Forward  Canada 21 Boisbriand, QC
Max Coyle Defenseman  Canada 22 Tillsonburg, ON; transfer from Alabama–Huntsville
Seth Fyten Forward  Canada 19 Sundre, AB; Selected 142nd overall in 2020
Ethan Scardina Forward  Canada 19 White Rock, BC
Anton Malmström Defenseman  Sweden 20 Österhaninge, SWE

Roster

[edit]

As of September 8, 2020.[4]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 New York (state) Will Cullen Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1996-07-24 Pelham Manor, New York Carleton Place (CCHL)
3 Michigan Carson Musser Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1997-04-21 Grand Rapids, Michigan Fargo (USHL)
4 Minnesota Garrett Daly Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999-08-11 Lakeville, Minnesota Langley (BCHL)
5 Michigan Cam Babiak Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-04-30 Saline, Michigan Brookings (NAHL)
6 Ohio Alex Barber (A) Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1999-02-17 Dublin, Ohio Central Illinois (USHL)
7 Saskatchewan T. J. Lloyd Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 1999-11-15 Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Spruce Grove (AJHL)
8 Quebec Chrystopher Collin Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 1999-05-05 Montreal, Quebec Edmunston (MHL)
10 Minnesota Max Johnson Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1998-05-12 Lakeville, Minnesota Sioux Falls (USHL)
11 Minnesota Taylor Schneider Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1998-02-18 Lakeville, Minnesota Dubuque (USHL)
12 British Columbia Gavin Gould Senior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1996-04-27 North Vancouver, British Columbia Michigan Tech (WCHA)
13 Michigan Adam Conquest Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-05-10 Brighton, Michigan Cowichan Valley (BCHL)
14 Ohio Justin Wells Senior D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1998-07-31 North Canton, Ohio Sioux Falls (USHL)
15 Michigan Evan Dougherty Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1999-04-17 Kalamazoo, Michigan Waterloo (USHL)
16 Ontario Cameron Wright Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1998-08-11 Newmarket, Ontario St. Michael's (OJHL)
17 British Columbia Ethan Scardina Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2000-11-02 South Surrey, British Columbia Nanaimo (BCHL)
18 Ohio Trevor St-Jean Junior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1997-10-10 Findlay, Ohio Langley (BCHL)
20 Pennsylvania Connor Ford (C) Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1998-02-05 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sioux City (USHL)
21 Alberta Seth Fyten Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2000-11-23 Didsbury, Alberta Spruce Grove (AJHL)
22 Michigan Adam Pitters Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-02-09 Grosse Pointe, Michigan Aberdeen (NAHL)
23 Ontario Max Coyle Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1998-01-29 Tillsonburg, Ontario Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
25 Illinois Sam Craggs Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1997-05-30 Elmhurst, Illinois Waterloo (USHL)
27 Ontario Tim Theocharidis Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1998-06-28 Scarborough, Ontario Carleton Place (CCHL)
28 Michigan Brandon Kruse (A) Senior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1999-02-26 Saline, Michigan Brookings (NAHL) VGK, 135th overall 2018
29 Michigan Chase Danol Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999-01-20 Westland, Michigan Coquitlam (BCHL)
31 Ohio Eric Dop Senior G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 159 lb (72 kg) 1998-08-23 Lewis Center, Ohio Tri-City (USHL)
32 Ohio Brett Rich Senior G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1999-01-09 Bowling Green, Ohio Bowling Green (USHS–OH)
33 Sweden Anton Malmström Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 2000-03-18 Österhaninge, Sweden Djurgården J20 (J20 SuperElit)
40 Newfoundland and Labrador Zack Rose Sophomore G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-07-03 Paradise, Newfoundland Victoria (BCHL)

Standings

[edit]
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL 3/SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#4 Minnesota State 14 13 1 0 1 1 0 39 56 15 27 22 5 1 100 46
#14 Lake Superior State * 14 9 5 0 2 2 0 27 39 34 29 19 7 3 86 63
#18 Bowling Green 14 8 5 1 0 2 0 27 46 34 31 20 10 1 108 67
#10 Bemidji State 14 8 5 1 3 2 0 24 42 34 29 16 10 3 82 70
Michigan Tech 14 7 7 0 1 0 0 20 38 35 30 17 12 1 78 63
Northern Michigan 14 6 7 1 2 2 1 20 40 47 29 11 17 1 79 103
Alabama–Huntsville 14 3 11 0 1 0 0 8 18 49 22 3 18 1 31 80
Ferris State 14 0 13 1 0 1 1 3 28 59 25 1 23 1 55 103
Alaska 0 - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - -
Alaska Anchorage 0 - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - -
Championship: March 20, 2021
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Schedule and Results

[edit]
Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
November 13 7:07 PM vs. Adrian* Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Dop W 6–2  300 1–0–0
November 21 7:05 PM vs. Adrian* #19 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Rose W 5–0  0 2–0–0
December 1 7:00 PM at Robert Morris* #18 Clearview ArenaNeville Township, Pennsylvania   Dop W 6–3  0 3–0–0
December 5 1:30 PM vs. Mercyhurst* #18 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Rose L 1–2  300 3–1–0
December 6 3:00 PM at Mercyhurst* #18 Mercyhurst Ice CenterErie, Pennsylvania   Dop W 3–1  149 4–1–0
December 11 7:07 PM vs. Ferris State* #16 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Rose W 3–2  300 5–1–0
December 12 7:07 PM at Ferris State* #16 Ewigleben ArenaBig Rapids, Michigan   Dop W 6–2  0 6–1–0
December 18 7:00 PM at #11 Quinnipiac* #13 People's United CenterHamden, Connecticut   Rose W 4–1  0 7–1–0
December 19 7:00 PM at #11 Quinnipiac* #13 People's United CenterHamden, Connecticut   Dop W 4–2  0 8–1–0
December 29 3:07 PM vs. Robert Morris* #7 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Rose W 2–1  300 9–1–0
January 2 3:07 PM at Ferris State #7 Ewigleben ArenaBig Rapids, Michigan FloHockey.tv Dop W 6–1  250 10–1–0 (1–0–0)
January 3 3:07 PM at Ferris State #7 Ewigleben ArenaBig Rapids, Michigan FloHockey.tv Rose W 4–2  250 11–1–0 (2–0–0)
January 7 7:07 PM vs. Bemidji State #7 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop W 3–2  300 12–1–0 (3–0–0)
January 8 7:07 PM vs. Bemidji State #7 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop L 3–4 OT 300 12–2–0 (3–1–0)
January 11 7:00 PM at USNTDP* #7 USA Hockey ArenaPlymouth, Michigan (Exhibition)   Rich L 1–5  250
January 15 7:07 PM vs. Northern Michigan* #8 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Dop W 5–1  300 13–2–0
January 16 7:07 PM vs. Northern Michigan* #8 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio   Rose W 6–2  300 14–2–0
January 21 6:07 PM at Bemidji State* #5 Sanford CenterBemidji, Minnesota   Dop L 1–2  0 14–3–0
January 22 3:07 PM at Bemidji State* #5 Sanford CenterBemidji, Minnesota   Dop L 1–3  0 14–4–0
January 29 7:07 PM vs. #18 Michigan Tech #8 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop W 6–3  300 15–4–0 (4–1–0)
January 30 7:07 PM vs. #18 Michigan Tech #8 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Rose W 5–2  300 16–4–0 (5–1–0)
February 5 8:07 PM at #6 Minnesota State #8 Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, Minnesota FloHockey.tv Dop L 0–4  150 16–5–0 (5–2–0)
February 6 7:07 PM at #6 Minnesota State #8 Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, Minnesota FloHockey.tv Rose L 1–5  150 16–6–0 (5–3–0)
February 12 7:07 PM vs. Lake Superior State #12 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop L 1–2 OT 300 16–7–0 (5–4–0)
February 13 7:07 PM vs. Lake Superior State #12 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop L 2–5  300 16–8–0 (5–5–0)
February 20 6:07 PM at Northern Michigan #14 Berry Events CenterMarquette, Michigan FloHockey.tv Dop T 0–0 SOL 250 16–8–1 (5–5–1)
February 21 4:07 PM at Northern Michigan #14 Berry Events CenterMarquette, Michigan FloHockey.tv Dop W 6–2  250 17–8–1 (6–5–1)
February 24 7:07 PM vs. Alabama–Huntsville #13 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio FloHockey.tv Dop W 5–0  300 18–8–1 (7–5–1)
February 28 4:07 PM at Alabama–Huntsville #13 Von Braun CenterHuntsville, Alabama FloHockey.tv Dop W 4–2  1,313 19–8–1 (8–5–1)
WCHA Tournament
March 12 7:07 PM vs. Northern Michigan* #13 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio (WCHA Quarterfinals Game 1)   Dop L 3–4  630 19–9–1
March 13 7:07 PM vs. Northern Michigan* #13 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio (WCHA Quarterfinals Game 2)   Dop W 5–0  630 20–9–1
March 14 5:07 PM vs. Northern Michigan* #13 Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, Ohio (WCHA Quarterfinals Game 3)   Dop L 1–5  630 20–10–1
Bowling Green Lost Series 1–2
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

[5]

Scoring statistics

[edit]
Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Brandon Kruse LW 31 11 23 34 26
Cameron Wright LW 31 13 16 29 32
Connor Ford RW 31 16 12 28 10
Will Cullen D 28 6 19 25 54
Max Johnson C 27 10 14 24 8
Alex Barber F 31 9 14 23 35
Taylor Schneider LW 31 10 9 19 8
Tim Theocharidis D 31 5 10 15 8
T. J. Lloyd D 31 0 14 14 26
Gavin Gould F 21 3 10 13 6
Sam Craggs LW 27 4 8 12 55
Evan Dougherty RW 31 8 3 11 20
Carson Musser D 31 1 9 10 8
Justin Wells D 31 2 7 9 18
Seth Fyten F 28 5 1 6 6
Ethan Scardina F 24 1 4 5 8
Christopher Collin C/LW 21 1 3 4 2
Garrett Daly D 29 1 3 4 6
Anton Malmström D 20 1 2 3 17
Chase Danol F 3 1 0 1 0
Adam Pitters F 11 0 1 1 20
Adam Conquest RW 14 0 1 1 4
Eric Dop G 23 0 1 1 0
Max Coyle D 23 0 1 1 8
Brett Rich G 1 0 0 0 0
Trevor St. Jean F 1 0 0 0 0
Cam Babiak D 2 0 0 0 2
Zack Rose G 10 0 0 0 0
Bench - - - - - 6
Total 108 185 293 393

[6]

Goaltending statistics

[edit]
Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Brett Rich 1 1:59 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0.00
Zack Rose 10 545 7 2 0 18 178 1 .908 1.98
Eric Dop 23 1306 13 8 1 47 566 2 .923 2.16
Empty Net - 11 - - - 2 - - - -
Total 31 1865 20 10 1 67 744 4 .917 2.15

† Dop and Rich shared a shutout on February 24

Rankings

[edit]
Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 (Final)
USCHO.com NR 19 18 18 16 13 9 7 7 8 5 8 8 12 14 13 13 13 16 17 - 18
USA Today NR NR NR NR NR 12 8 7 6 7 5 8 8 12 13 14 13 13 NR NR NR NR

USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.[7]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Player Award Ref
Will Cullen WCHA Defensive Player of the Year [8]
Will Cullen WCHA First Team [9]
Brandon Kruse
Connor Ford

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility". CBS Sports. August 21, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "DI Council grants waiver to allow transfer student-athletes to compete immediately". NCAA. December 16, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Bracketology: With Selection Sunday around the corner, taking one last stab at how the NCAA hockey tournament field will look". USCHO. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "2020–21 Ice Hockey Roster". Bowling Green Athletics. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  5. ^ "Bowling Green Falcons (Men) 2020-2021 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "Bowling Green State Univ. 2020-2021 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "WCHA announces individual award winners". The Sault News. March 11, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "WCHA Announces 2020-21 All-League Teams". WCHA.com. March 10, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.