BGSU hockey takes the ice for the first time in 23 days and the last time in the year 2025 in the Slater Family Ice Arena. BGSU hosts the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USA) for an exhibition in their final competition before the new year.
Head coach Dennis Williams and the team are following an incredibly disappointing final series of the year against Northern Michigan. They took just two points (of six possible) in an overtime win against a team that was winless coming into the Slater.
The weekend dropped BG down to fifth in the CCHA, tied with St. Thomas, which has played one less game in conference play. They are one of three teams to have not played a game since the first weekend of December and will not play a conference game until the second weekend of 2026.
BG has played the USA twice in the last three seasons and lost 6-3 in 2022-23 and 6-4 last season. While It doesn’t count officaly for record, it does bring a game-like atmosphere to a team that will go just under a month between regular-season games.
Aside from the gift of competition after the holiday season, the USA includes some of the game’s most anticipated prospects and the pedigree of some future NHL Hall-of-Fame alumni.
One of two development teams to play at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, the under-18 team this year includes all Big Ten, NCHC, and Boston University commits, all born in 2008. Freshman defenseman Brian Lonergan is the youngest on the Falcon roster, he was born in 2005.
The biggest offender for the 8-18-1 USA team is forward Victor Plante, nailing a team-leading 14 goals and 26 points, six power-play goals, and three game-winners. Jamie Glance narrowly follows, with 13 goals and 11 assists, also in 27 games played.
As is common with the program, offense is less of an issue than defense. They have allowed a full goal more per game than they have scored, and both goaltenders have an over 3.5 goals against average and a save percentage under .900.
The Falcons and USA drop puck at 7:07 p.m. in a Monday night exhibition contest in Bowling Green. Falcon Media Sports Network will broadcast on WBGU 88.1 FM, with the pregame starting at 6:45 p.m.
