The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) held its annual media day press conference Tuesday, which featured appearances from league officials and the head coach of every member program of the CCHA.
Among the coaches was Bowling Green’s Dennis Williams, who provided insights into his team and their upcoming season that kicks off in less than three weeks when the Falcons take on Robert Morris in an exhibition game on Oct. 4 at the Slater Family Ice Arena.
Here are the Falcon Four takeaways from the event:
Changes within the CCHA
The CCHA’s standings were based off points percentage last season due to Augustana playing fewer conference than the rest of the teams in the conference. This year, the conference will return to the more common standings format that the conference used prior to last season, where teams are awarded three points for a conference win in regulation, two points for conference wins in overtime and/or a shootout and one point awarded to a team that loses in overtime and/or a shootout. The top eight teams with the most points at the end of the regular season will make the playoffs.
Additionally, St. Thomas and Augustana have fully completed their transition to the Division I level and will now be eligible to represent the CCHA in the NCAA playoffs if they earn a bid to the tournament.
There are also two new head coaches within the conference this season, with Bill Muckalt returning to Michigan Tech, where he was an associate coach from 2011-2015, and Brett Riley replacing legendary coach Bob Daniels at Ferris State after Daniels’ retirement following last season.
Williams is being patient as new faces adjust
Bowling Green has 14 new players on their roster this season, made up of 11 freshmen and three transfers. It will be their first time ever playing NCAA hockey for 12 of these players, and their first time playing within the CCHA conference for all of these players. If the Falcons want to succeed this season, they will need these players to adjust and perform.
Williams is aware of this and is preaching being patient while these players adjust to a new team and new conference.
“Be patient,” said Williams. “It takes time”.
The Falcon’s roster is full of leadership
Senior defenseman Dalton Norris was named captain for the 2025-26 season on April 23, 2025. Coach Williams described Norris as someone who “cares so much about his teammates”.
While the rest of the Falcon leadership group will be announced soon, Williams emphasized how every returning player has stepped up as a leader on the roster.
“Returners are an extension of (the) coaching staff,” said Willy.
With so many new faces on the team, it is integral to the Falcons’ success that returning players step up as leaders to help the new players adjust to their new surroundings.
Williams places emphasis on continued recruiting success
Major emphasis has been put on former Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) joining college rosters after a rule change during the 2024-25 season made them eligible for college hockey for the first time.
Of Bowling Green’s 14 new players, 12 previously played in one of the CHL leagues before joining the Orange and Brown this season.
Despite the immense number of talent coming from the CHL, Willy emphasized that he and his team will continue to “do their due diligence everywhere” in regards to recruiting from other junior leagues, including the United States Hockey League (USHL) and North American Hockey League (NAHL) in order to find the best talent for the BG roster. This doesn’t mean that the Falcons will stop their efforts in recruiting players from the CHL.
“If you’re fishing in a good fishing hole, you’re not leaving it,” said Williams.
Bowling Green’s season starts on Oct. 4 when the Falcons face Robert Morris University in an exhibition match at the Slater Family Ice Arena.
