Bowling Green’s hockey team is finally being rewarded for its hard work and positive attitude.
The Falcons have split their last two series, posting wins over ninth-ranked Alaska and No. 16 Michigan
the last two weekends.
BG started the season 0-7-1.
"It’s nice to get those wins," Falcon coach Dennis Williams said. "We’re not satisfied and
we still need to be more consistent, but we’re seeing wins and we’re seeing improvement.
BG is 2-9-1 overall and and 2-5-1-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association going into games Friday
and Saturday at No. 13 Notre Dame (6-5-3, 3-2-3-2).
ND, second in the coaches preseason poll, snapped a four-game (0-2-2) winless streak Sunday with a 4-1
win over No. 8 Michigan State.
BACK TO BACK: BG failed to finish sweeps of Alaska and Michigan, in part, due to poor first periods in
Game 2. BG trailed 3-0 against Alaska and 2-0 against Michigan.
"We’re trying to change everything up on Saturday until we get those back-to-back wins,"
Williams said. "It comes down to approaching Saturday no differently than any other game.
"We don’t want to be known as a team that comes out Friday and we’re happy we’re guaranteed a split.
If we win Friday, we have to be that much hungrier Saturday and think we can get (two wins)."
ARE YOU KIDDING?: Although BG has finished last in the CCHA in three of the last four seasons and
Michigan annually is one of the country’s best teams, the teams have split four of their last five
series.
NEMESIS: The Falcons have lost 12 straight and are 0-15-1 in their last 16 meetings against ND.
The tie came Feb. 18, 2006 at BG and the Falcons haven’t beaten ND since a home-and-home sweep Jan.
28-29, 2005.
OFFENSE: Although the Falcons had just one goal and 12 shots in Saturday’s loss to Michigan, they had
scored three or more goals in their three previous games.
"Scoring helps your confidence," Williams said, adding BG has worked a lot of improving its
offensive skills. "We want to give them confidence they score goals and make plays to win
games."
In CCHA games only, BG is tied for ninth in the league in goals per game (2.25), tied for eighth in
power-play conversions (14.6 percent, 6-of-41) and last in shots on goal (21.5 per game).
"If you can get three or four goals a game, you’re going to have a chance to win," Williams
said.
M-ROD: Williams praised freshman forward Marc Rodriguez for his play against Michigan. He scored his
first goal and was recently added to the penalty-killing unit.
"He’s playing real confident, simple hockey," Williams said. "He finishes his checks, he’s
strong on the (boards) and does the little things well. He’s a smart player who has good hands and good
vision."
He played on a line with Josh Boyd and Tomas Petruska and the trio was effective generating chances.
SPECIALS: BG is trying to cut the ice time for its best players by having them play on either the
power-play or the penalty-killing unit but not both.
The Falcons have been fatigued at times because some of their players are seeing above normal ice time.

"In an ultimate world, your power-play and penalty-kill guys would be different," Williams
said. "As guys learn and get acclimated, hopefully, we’ll see that transition happen."