In senior forward Jackson Niedermayer’s time as a Bowling Green Falcon (2-3-1, 2-1-1), BGSU fans have only ever seen the Newport Beach, California, native line up as a forward.
This weekend against the Bemidji State Beavers (5-4-1, 3-0-1), head coach Dennis Williams had Niedermeyer line up as a defenseman for the first time in his Falcon career.
Niedermeyer is no stranger to the defenseman position, as he played the position during his sophomore season with the Arizona State University Sun Devils (3-5, 1-1).
During said campaign, Niedermayer scored one goal and two assists while blocking four shots in seven games before he suffered a season-ending injury. Interestingly, Niedermayer’s lone goal that season came against Bemidji State.
The position is also no stranger to the Niedermayer name as Jackson’s father, Scott Niedermayer, played in over 1200 NHL games at the position and won a James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2004, a Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP in 2007, four Stanley Cups (three with the New Jersey Devils and one with the Anaheim Ducks) and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
Jackson Nidermayer suited up as a defenseman for both of BG’s games against Bemidji State.
“We talked to (Niedermayer) about playing (defenseman) this weekend,” said Williams following Friday night’s game. “I wanted to know how he felt about it because he played a bit at Arizona State, and he skates so well, he sees the ice well, he made some really nice skill plays on the breakout.
During Friday night’s game, Nidermayer scored a crucial goal with five minutes left in the third period to bring the Falcons within one goal, which allowed junior defenseman Gustav Stjernberg to score the tying goal later in the third.
Statistically, Niedermayer finished the series with one goal and three shots. Nidermayer also had multiple solid defensive plays, including breaking up plays with well-placed poke checks and pushing Bemidji players out of the blue paint to ensure his goaltender had unobstructed views of the play. Niedermayer also showed good composure moving the puck while clearing the defensive zone and making plays up ice.
Niedermayer also got playing time in Saturday night’s overtime before Bemidji’s sophomore defenseman Hudson Thornton scored the overtime winner for the Beavers and gave BSU the extra point towards the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) standings.
“Good composure, had him out there in the three-on-three,” said Williams following Saturday night’s game.
Niedermayer and the Falcons will be traveling to Mankato, Minnesota, to take on the Minnesota State University Mavericks on Friday and Saturday.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the call of both games on WBGU 88.1 FM.
