A changing of the guard appeared to be just what the Falcon hockey team needed as first-year head coach Scott Paluch lead his team in a 5-2 victory past the University of Windsor.
“I thought the team played pretty well,” said junior Roger Leonard. “We wanted to play aggressive and we did that for the first two periods. I think in the third period we were a little lazy getting the pucks, but I think as the year progresses we’ll work on that.”
This was the Falcons’ first time out on the ice against another team and Paluch’s first time behind the bench. However it was only an exhibition game, so neither the win nor any of the statistics counted.
“This was our first time out where we went through our entire game day routine,” Paluch said. “I thought it was a great first time out for our group.”
The first line out on the ice scored for the Falcons. Junior captain D’Arcy McConvey shot from right in front of the Windsor net to put goaltender John Dube on his back. Freshman Ryan Barnett and senior Tyler Knight received assists on the goal.
“I think we had some pretty good movement,” Paluch said. “I thought right on through all four lines everyone contributed with creating some chances. I think one thing that came out of it with all the lines was that we had some real good chances that as the year goes on, we need to finish on those.”
The second goal came 8:04 into the first period on a power play. Junior Brian Escobedo passed the puck in front of the net to Leonard who sent the puck to the back of the net to put the Falcons up 2-0.
“I felt pretty good,” Leonard said. “I’m confident in my game.” About half way through the second period sophomore Jordan Knight came in to replace senior goaltender Tyler Masters, who did not allow a goal.
The Lancers had the same idea and in the twelfth minute replaced Dube, who had let two goals in, with Kevin Rivest. Two minutes later Leonard got his second power play goal of the game.
“Roger is a work horse,” Paluch said. “He brings a lot to our team. He makes a lot of passes out there and is a vocal guy for us from the bench. He had a nice little touch in some tight situations and corners. He had the ability to make plays.”
Leonard’s goal would be the Falcons’ last goal for a while as Windsor scored on a breakaway shot with 36 seconds left in the second period to cut the Falcons’ lead to 3-1.
The Lancers would get their last goal of the evening 2:50 into the third period giving BG a one goal lead.
“This is when you have to step up and make plays,” Paluch said.
The Falcons did just that. Sophomore Steve Brudzewski extended BG’s lead to 4-2 on a pass from junior Kevin Bieksa and sophomore Ryan Minnabarriet.
“We made some great plays down the stretch,” Paluch said. “I thought Brudzewski’s play to make it a two-goal game late was a terrific effort. Those are the type of plays we are going to need consistently down the stretch to win hockey games.”
The Lancers continued to put on the pressure in the final period.
“Jordan made some very good saves in the third off some scrambles,” Paluch said.
Minnabarriet recorded the final goal for the Falcons on a power play with 1:06 remaining in the game.
“What a great power play goal to finish up and make it 5-2,” Paluch said. “That was a great finish.”
