Michigan
Bowling Green (ex)
Michigan to Host Bowling Green in Preseason Exhibition at Yost
9/30/2021 11:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
» Michigan will welcome fans back to Yost Ice Arena after 574 days, hosting Bowling Green in an exhibition Saturday.
» The Wolverines have a record seven first-round NHL draft picks on the roster, including No. 1 overall selection Owen Power.
» Michigan returns 91 percent of its scoring from a year ago, including the top four returning scorers in Thomas Bordeleau, Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers and Brendan Brisson.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, Oct. 2 -- vs. Bowling Green - exhibition (Yost Ice Arena), 7 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Tickets | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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The University of Michigan ice hockey team will play host to Bowling Green in a 7 p.m. exhibition contest on Saturday (Oct. 2) at Yost Ice Arena, as the Wolverines welcome fans back for the first time in 574 days. The game will serve as the only tuneup before the regular season begins Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8-9, against Lake Superior State.
The Series
About 68 miles separates Ann Arbor and Bowling Green, but it has been four seasons since these two teams have faced off. Michigan owns an 83-37-3 record against Bowling Green in the all-time series, dating back to 1971. The Falcons have won the last two meetings, including a 6-4 decision on Jan. 1, 2018, in the Great Lakes Invitational at Little Caesars Arena. The last time they met at Yost it was a 5-1 Falcons win during the 2012-13 season.
Wolverine Bites
• Michigan is ranked No. 3 in the USCHO preseason poll and No. 2 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll.
• The Wolverines were selected to finish second in the league in in the B1G coaches preseason poll. Thomas Bordeleau, Owen Power, Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson earned preseason all-league honors
• Michigan made history at the 2021 NHL Draft with four of the top five selections. In addition, the Wolverines seven first-round picks on the roster this season -- the most in collegiate history. A total of 13 players on the U-M roster have been drafted by NHL teams.
• The Wolverines return 91 percent of their scoring from last season, led by the Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year, Thomas Bordeleau. Last season, he collected 30 points, leading NCAA rookies in points per game (1.25).
• Kent Johnson (27 points), Matty Beniers (24 points) and Brendan Brisson (24 points) followed in scoring -- all ranking in the top 10 in the nation in rookie scoring.
• 2021 No. 1 overall NHL Draft pick Owen Power returns for his sophomore year. He was second in defenseman scoring on the team last year, behind All-American Cam York. Power had 16 points, was on the ice for 31 of Michigan's goals and blocked a team-high 40 shots.
• Erik Portillo put up an impressive 4-1 record in his debut season with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.
Scouting the Falcons
Bowling Green is coming off of a 20-10-1 season, its final in the WCHA. As a new member of the revived Central Collegiate Hockey Association, the Falcons were selected to finish fifth in a preseason poll of the league's coaches. Freshman Austen Swankler was tabbed the Preseason Rookie of the Year after putting up 45 points in 59 games in the OHL. Seven other freshmen and three transfers look to bolster the offense -- as it lost its top five scorers from a year ago. Senior Alex Barber is the highest-scoring returner with 23 points last season. Junior Zack Rose was the backup goaltender a year ago with a 7-2 mark, a .908 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average.
Up Next
Friday, Oct. 8 -- vs. Lake Superior State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9 -- vs. Lake Superior State (Yost Ice Arena), 7 p.m.
