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I just got done posting my mid-season awards over on the blog: http://bgsuhockey.wordpress.com/blog

I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts on my selections? Any other awards you'd give? Disagreements?

Haha excellent review Drew. Keep it up. I see a huge push in the second half.

Go Falcons!!!

Nice Job! I agree with your selections and comments. Some enjoyable surprises (the play of Mohler and Finegan) and of course, some disappointments. For me, the most frustrating thing has been the team's inability to consistently put together three solid periods of play, and in turn, two back to back games on a weekend. I know that this WILL happen and do believe that it WILL be sooner rather than later!!

GO FALCON HOCKEY!!!
ROCK THE SECOND HALF!!

I think the photos made the article. I can barely read, but when pictures are involved I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Especially like the selection of the JST photo. Nice touch.

Agree with everything, except maybe the goalie pick. I'm still up in the air on that one.

both goalies are excellent. Hammond is a nice prize for our future.

Speaking of players, anyone know whether or not Zacharias may get playing time given the teams future this year we should probably red shirt him? We probably arent ready to get past a first round anyway so either get him ready for next year or give him another year, what do you think? Zacharias played against Galley for 2 seasons and he is clearly a bigger stronger goaltender so maybe better to sit him the rest of the year as it sounds like, from CB, that there will be a battle for the backup roll to Hammond.

Also of note two of his former teamates on the powerhouse Lumberkings were just here at the Ohio weekend and size is noticeable, both 6'4 and big, one has agreed to come to BG and the other is deciding between BG, Providence and Army. That program gets 10-12 players a year going to D1 schools!

As long as Zacharias doesn't log any ice time he can be red-shirted. If things shake out like I think they will Hammy will get 95% of the starts with Zacharias getting the occasional spot start.

I don't think Bergeron is very confident with Galley's skill set.

So Milley of Pembroke (only 6'4" player on roster) has committed and Pletsch or Alvarez (only tall Americans) still deciding??

Pembroke does not place 10-12 players per year in D-1 - where did you hear or see that ??

From their 2009-2010 roster - 3

From their 2008-2009 roster - 3

They will have more this year, in part because two players had committed to D-1 before they went to Pembroke...5 so far.

First i apologize, i should have made a check of the post before i posted! I meant to say D schools not just D1. I should also add Canadian Colleges into that mix, to be fair.

Pembroke in 09-10 had Tousonian, Cross, Just and Zacharias commit to D1, Clark and Bobrow to D3 and Sauve, Farrow and Clouthier to Canadian Colleges, however part way through this season Clouthier decided to go back to the OHL, i believe in Windsor. Tousonian knew he was a Bemidji commit but wasnt announced until after the season, he had some school items to clean up before Pembroke could announce this.

In 08-09 Starczewski and Santee D1 and Romero, Crozier, Sulivan, Scott Farrell and Deely to D3 with Beauman going to a Canadian College.

To answer the first question Milley, Alvarez (brother to Army's Alvarez) and Pletsch are all 6' 3 to 6'4, not all stats of the the website are 100% accurate especially size but you only need to stand beside these 3 players to know they are big. The 2nd part of your question is, Ted Pletsch has committed, he is a strong, strong power forward who brings a leadership skill set, is tremendous on the penalty kill both in scoring shorthanded goals and blocking shots and he will bring a physical side we need. Alvarez is a highly skilled defenseman with size, he is good at both ends of the ice and posseses a huge shot as well from the point, but his brother may have influence of whether he goes to Army, although Providence is trying to get him and there will be more before this season ends. Milley is a power forward that brings scoring ability for a big player and has a nasty, nasty attitude to the ice surface, he can handle all players on the ice and is tough to move off the puck or from the front of the net.
With Tousonian committed they still had a great defenseman available off that team in Rheinhart but he since has committed to UAH. So this year they have Peca, Rheinhart, Pletsch, Zay and I believe Hildebrandt committed at D1 and expect Milley, Alvarez, Farrell and possibly Salituro (trying to recommit somewhere) to get something at some level. They will also get a couple for Canadian colleges.

Point being its a good program with an excellent coach, we need players from Championship programs to change the culture, dont you agree?

So to be fair, the point really was we should expect a good solid player when we get a player from the Junior program, someone who has a very disciplined approach, wants to achieve a championship, very good hockey skills and someone who understands the demands of a strong coach.

So if i am not 100% exactly accurate on the earlier comments, i apologize, i was more interested in what may be happening with one of our players from that program and excited about a player or players that may bring us a champions attitude. I know a lot about the program up there as the coach was a friend from years ago and know he does get them ready for the next level or to another level to continue their sport after junior.

Again sorry for the inaccuracy!

No worries about inaccuracies, not a big deal.

Agreed - Pembroke a strong program with good coaching.

BG Drew - But Bergeron said in his clip about Galley that he expects Galley to come in and battle to share ice time with Hammond. No mention of Zacharias in the mix. ???

Galley ranks 22nd in GAA for Langley - highest scoring team in the league and second in their division.

Zacharias and Galley played in same league for a couple of years.

Galley - TOTALS 72 4032 42 23 0 2 5 196 2.92 1752 0.899

Zacharias - TOTALS 58 3249 48 5 1 0 8 124 2.29 1495 0.923

Collegehockeywatcher are you asking what the plans are for Zacharias or just showing Zacharias' stronger #'s?

Zacharias had two very good year in that league and he was drafted in the OHL and turned it down to play college, i dont think you have his resume because he isnt good. BG followed him both years in that league and they knew he was a steal, and he wanted to play close to his family as i understand, thats why he didnt except two colleges out east.

The team seems quite confident in Zacharias, including both goaltenders, if you have watched practice you would see he is quite a strong goalie. He also knows the winning that Bergeron is looking for, as he won back to back championships from a program that has won 4 in a row, i would guess it wasnt easy to make that team either. His first year there, all 3 goalies got NCAA D1 teams eventually and he was kept as one of the remaining two and then starts the entire year the next year. He missed 12 games due to injury and still posted those numbers. Yes i know its not this level but Goalies coming from Championship teams carry that to there teammates and its only a matter of playing time for him to adjust. Dont forget that Eno had to adjust and so did Hammond. Zacharias matured a little later but the scouting reports on him were a very good, confident, strong goaltender that has very quick feet for a big goalie, he takes up a lot of net with his size and is very technically sound.

I believe in the Bergeron comments, he also said he felt it would be quite a competion for #2, because a scholarship goalie is expected to be very good when he gets here and he by no means had written Zacharias off and expected him to be ready for next year. Also for the first two months all of the media discussions Bergeron said he knows its his strongest position and he had a very capable freshmen who works hard and is hungry to get in. Given our record i would think that unless Galley is a superstar, the coach will have to play his best goalies to get wins, not play a namesake player for the sake of playing, wouldnt you?

The players seem to think hes really strong and he works really hard and he's well liked. I think they have plans for him next year as it sounds like Zacharias has done everything they have asked of him, weight room, practice and in class, so i think he knows his place for next year, already. Barring an injury he will most likely redshirt at the end of the year. Thats all he has known for the past several seasons, so i dont think we should assume that Galley gets an automatic spot.

Alvarez has committed to Army

Bergeron says Galley will come in and compete with Hammond for ice time.

No mention of Zacharias.

It will sort itself out in the fall.