Game Thread: Providence vs. Bowling Green

[Falcon Frenzy]

I really LOVED watching this team tonight! The energy and aggression they brought to the ice was tremendous. I know we didn't get the win but there are many positives to take from their play tonight. I feel this game could be the springboard for how to approach the rest of the season.

There are still areas we need to work on (the power play, taking more shots) but if they take the attitude they took tonight these are areas we can improve as our confidence and team chemistry grows.

Keep it up guys!! Go Falcons!!!!

[falconfan1]

Great effort tonight. We played pretty well the whole way- and hard. I'm no hockey expert, but Fr J S-T #21 might be a player; he is certainly exciting to watch. Also Fr Pageau #13.

I thought our Fr goaltender really played well. Their first goal was a very, very flukey goal hitting a couple guys/skates and going in.

We had numerous chances in the first five or six minutes of the first- the post etc. And again in the last ten minutes of the second. We couldn't get one past their guy.

Decent crowd who seemed to enjoy the game. We need more folks at the games- I think it would really help to actually fill the arena and show support for the staff and players. Not sure where everyone is- I know it is early and these are nonconference game.

Just can't see the gut the program post above a few. Just don't see that. We have a major commitment from the entire university with buy in from many folks on commitee and volunteering etc- and others that would include Pres Cartwright, Greg Chrsitopher, etc tec. We will lose some games- probably many; we are young. And we lost a lot of games the last several years. I am not sure what coach including Red Berensen or Ron Mason would do if they were hired at the end of last season.

I am behind Coach Williams. And if you have ever met Kyle Page I think you understand that we better be behind everybody associated with the program right now- including the Prez, the AD, the coaches and the players.

Kyle Page is first class- this is the kind of man who is a real Falcon. When I watch this team, I think of this young man and what he means to Bowling Green State University. Not just hockey; our school.

Let's rebuild- ripping folks does literally nothing at this point. When do we look forward? We have an opportunity here.

Go Falcons!

[toddpav]

It was a good game to watch tonight... completely different turnaround from the night prior.

Krelove, Dee, and Perkin deserve a lot of credit from tonight. They played hard and battled for every puck. Page, too.

As far as JS-T.... not sold on him, at all. Sometimes he tries, some times he doesn't. I don't know... he's working into his element, and that's the best we can hope for.

I think our team will be ok.

[pdt1081]

I didn't make it to the game so I can't comment on it. From what I'm reading though, it sounds like it was a good game.

Decent crowd who seemed to enjoy the game. We need more folks at the games- I think it would really help to actually fill the arena and show support for the staff and players. Not sure where everyone is- I know it is early and these are nonconference game.

Just can't see the gut the program post above a few. Just don't see that. We have a major commitment from the entire university with buy in from many folks on commitee and volunteering etc- and others that would include Pres Cartwright, Greg Chrsitopher, etc tec. We will lose some games- probably many; we are young. And we lost a lot of games the last several years. I am not sure what coach including Red Berensen or Ron Mason would do if they were hired at the end of last season.

Everybody's bought in, BUT Marketing. Other than the $5 promotion for last night's game, I have seen absolutely ZERO advertising for the games. We've had 4. 2 Exhibitions and then these 2 non-conference games. It should not matter that they are not league games. They are HOME games. Start getting the word out. Nobody wants to play in an empty arena.

[bgsufalcon24]

It's rapidly becoming apparent that, unless football can win out and game to a bowl game somehow, it's going to be women's basketball all the way this winter. They're our only shot. We're certainly not going to see many good things on the hockey rink, and with all the departures on the men's basketball squad, it could be a tough year there too, though the jury's still out.

The fact that they called a player's only meeting Friday night probably means that some or all of the players don't give a rats a$$ if they give up 7 and 8 goals and needed to be chewed out. While I like the fact that the meeting was called, why is it that BG always seems to have problems with players that either A.hate the coach so they don't play hard, or B.don't care if they play well/win/represent the university well? It's been going on virtually every year this decade.

[BGDrew]

I'm going to put this very nicely because it's being said through clinched teeth:

If you think that this team doesn't care or hates the coach then you are showing your true knowledge of the subject, and it isn't of the genius variety.

[pdt1081]

The fact that they called a player's only meeting Friday night probably means that some or all of the players don't give a rats a$$ if they give up 7 and 8 goals and needed to be chewed out. While I like the fact that the meeting was called, why is it that BG always seems to have problems with players that either A.hate the coach so they don't play hard, or B.don't care if they play well/win/represent the university well? It's been going on virtually every year this decade.

The fact that a player's only meeting was called means the player's do care. It shows that they recognize there is a problem that they feel they can correct themselves. Coaches can only do so much. There comes a time when the players must motivate themselves and their teammates. The difference in effort between Friday night and Saturday is a direct reflection on the leadership on this team.

[BGFan]

It's rapidly becoming apparent that, unless football can win out and game to a bowl game somehow, it's going to be women's basketball all the way this winter. They're our only shot. We're certainly not going to see many good things on the hockey rink, and with all the departures on the men's basketball squad, it could be a tough year there too, though the jury's still out.

The fact that they called a player's only meeting Friday night probably means that some or all of the players don't give a rats a$$ if they give up 7 and 8 goals and needed to be chewed out. While I like the fact that the meeting was called, why is it that BG always seems to have problems with players that either A.hate the coach so they don't play hard, or B.don't care if they play well/win/represent the university well? It's been going on virtually every year this decade.

Dude, you really need to go see a shrink or something. Your depression and outlook on things in general is quite the downer. The team played tremendously last night! Did you not read the prior posts or are you typing this crap just for the sake of dragging everyone else down into your own personal hell?

[Falcon Fanatic]

The fact that they called a player's only meeting Friday night probably means that some or all of the players don't give a rats a$$ if they give up 7 and 8 goals and needed to be chewed out. While I like the fact that the meeting was called, why is it that BG always seems to have problems with players that either A.hate the coach so they don't play hard, or B.don't care if they play well/win/represent the university well? It's been going on virtually every year this decade.

The fact that a player's only meeting was called means the player's do care. It shows that they recognize there is a problem that they feel they can correct themselves. Coaches can only do so much. There comes a time when the players must motivate themselves and their teammates. The difference in effort between Friday night and Saturday is a direct reflection on the leadership on this team.

pdt, I agee with you 100%! They DO care and they DO like the coaching staff. We really are a "work in progress" (unlearning a few bad habits, trying to work with a new system, etc...) and as long as they work hard to improve, the wins WILL come!

[FalconTurf]

When I had Jack Vivian for class he claimed when his teams had a problem he would give the captains a couple of bucks to take the team out for a beer. That won't work today with the 21 drinking age. But I think his story suggested that the players must work things out themselves sometimes.

The coach can only prepare the team so much. The team must gel by itself with team meetings if necessary. This type of thing should never be spoken of but the press always loves these types of things as do most fans. Unfortunately the IDIOTS among us don't always understand how this works possibly because they were never on a team or .......

[Falconfliccbone]

I thought last night's game was pretty good. It was a close game and would have only been 2-1 if we had not pulled Hammond in the last minute. I enjoyed it. Plus, I saw a lot of good hits...it seemed like we were delivering more hits than receiving.

Hammond was a riot to watch as goalie!! Seriously. The kid knows where the net is at all times..he would frequently back into the net, hit the front wiht his stick on each side, then skate to the front and do the same thing. I'm sure it's a habit of his, but to me, it shows that he is really trying to know where he is at and realizing how much area he has to protect.

Can anyone inform me why the Providence player was ejected last night? I didn't understand the announcement last night, so I was just guessing that he smarted off to the ref.

Looking forward to more hockey games!!

[bgsufalcon24]

It's rapidly becoming apparent that, unless football can win out and game to a bowl game somehow, it's going to be women's basketball all the way this winter. They're our only shot. We're certainly not going to see many good things on the hockey rink, and with all the departures on the men's basketball squad, it could be a tough year there too, though the jury's still out.

The fact that they called a player's only meeting Friday night probably means that some or all of the players don't give a rats a$$ if they give up 7 and 8 goals and needed to be chewed out. While I like the fact that the meeting was called, why is it that BG always seems to have problems with players that either A.hate the coach so they don't play hard, or B.don't care if they play well/win/represent the university well? It's been going on virtually every year this decade.

The team played tremendously last night!

Come again? BG played tremendously? So they played tremendously, and LOST at home, to PROVIDENCE. Not one of the leviathans of college hockey, like Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College, etc, but PROVIDENCE, a team that's not getting any votes at all in one poll and is ranked 33rd in the other. Apparently things have gotten so bad in BG that losing to a 33rd ranked team at home prompts posts such as "we played hard" or "we played tremendously". That's your expectation? Since when have BG hockey fans ever hung their hats on a "good" loss against a team not even ranked in the top 20? I don't want to hear any of that moral victory BS. You didn't see people on the football forum talking in that tone following our loss to Central Michigan (which btw, is ranked around 30th in the country). You saw posts bemoaning the fact that we could have won had it not been for turnovers, penalties, and key plays costing us. Evidently most BG football fans expect us to win, and don't savor in "playing tremendously". I don't either. Either you produce on the field/court/ice and get victories or you don't. The hockey team doesn't do that and hasn't for years, and worst of all, there's no reason to expect that they will in the near future either.

If what happened on Saturday constitutes playing tremendously for BG, then I don't want to know what an "average", or worse, a "bad" performance is.

And yes, this is going to be the most obvious thing I've ever wrote on azz.com, but I have an extremely negative view of our hockey program. Why shouldn't I? This is a team that's finished LAST in the CCHA 3 of the last 4 years. We've won 1 playoff series in the last 5 years. We're 2-10 in postseason play over that same span. We haven't had a winning record in a season since, well, I can't even think of it. We suck. Getting rid of Paluch might have been the first step on the road back to respectability, but it's going to take years to clean up this mess. And I for one, won't be holding my breath. I'll believe a great BG hockey team will emerge when I see it. Those of you expecting our team to suddenly turn it around and have it all come together based on one "tremendously played loss" really need a reality check.

[MACMAN]

first Providence split with ND, if you dont remeber we finsished in place last year, and HAve not beaten ND in 3 years.

It seems the team may do better when I am not there. I did like the play of the 1st period on night one, quite a bounce back to having some speed and game.
I wish I could have seen this game. Ill catch the next.

[BG84]

Of the freshmen, I'm liking Pageau. Rodriguez gets my attention sometimes, too. None of the defenseman have made me pay attention. Coach Williams might be thinking something similar, seeing as how he played McIntosh on defense Saturday.

Of the veterans, I love Perkin and Kantola. Boyd has some a long way. The energy Solway brings is amazing. Mrs. BG84 first noticed Dee's defensive abilities last season (or before), and I'm sold on him, too. Petruska's play bugged me this weekend, but I don't know why.

Mrs. BG84 spotted McIlrath in the arena.

[pdt1081]

Come again? BG played tremendously? So they played tremendously, and LOST at home, to PROVIDENCE. Not one of the leviathans of college hockey, like Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College, etc, but PROVIDENCE, a team that's not getting any votes at all in one poll and is ranked 33rd in the other. Apparently things have gotten so bad in BG that losing to a 33rd ranked team at home prompts posts such as "we played hard" or "we played tremendously". That's your expectation? Since when have BG hockey fans ever hung their hats on a "good" loss against a team not even ranked in the top 20? I don't want to hear any of that moral victory BS. You didn't see people on the football forum talking in that tone following our loss to Central Michigan (which btw, is ranked around 30th in the country). You saw posts bemoaning the fact that we could have won had it not been for turnovers, penalties, and key plays costing us. Evidently most BG football fans expect us to win, and don't savor in "playing tremendously". I don't either. Either you produce on the field/court/ice and get victories or you don't. The hockey team doesn't do that and hasn't for years, and worst of all, there's no reason to expect that they will in the near future either.

If what happened on Saturday constitutes playing tremendously for BG, then I don't want to know what an "average", or worse, a "bad" performance is.

And yes, this is going to be the most obvious thing I've ever wrote on azz.com, but I have an extremely negative view of our hockey program. Why shouldn't I? This is a team that's finished LAST in the CCHA 3 of the last 4 years. We've won 1 playoff series in the last 5 years. We're 2-10 in postseason play over that same span. We haven't had a winning record in a season since, well, I can't even think of it. We suck. Getting rid of Paluch might have been the first step on the road back to respectability, but it's going to take years to clean up this mess. And I for one, won't be holding my breath. I'll believe a great BG hockey team will emerge when I see it. Those of you expecting our team to suddenly turn it around and have it all come together based on one "tremendously played loss" really need a reality check.

A team can play a tremendous game and not win. Hell, I've seen a team play absolutely horribly and somehow manage to win. The problem with people like you is you look solely at end of game stats. You expect to form an opinion about how good a team is without ever actually seeing them play a game. Truth be told, there is more to a game than the actual end of game stats. People like you are the same ones that approve of the BCS in football. You play the games on paper. There's a reason everything is settled ON THE ICE!