A Season of Thank You's

[BGDrew]

I'm sure everyone has been wondering where I've been for the past week or so. I'm writing this post from the Marriot Hotel in Hilton Head Island, SC. A buddy and I took a golfing trip that just so happened to fall during the end of the season. I've felt a little guilty about my disappearance but after a great week of Sunny, 75 degree weather my batteries are finally charged.

With the Falcon Icer's season at a close I guess it's time to write one of those end-of-the-year-sappy-thank-you's:

- Thank you first of all to Grant, the master of Webmasters of Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com. I volunteered my services to Grant and he pulled a lot of strings to get me in as far as I did. Truth be told the athletic department was a little leery of letting an internet site have a media pass but I hope that I presented BG Hockey in the fantastic light that it deserves. We got a special guy here who gives every Falcon fan a voice and I urge you to scroll down to the end of this page and click that "Donate" button.

- Next, I have to thank the BGSU Athletic Department. From Greg Christopher down to Assistant SID Ryan Gasser it has been a very smooth ride for the past 6 months. Ryan single-handedly got me a press pass to the BG win over Michigan at Yost and for that I am very grateful. Ryan works his ass off sometimes till 3 or 4 in the morning to get the best information out that he can. I'm not going to try and be his cheerleader but his work ethic is something I admire and I hope those within the Athletic Department recognize. Ryan and I worked together when I was in BGRSO and his work has only gotten better since then.

- While we're talking about the department side of things I have to talk about Coach Williams. Willy was always willing to work with me and answer any questions I asked of him. We got a very special man here in Dennis and it would be a pretty big shame if we didn't lock him in to a 3+ year contract. He represents BGSU and leads by example with his attitude and workmanship. He truly loves this place and this is his dream job. He's a guy who "gets it" when it comes to college hockey. He interacts with his players and even though the record wasn't where anyone would want it I dare you to compare the squad that lost to the US National Team at the beginning of the season to the squad we saw at the end of the regular season. I hope I'm able to make it to the hockey banquet and honor this Senior class for setting the groundwork for our Return to Glory.

- Fourth, I got to give a shout-out to Mr. Todd Pavlack (aka toddpav). Todd and I had never met before the season but through this site and our work with it we've become friends. Todd is very talented at what he does and will honestly give a helping hand whenever he can. He's the kind of guy that makes BG the special place that it does. He replaced the keyboard on my laptop before a game this year and had the Liveblog up and running with 3 minutes to spare. I still owe him a case of Molson!

- I have to thank some of my fellow media members including Kevin Gordon, Sean Shapiro, Everett Fitzhugh, and Brian Fisher. Kevin has been the hockey beat writer for a very long time and sometimes you just had to sit back and listen to some of the great stories he had. Sean is the BG News Sports Editor and also worked freelance for USCHO. Sean's got a great hockey mind and we had some great discussions towards the end of the season. He writes some really good stuff and I think you'll be seeing his name in papers sooner than later. Everett and Brian have been good friends for over 3 years now and they represent the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization extremely well. We have a great pedigree of radio guys who did hockey and I have no doubt these 2 will continue that.

- Finally, I have to thank everyone else who has followed throughout the season. I've tried to do the best job possible but from the beginning I've worked under the self-titled job title of "Pseudo Journalist." I was working pretty blind with just about everything I did this year having absolutely no experience. I hope I was able to give all of you a voice in conversing with the BGSU Hockey team. We got a special fraternity of people that surround this program that I truly think you don't see with any other program at BGSU. "18 Sports, 1 Team" is a great motto for BGSU and I hope that Mr. Christopher and the rest of the BGSU administration is honest about their commitment to the BGSU Ice Arena and BGSU hockey team.

So, in conclusion to my gushing here I'll preview you of what I see coming in the immediate and extended future:
* The "search" for a permanent head coach.
* The official announcement of this year's recruiting class.
* The renovation slated to begin any day.
* Falcon Alumni in their push for Lord Stanley's Cup.

There's nothing really left to say now except Roll Along, Bring Back the Glory, and Never Give Up, Never Surrender!

[Falcon Fanatic]

Outstanding post!!! You are the one we need to thank!!!! You really did a fantastic job bringing us the kind of information, interviews and live game blogs that we never had before. With everything of quality, it really does take a "village" and think your "village" did a tremendous job for us this year.

WELL DONE, DREW!!!! Glad you had a great vacation, YOU deserved it!!!

One other very important thing you mentioned:

While we're talking about the department side of things I have to talk about Coach Williams. Willy was always willing to work with me and answer any questions I asked of him. We got a very special man here in Dennis and it would be a pretty big shame if we didn't lock him in to a 3+ year contract. He represents BGSU and leads by example with his attitude and workmanship. He truly loves this place and this is his dream job. He's a guy who "gets it" when it comes to college hockey. He interacts with his players and even though the record wasn't where anyone would want it I dare you to compare the squad that lost to the US National Team at the beginning of the season to the squad we saw at the end of the regular season. I hope I'm able to make it to the hockey banquet and honor this Senior class for setting the groundwork for our Return to Glory.

I couldn't agree more with everything you said!!!
KEEP DENNIS AS OUR HEAD COACH!!!!

[dforde]

BGDrew, absolutely awesome post. Is it mid October yet? Don't want to wish the summer away but we've turned the corner and things are really looking up.

[toddpav]

Thanks Drew. I'm sure you're enjoying your warmer weather down where you're at. It was a hell of a season... and who knows, maybe we'll do it next year, too!

(PS I forgot about my case of Molson but hearing about it makes me excited, lol)