Falcons vs Merrimack & Boston College this week........

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:17 pm

How good is Merrimack, is this a team we should beat like Windsor? I heard Merrimack finished last their supposedly tough league last year. I'm guessing BC is probably alot better than either OSU or Michigan. That game Sat. is gonna be interesting. Is that game anticipated to sell out? I don't know how much tix are but I'm more inclined to go the BC game just because of the magnitude of that one.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:24 pm

falconboy wrote:How good is Merrimack, is this a team we should beat like Windsor? I heard Merrimack finished last their supposedly tough league last year. I'm guessing BC is probably alot better than either OSU or Michigan. That game Sat. is gonna be interesting. Is that game anticipated to sell out? I don't know how much tix are but I'm more inclined to go the BC game just because of the magnitude of that one.

First of all, the magnitude of every game is high. Falcon Hockey is no different than basketball or football - every game counts. Go to them.

I'm not sure about Merrimack this year (haven't had time to research them), but they are in the same conference (ECHC, off the top of my head?) with BC and some other really, really good east coast programs. Both of those games are big, especially because we are playing both of those teams along with Michigan that same weekend. It could be a nice early barometer of where both of those programs are at, and just how competative the CCHA is verses another elite conference.

Most importantly, though, the BC game will be a homecoming of sorts for a certain BC head coach who also happens to be the same certain head coach who led the Falcons to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1984. If that is not enough motivation for you, you need to get your head checked. Twice.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:39 pm

And now what makes me mad: I have to go home this weekend and will miss one of the biggest games in Falcon history against BC......

You guys better be twice as loud and teach everyone the goal cheer!

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:22 pm

I wish I could, Drew.

Damn, dirty Arizona.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:36 pm

Bleeding Orange wrote: I'm not sure about Merrimack this year (haven't had time to research them), but they are in the same conference (ECHC, off the top of my head?) with BC and some other really, really good east coast programs. Both of those games are big, especially because we are playing both of those teams along with Michigan that same weekend. It could be a nice early barometer of where both of those programs are at, and just how competative the CCHA is verses another elite conference.

Actually, they are both members of Hockey East. the "better" of the two east coast leagues. The other, which contains Clarkson and St. Lawrence, is the ECACHL. It used to be called the just the "ECAC" (or as I heard Buddy Powers call it once, the "EZ-AC"). I think it was last season or the season before that they changed the name to the ECACHL.

None the less, this weekend should be a very good weekend. I hope we play two close games. If we should happen to win handidly over one team or the other this early in the season, I think it could harm us more than help us.

Look for Saturday's game to be a very exciting one. A lot of end-to-end action with a very fast pace. Paluch was an assistant under Jerry at both BG and BC. Their teams will look a lot alike.

McConvey · Post by **McConvey** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:19 pm

Here is my assessment:

As was mentioned before, Merrimack and BC are both in Hockey East. BC won the regular season (14-3-7 record) and Hockey East tournament last year. Merrimack came in 9th in the league (dead last) with a 1-22-1 record.

Merrimack has had its problems the last year, but there's a new coach and there is talent on the team. They had a winning out of conference record, including a 6-4 win over Harvard (who was an NCAA Tournament team). I certainly hope the Falcons don't take Merrimack for granted, otherwise the Warriors will bite them in the ass.

The goaltending usually keeps them in games, but is not as consistent as it probably should be. Their best player is a defenseman, Bryan Schmidt (good Minnesota boy!). He led the team in scoring and was Second Team All-Hockey East last year. Obviously the kid's got some offensive prowess; his biggest weakness (although Conrad Hache was the ref, so this may not apply in a normal game) is that you can get under his skin and he'll take dumb penalties. Their best offensive player, Brent Gough, was hurt half the season, so I never actually saw him play and can't tell you anything about him.

Boston College, on the other hand, will be tougher to beat. They've got a sophomore goaltender, Cory Schneider, who was on the All-Rookie team and would most likely have won Rookie of the Year had he played more games. Schneider platooned with Matti Kaltiainen* last season, but Kaltiainen graduated in May and Schneider will carry the load this year. Schneider's career record at BC is 13-1-4, with the lone loss coming against North Dakota in the NCAA Regionals.

BC has suffered some heavy off-season losses in All-American defenseman Andrew Alberts (graduated and is now in the Bruins system) and Patrick Eaves, who left early to sign with Ottawa. Both were All-Hockey East First Team. But of course BC, like Michigan, always recruits well and will rebound with little trouble.

But the Eagles can be beat. Last season they had a 14-game unbeaten streak (which ended I think at the Beanpot) and were ranked #1 in the country in mid-February, but got swept 3-1 and 4-1 in a home-home with UMass Lowell. True, Alberts was hurt (so was Schneider, but since he platooned anyway, it's not like there wasn't a capable backup with better numbers in Kaltiainen), but they were still big wins for UML and equally big losses for BC.

So that's my unofficial scouting report. If you want more info on either team, just ask! I'm always more than willing to share my opinion. Even if you don't want to hear it

*Let me just tell you about Matti Kaltiainen for a moment. Matti was a Bruins draft pick. He had sub-2.00 gaa's last season and the year before. Lots of people out this way thought he was great. And don't get me wrong, the kid is a decent goaltender, but I told everyone who would listen (and even a few people who didn't care to) that Jordan Sigalet was better than Kaltiainen and that his numbers would have been significantly better than Matti's had he played with BC's defense in front of him.

Everyone thought I was on crack.

Well, answer me this: which of the two goaltenders did Boston sign?
YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT!
I am so totally not on crack.
All the people out here seem so surprised that Jordan is good (and that the Bruins didn't sign Kaltiainen), but they never bothered to listen to me. I've been trying to show them the light ever since I got here.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:20 pm

He played for Jerry to.
Merrimck is Ranked behind Quinipac and that is 51 we are ranked at 29th
BC is ranked 9th behing the Spartans and Wi 4th

Game one will tell alot about Goal tending as Mer attacks and shoots alot...alot so that will be good.
The game against BC will be a trying one, as anyone who has every watched a BC game or a York coached team, knows they know when to hit and grind you, and when to skate and wear you down and are very fast...very fast....if we can skate with BC in this game (which from what I have seen we can we alot of very good skaters this year, more than I have seen in a long while) we can not only win this game, but we can win some CCHa games like those against the SPartans later in the season...
i believe that while we are picked in the middle bottom of the CCHa this year, that we are actually a top 5 team this year. This game should illustrate that.

McConvey · Post by **McConvey** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:48 pm

MACMAN wrote:He played for Jerry to.
Merrimck is Ranked behind Quinipac and that is 51 we are ranked at 29th
BC is ranked 9th behing the Spartans and Wi 4th

This is the kind of attitude that is going to allow Merrimack to bite you in the ass!

They're certainly not deep, but they do have some talent. I mean they're not BC, but they're not Bentley, either!

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:46 pm

The coaches aren't taking Merimack lightly. Talking with them tonight they mentioned that Mericmack has a new coach and that players tend to play at their best trying to prove themselves to new coaches. They're fully aware of the situation and are preparing for a tough game.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:00 am

*Blade article*

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /510110350

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:07 am

I have to say that Maureen is doing a great job of covering all facets of Bowling Green sports. I don't recall the last time the Blade published an article on BG Hockey (other than a special interest article concerning Jordan's MS).

Keep up the good work!

FWIW, it would also be nice to see some game stories. Something more than a blurb saying that we won or lost.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:29 pm

McConvey wrote:
MACMAN wrote:He played for Jerry to.
Merrimck is Ranked behind Quinipac and that is 51 we are ranked at 29th
BC is ranked 9th behing the Spartans and Wi 4th
This is the kind of attitude that is going to allow Merrimack to bite you in the ass!

They're certainly not deep, but they do have some talent. I mean they're not BC, but they're not Bentley, either!

So Merrimack is much better than Windsor I would assume. :-\

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:55 pm

Most US college teams are better than Canadian college teams. It's a different system and somewhat rare when they beat a US team in an exhibition game (although we had a nail biter last year and won it in OT).

Merimack has a different coach this year so it's very difficult to judge how they'll do. My guess is that their top line may be similar in skill to ours but that their other lines won't match up well to ours. We'll find out Friday night.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:34 pm

McConvey wrote:
MACMAN wrote:He played for Jerry to.
Merrimck is Ranked behind Quinipac and that is 51 we are ranked at 29th
BC is ranked 9th behing the Spartans and Wi 4th
This is the kind of attitude that is going to allow Merrimack to bite you in the ass!

They're certainly not deep, but they do have some talent. I mean they're not BC, but they're not Bentley, either!

There will be no ass biting, and I did not imply that from thier ranking they would not be a challange. This is hockey and a poll is just a rough guide at best, we will rule ice on friday, but it wont be becasue Merrimack is ranked 20+ behind us, we are just that much better than they are, and our guys are ready to skate like the demon they are.
bit me.

McConvey · Post by **McConvey** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:49 am

MACMAN wrote:
McConvey wrote:
MACMAN wrote:He played for Jerry to.
Merrimck is Ranked behind Quinipac and that is 51 we are ranked at 29th
BC is ranked 9th behing the Spartans and Wi 4th
This is the kind of attitude that is going to allow Merrimack to bite you in the ass!

They're certainly not deep, but they do have some talent. I mean they're not BC, but they're not Bentley, either!
There will be no ass biting, and I did not imply that from thier ranking they would not be a challange. This is hockey and a poll is just a rough guide at best, we will rule ice on friday, but it wont be becasue Merrimack is ranked 20+ behind us, we are just that much better than they are, and our guys are ready to skate like the demon they are.
bit me.

First, I should not have used 'you' above. My apologies. I meant it in a general sense, but perhaps I should have been more specific and said 'any team that looks at last year's records and feels this game will be a total cakewalk'. Instead, it was taken personally.

Second, read what you (and by 'you' I mean MACMAN) wrote the first time. You bring Quinnipiac into the argument, pointing out that Merrimack was ranked lower than the Bobcats in INCH's pre-season rankings. Can you see why this might confuse a reader into thinking that you were implying that BGSU was going to beat Merrimack simply because the Warriors are ranked a) much lower than the Falcons and b) lower than an Atlantic Hockey team?

Third, when you write 'we will rule ice on Friday [...] we are just that much better than they are', what are you basing this on? Did you actually see Merrimack play last year? I'm willing to bet my favorite BGSU jersey the answer is NO. I did see Merrimack play last year (and Boston College while we're on the subject) so I figured I'd give a little report of my impressons of both teams. Take it for a grain of salt if you want, but in the meantime, RELAX. Not once did I say or imply that BG was going to lose to Merrimack (or BC, if you want to get down to brass tacks).

Fourth: "bit me"? What bit you, a mosquito? A dog?

Falcons vs Merrimack & Boston College this week........

Falcons vs Merrimack & Boston College this week........

Re: Falcons vs Merrimack & Boston College this week.....

Re: Falcons vs Merrimack & Boston College this week.....