Mercyhurst (12/5-12/6)

[mbenecke]

Following our 6-3 road win at Robert Morris last night, our 18th-ranked Falcons (3-0) will have a home-and-home matinee series with Mercyhurst this weekend, beginning on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm inside the Slater Family Ice Arena. Game 2 will be on the road in Erie, PA on Sunday at 3:00pm. Both games will be available to stream on FloHockey.

This is Mercyhurst's first game of the season, so I don't know what to expect from them. They were 5-29-2 a year ago, and the last time we played them, we won 8-2. That being said, with it being their season opener, they're going to try to come out hot, so we have to be ready for this team's best shot.

It would be really nice to get a couple of wins and start the season off with 5 in a row, but nothing is guaranteed. We'll have to go out and take it.

Go Falcons! Beat Mercyhurst!

[TommyG]

This year has 2nd half collapse written all over it. Better take care of business before break. Schedule gets real in January....at least as real as it does in the WCHA.

[BG816]

This year has 2nd half collapse written all over it. Better take care of business before break. Schedule gets real in January....at least as real as it does in the WCHA.

Why is that? Physically, they aren’t putting nearly the strain on their bodies as they would during any other first half of a season. I know BGSU hockey slept with your wife or something, but I’d be interested to read what your rationale is for making the statement. Maybe you’re right; I’m just coming up empty with possible reasons why that’d be especially true this season.

[TommyG]

This year has 2nd half collapse written all over it. Better take care of business before break. Schedule gets real in January....at least as real as it does in the WCHA.

Why is that? Physically, they aren’t putting nearly the strain on their bodies as they would during any other first half of a season. I know BGSU hockey slept with your wife or something, but I’d be interested to read what your rationale is for making the statement. Maybe you’re right; I’m just coming up empty with possible reasons why that’d be especially true this season.

Look at the schedule and get back to me...outside of Quinnipiac there isn’t a quality opponent in the 1st half. The 2nd half however is going to be mostly against the top half teams of the conference. Don’t get hyped up about beating D3 and Atlantic Hockey teams...the real test is later on in the season.

[mbenecke]

I agree that the real test is later on, but I'm going to celebrate/cherish every victory this year because a season wasn't guaranteed, and it could end at any time. And I'd much rather beat D3 and AHC team than lose to them.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

And with losing a group of 10 seniors who are (relative) scoring machines, next year is going to be rather...how shall I put it...challenging? Every game played is a win for this group.

[Schadenfreude]

This year has 2nd half collapse written all over it...

... I know BGSU hockey slept with your wife or something...

[TommyG]

Man Schad....you are so cool. Posting gifs on a message board....you got me good.

[AZIce]

And with losing a group of 10 seniors who are (relative) scoring machines, next year is going to be rather...how shall I put it...challenging?

Since the NCAA has declared 2020 basically a freebee, any or all of these seniors could come back as long as they are in the 5 years in 6 window and if its mutually agreeable between the program and the player. .

So its impossible to know how many players any teams will lose from this season to next season.

Would not be surprised if at least a handful of these "Seniors" are still here again next year as playing another year in NCAA D1 might still be their best option in 2021-22.

You very well could see lots of immediately eligible transfers as well.

The makeup of next year team would be a guess by even the coaches themselves at this point, which is crazy, but just part of this year called 2020....LOL.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

And with losing a group of 10 seniors who are (relative) scoring machines, next year is going to be rather...how shall I put it...challenging?

Since the NCAA has declared 2020 basically a freebee, any or all of these seniors could come back as long as they are in the 5 years in 6 window and if its mutually agreeable between the program and the player. .

So its impossible to know how many players any teams will lose from this season to next season.

Would not be surprised if at least a handful of these "Seniors" are still here again next year as playing another year in NCAA D1 might still be their best option in 2021-22.

You very well could see lots of immediately eligible transfers as well.

The makeup of next year team would be a guess by even the coaches themselves at this point, which is crazy, but just part of this year called 2020....LOL.

Hadn't considered the eligibility change. Gotta figure Kruse is gone for sure. I haven't seen a goaltender pop up in the recruiting pipeline yet so, yeah, I guess "who knows" is the right answer.

[AZIce]

I haven't seen a goaltender pop up in the recruiting pipeline yet

Christian Stoever was listed as coming in next year.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/2 ... an-stoever

However, like we said, who knows who comes in next year now and who has to play another year of juniors. You are going to see guys move to other programs and such as well. If BG now doesn't have a spot for you in 2021-22 and you don't want to or can't play another year of juniors, you may just go to another school now.....its going to be a mess. It filters all the way down too, junior teams may now still have guys they didn't plan on so kids playing Midget Major(U18) are now being affected as well.......snowball effect.

You also have the legacy guys that were supposed to come in next year. Emerson's twins(Blake and Quinn) and Rob Blake's kid(Jack).....should be interesting

[pdt1081]

Hadn't considered the eligibility change. Gotta figure Kruse is gone for sure. I haven't seen a goaltender pop up in the recruiting pipeline yet so, yeah, I guess "who knows" is the right answer.

If the pro leagues are up and running, anybody that has a legit shot there, will be going (time to chase some money). I don't look for many seniors to hang out an extra year if they don't have serious academic reasons.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I haven't seen a goaltender pop up in the recruiting pipeline yet

Christian Stoever was listed as coming in next year.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/2 ... an-stoever

JFC, I only posted his stats in the Recruiting thread back in Oct. My brain is fried.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35075&start=75#p431203" target="_blank

[mbenecke]

Puck drops shortly at The Slate.

Falcons hoping to open the season with their 4th consecutive win and extend their unbeaten streak to 14 (currently 11-0-2), dating back to February 1, 2020.

Let's get it.

[mbenecke]

Rose is between the pipes for BG this afternoon.