1983–84 Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey season

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1983–84 Bowling Green Falcons
men's ice hockey season
National champion
KeyBank Tournament, champion
CCHA, champion
NCAA tournament, champion
Conference1st CCHA
Home iceBGSU Ice Arena
Record
Overall34–8–2
Conference22–4–2
Home18–2–0
Road11–4–1
Neutral5–2–1
Coaches and captains
Head coachJerry York
Captain(s)Mike Pikul
Wayne Wilson
Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey seasons
« 1982–83 1984–85 »

The 1983–84 Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey team represented the Bowling Green University in college ice hockey. In its 5th year under head coach Jerry York the team compiled a 34–8–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the fifth time.[1] The Falcons defeated Minnesota–Duluth 5–4 in the fourth overtime to win the championship game at the 1980 Olympic Arena in Lake Placid, New York, the longest title game in NCAA history.

Season[edit]

Early season success[edit]

Bowling Green was champing at the bit after being left out of the 1983 Tournament despite winning the CCHA and having a better record than the team picked ahead of them, Minnesota–Duluth. The Falcons got off to a good start with a sweep of visiting Clarkson but when they opened their conference schedule the following week they could only manage a split with Lake Superior State. Losing to an inferior team appeared to galvanize the team and the Falcons proceeded to win the next 17 contests, the longest streak in program history.[2] Through two months Bowling Green scored no fewer than 4 goals in each of their games and though they started out with Wayne Collins in net (their only goaltender with NCAA experience) Gary Kruzich soon became the go-to goalie. Even when Bowling Green was limited to 2 goals the defense showed up and allowed the Falcons to win the KeyBank Tournament. The streak finally ended with a 5–6 overtime loss at Michigan and a week later the team ended up with a tie against Ferris State.

Defensive cracks[edit]

The Falcons regained their footing when they played at home for the first time in over a month against Northern Michigan and after earning 3 points against Illinois–Chicago in early February Bowling Green guaranteed themselves their third consecutive CCHA title.[3][4] With little to play for Bowling Green played a bad game against Western Michigan, allowing a season-high 8 goals against before earning a split. The following weekend they welcomed in Division III Michigan–Dearborn and dominated the obviously outmatched Wolverines but the lack of a challenge did not help BG right the ship and the squad split their final weekend against cellar-dwelling Miami.

CCHA tournament[edit]

With the program record for wins in sight (37) the team appeared to get back to normal when they opened the tournament with a home win against Lake Superior State but they were back in the losing column after game 2. Fortunately the first round was a total-goal series and the close loss in the second game didn't cost BGSU too much. In the semifinal at the Joe Louis Arena Bowling Green faced Western Michigan and the Broncos showed no fear in facing down the Falcons and the two teams fought to a 3–3 tie through regulation. Kruzich kept the Falcons in the game but future NHLer Glenn Healy couldn't be beaten and in the second overtime WMU scored to end Bowling Green's chance at the conference championship. The Falcons had a chance to redeem themselves in the consolation game but against fell in overtime, this time to Ohio State.

NCAA tournament[edit]

Even with losing three consecutive games Bowling Green still had the second best record in the country and the selection committee gave them an at-large bid, slotting them third in the west. As a lower seed, BGSU started the tournament on the road against Boston University and the Falcons still could not break out of their losing skid, dropping the game 3–6. With the team needing to win the second game by 4 goals to advance they had their work cut out for them but Gary Kruzich played one of his best games, holding BU to a single goal while the Falcons scored 4 goals in regulation, and added the series winner in overtime.

The miraculous turnaround sent Bowling Green to Lake Placid for the second time that season where the Falcons faced the #1 offensive team and the only squad with more wins (33), Michigan State. Once more the defense was instrumental in Bowling Green's win, shutting the Spartans down and winning 2–1.

Overtime Epic[edit]

In the championship game BGSU only had Minnesota–Duluth left standing in their way but the #1 ranked Bulldogs looked to be a tough test. Bristling with talent and possessing Hobey Baker Award winner Tom Kurvers, UMD looked to get the jump on Bowling Green early but it was Garry Galley who notched the game's first goal with a shot that somehow found its way through a mass of bodies. Duluth responded with their own goal 20 seconds later and two teams remained tied for the next period plus. Bill Watson broke the tie past the mid-way point of the game while Bob Lakso extended the lead at the start of the third period. With the team down by 2 goals with 19 minutes to play, Bowling Green began firing shot after shot against Rick Kosti and eventually the Falcons' leading goal-scorer Jamie Wansborough broke through with a power play marker. With over 15 minutes to play the Falcons had plenty of time to tie the score but with Duluth playing in a defensive shell their opportunities were limited. The situation became dire when UMD regained their 2-goal advantage with 8 minutes to play but the Falcons responded immediately and cut the lead back to 1. Bowling Green had a good opportunity to tie the game late on a power play but they couldn't convert and as the clock kept ticking it appeared that Minnesota–Duluth was going to win the national title. With less than two minutes to play, team co-captain Wayne Wilson fired the puck into the Duluth zone from the red line. When Kosti went behind the net to play the puck it hit something along the boards and bounced out into the crease and, with three Bulldogs around him, John Samanski poked the puck into the net to tie the game.

With the Duluth faithful screaming that the play should have been icing the two teams restarted play and fought furiously in the final 90 seconds before heading into overtime. In the first overtime UMD nearly ended the game but Kruzich stopped a semi-breakaway by Lakso and neither squad could find the back of the net. The game became the first title game to need more than one extra frame but it did not stop there. Kruzich and Kosti kept the score tied until deep into the fourth 10-minute overtime. With both teams exhausted leading BG scorer Dan Kane found Gino Cavallini alone in front of the net and the sophomore backhanded the puck past Kosti's leg to end the longest championship game in NCAA history (as of 2019).

Awards and honors[edit]

Gary Kruzich became the third consecutive goaltender to win the tournament MOP as much for his overtime heroics as for holding BU and MSU to single goals in the previous two wins. However, Kruzich had to share his All-Tournament team spot with UMD's Rick Kosti, the only time in history that any position was split between two people (as of 2019).[5] Kruzich was joined on the All-Tournament team by David Ellett and Garry Galley while Galley and Dan Kane made the AHCA All-American West Team and the All-CCHA First Team[6] Ellett and John Samanski were named to the CCHA Second Team while none of the individual conference awards went to the Falcons.

The championship was the first for any CCHA team and demonstrated that the conference could compete with the other major powers of the college hockey world.

Standings[edit]

1983–84 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Bowling Green† 28 22 4 2 .821 146 95 44 34 8 2 228 146
Ohio State 30 21 9 0 .700 155 96 41 30 10 1 212 133
Michigan State* 30 21 9 0 .700 162 90 46 34 12 0 241 129
Northern Michigan 30 16 14 0 .533 126 118 40 17 22 1 155 161
Western Michigan 28 13 14 1 .482 125 114 42 22 18 2 187 168
Michigan Tech 30 14 16 0 .467 123 128 41 19 21 1 160 167
Ferris State 30 13 15 2 .467 128 138 41 18 20 3 184 184
Lake Superior State 30 12 17 1 .417 103 127 40 18 20 2 152 176
Michigan 30 11 18 1 .383 105 148 37 14 22 1 134 179
Miami 30 10 20 0 .333 116 156 37 13 23 1 149 188
Illinois-Chicago 28 5 22 1 .196 83 162 35 5 29 1 106 221
Championship: Michigan State
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule[edit]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Regular Season
October 14 vs. Clarkson* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 5–2  1–0
October 15 vs. Clarkson* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 5–3  2–0
October 21 vs. Lake Superior State BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 7–2  3–0 (1–0)
October 22 vs. Lake Superior State BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio L 1–2  3–1 (1–1)
October 28 vs. Michigan Tech BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 6–5  4–1 (2–1)
October 29 vs. Michigan Tech BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 5–1  5–1 (3–1)
November 4 at Michigan State Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan W 7–4  6–1 (4–1)
November 5 at Michigan State Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan W 5–3  7–1 (5–1)
November 11 vs. Illinois–Chicago BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 8–3  8–1 (6–1)
November 12 vs. Illinois–Chicago BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 7–2  9–1 (7–1)
November 18 at New Hampshire* Snively Arena • Durham, New Hampshire W 6–5 OT 10–1 (7–1)
November 19 at New Hampshire* Snively Arena • Durham, New Hampshire W 4–3  11–1 (7–1)
November 25 vs. Miami BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 5–3  12–1 (8–1)
November 26 vs. Miami BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 6–3  13–1 (9–1)
December 2 at Ohio State OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, Ohio W 4–2  14–1 (10–1)
December 3 vs. Ohio State BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 8–6  15–1 (11–1)
December 9 vs. Western Michigan BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 5–4  16–1 (12–1)
December 10 vs. Western Michigan BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 4–3  17–1 (13–1)
KeyBank Tournament
December 29 vs. Cornell* 1980 Olympic Arena • Lake Placid, New York (Tournament Semifinal) W 6–4  18–1 (13–1)
December 30 vs. Clarkson* 1980 Olympic Arena • Lake Placid, New York (Tournament championship) W 2–0  19–1 (13–1)
January 6 at Michigan Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 8–2  20–1 (14–1)
January 7 at Michigan Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan L 5–6 OT 20–2 (14–2)
January 13 at Ferris State Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan W 5–2  21–2 (15–2)
January 14 at Ferris State Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan T 5–5 OT 21–2–1 (15–2–1)
January 20 vs. Northern Michigan BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 4–2  22–2–1 (16–2–1)
January 21 vs. Northern Michigan BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 4–2  23–2–1 (17–2–1)
January 27 vs. Ohio State BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 4–3 OT 24–2–1 (18–2–1)
January 28 at Ohio State OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, Ohio W 3–2 OT 25–2–1 (19–2–1)
February 3 vs. Illinois–Chicago Franklin Park Ice Arena • Franklin Park, Illinois W 5–3  26–2–1 (20–2–1)
February 4 vs. Illinois–Chicago Franklin Park Ice Arena • Franklin Park, Illinois T 5–5 OT 26–2–2 (20–2–2)
February 10 at Western Michigan Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan L 3–8  26–3–2 (20–3–2)
February 11 at Western Michigan Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan W 4–2  27–3–2 (21–3–2)
February 17 vs. Michigan–Dearborn* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 10–3  28–3–2 (21–3–2)
February 18 vs. Michigan–Dearborn* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio W 10–2  29–3–2 (21–3–2)
February 24 at Miami Goggin Ice Arena • Oxford, Ohio W 11–4  30–3–2 (22–3–2)
February 25 at Miami Goggin Ice Arena • Oxford, Ohio L 2–6  30–4–2 (22–4–2)
CCHA tournament
March 2 vs. Lake Superior State* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio (CCHA Quarterfinal game 1) W 7–3  31–4–2 (22–4–2)
March 3 vs. Lake Superior State* BGSU Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio (CCHA Quarterfinal game 2) L 6–7  31–5–2 (22–4–2)
Bowling Green Wins Series 13–10
March 9 vs. Western Michigan* Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan (CCHA Semifinal) L 3–4 2OT 31–6–2 (22–4–2)
March 10 vs. Ohio State* Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan (CCHA Consolation Game) L 2–3 OT 31–7–2 (22–4–2)
NCAA tournament
March 16 at Boston University* Walter Brown Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (National Quarterfinal game 1) L 3–6  31–8–2 (22–4–2)
March 17 at Boston University* Walter Brown Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (National Quarterfinal game 2) W 5–1 OT 32–8–2 (22–4–2)
Bowling Green Wins Series 8–7
March 23 vs. Michigan State* 1980 Olympic Arena • Lake Placid, New York (National Semifinal) W 2–1  33–8–2 (22–4–2)
March 24 vs. Minnesota–Duluth* 1980 Olympic Arena • Lake Placid, New York (National championship) W 5–4 4OT 34–8–2 (22–4–2)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[1]

Roster and scoring statistics[edit]

No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
7 Dan Kane Junior C Peterborough, ON Ontario 43 24 48 72 61
3 Garry Galley Junior D Montreal, PQ Quebec 44 15 52 67 61
22 John Samanski Senior C Oshawa, ON Ontario 42 25 35 60 52
4 David Ellett Sophomore D Cleveland, OH Ohio 43 15 39 54 96
19 Jamie Wansbrough Sophomore RW Toronto, ON Ontario 40 34 16 50 18
23 Gino Cavallini Sophomore LW Toronto, ON Ontario 43 25 23 48 16
12 Dave O'Brian Senior D/W Kitchener, ON Ontario 44 12 27 39 62
15 George Roll Junior W Blue Island, IL Illinois 44 13 25 38 32
5 Mike Pikul Senior D Rexdale, ON Ontario 41 7 30 37 36
27 Dave Randerson Junior RW Stratford, ON Ontario 43 12 19 31 6
16 Perry Braun Senior RW Surrey, BC British Columbia 38 12 18 30 26
2 Wayne Wilson Senior D Guelph, ON Ontario 44 2 24 26 60
11 Tim Hack Senior C Grenfell, SK Saskatchewan 44 7 16 23 28
24 Iain Duncan Freshman LW Toronto, ON Ontario 44 9 11 20 65
21 Peter Wilson Senior RW Oshawa, ON Ontario 43 6 12 18 40
20 Nick Bandescu Senior F Port Huron, MI Michigan 44 9 8 17 12
8 Todd Flichel Freshman D Osgoode, ON Ontario 44 1 3 4 12
10 Rob Urban Freshman F Minnetonka, MN Minnesota 14 0 3 3 4
29 Eddie Powers Freshman G Bowling Green, OH Ohio 7 0 1 1 0
30 Randy Johnson Freshman G Des Plaines, IL Illinois 2 0 0 0 0
18 John Fish Sophomore D Parry Sound, ON Ontario 4 0 0 0 0
1 Wayne Collins Sophomore G Burlington, MA Massachusetts 12 0 0 0 0
6 Mike Natyshak Freshman F Belle River, ON Ontario 19 0 0 0 0
35 Gary Kruzich Freshman G Oak Lawn, IL Illinois 28 0 0 0 14
Total

[7]

Goaltending statistics[edit]

No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
35 Gary Kruzich 28 – 21 5 2 – – – .896 2.87
30 Randy Johnson 2 15 0 0 0 2 8 0 .800 7.89
1 Wayne Collins 12 – – – – – – – – –
29 Eddie Powers 7 – – – – – – – – –
Total 44 – 34 8 2 146 – 1 – –

1984 championship game[edit]

(W2) Minnesota–Duluth vs. (W3) Bowling Green[edit]

[8]

March 24 Minnesota–Duluth 4–5 4OT Bowling Green 1980 Olympic Arena Recap


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st BG Garry Galley Braun and O'Brien 5:58 1–0 BG
UMD Mark Baron Lakso 6:18 1–1
2nd UMD Bill Watson – PP Kurvers and Lakso 33:35 2–1 UMD
3rd UMD Bob Lakso Christensen and Watson 40:47 3–1 UMD
BG Jamie Wansbrough – PP Galley and Ellett 44:41 3–2 UMD
UMD Tom Herzig Baron and Johnson 51:51 4–2 UMD
BG Peter Wilson Pikul and Kane 52:42 4–3 UMD
BG John Samanski W. Wilson and Roll 58:23 4–4
4th Overtime BG Gino Cavallini – GW Kane 97:11 5–4 BG

Players drafted into the NHL[edit]

1984 NHL Entry Draft[edit]

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star[9] = NHL All-Star[9] and NHL All-Star team = Did not play in the NHL
Round Pick Player NHL team
4 74 Paul Ysebaert† New Jersey Devils
5 92 Scott Paluch† St. Louis Blues
10 193 Brent Regan† Hartford Whalers
10 204 Daryn Fersovich† Philadelphia Flyers

† incoming freshman

[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Bowling Green Men's Hockey 2018–19 Record Book" (PDF). Bowling Green Falcons. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  2. ^ "1984 National Champions". BGSU Sports. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  3. ^ "MEN'S HOCKEY ALL-TIME RECORDS". Ohio State Buckeyes. June 26, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  4. ^ "Michigan State Hockey 2018–19 Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State Spartans. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "CCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "Bowling Green Falcons 1983–84 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  8. ^ 1984 NCAA Hockey Championship BGSU vs. Duluth – Final Goal – YouTube
  9. ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  10. ^ "1984 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
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