While the win column has yet to show it, head coach Dennis Williams knows that his Bowling Green team is headed in the right direction. It would be easy to get down when your team sits at 0-3-1 with a shootout win in conference play and 0-7-1 overall, but Williams is pleased to see his freshman-laden squad making strides in practice and adjusting to the rigors of the intercollegiate game.
“Right now, I’ve been really happy with the way we’re working hard, competing and not giving up on each other,” Williams said. “Our record isn’t where we want it to be, we’re taking our lumps now, but I would be more worried if we weren’t working together.”
Leading the way amongst the Falcons’ freshman class is Jordan Samuels-Thomas, an Atlanta Thrashers draft pick that was at the center of the shootout controversy two weeks ago tonight. Samuels-Thomas leads the team with three goals and six points, and he provides a dynamic presence in the offensive zone that has proven effective with a variety of linemates.
It may be easy for freshmen like Samuels-Thomas, fellow forward Nathan Pageau and goaltender Andrew Hammond to be distracted from the team’s early-season struggles by their ongoing adjustment period, it has the potential to be extremely tough on veteran players who suffered through a 12th-place finish last year and the question marks surrounding the future of Bowling Green’s program.
Fortunately for Williams, his team’s veteran leadership is still focused on making the most of this year and passing on their experience to their younger teammates.
“I think our attitude is very good,” Williams said. “We have great captains in Kyle Page (captain), Tommy Dee and David Solway (alternates) . Coaches can only do so much tactically to help the team, it come down to the seniors and leaders. To have those guys coming to practice ready to compete every single day, it’s fantastic for a coach, it’s great to have these guys step up in practice.”
Heading into this weekend’s home series against Alaska, Williams has drilled his players on maintaining possession of the puck, in the neutral zone and forcing Alaska’s improved offense to work for goals.
“The key for us is how we can execute everything that we want to do,” Williams said. “If they want to score, I want to make sure that they’re coming the full 200-feet down the ice, we can’t afford to turn the puck over in the neutral zone.”
Alaska comes into the game ranked ninth in the INCH power rankings, and it could be an uphill battle for the Falcons all weekend long. But with the Nanooks leaving their home state for the first time this year, Bowling Green will be gunning for their first three point performance of the year.
Sitting just three points away from ninth place and seeing the teams immediately above them in the CCHA standings facing tough road matchups this weekend, a victory or two over the Nanooks would be just the medicine this team needs to take the next step in its development.
