By Andy Knudsen
Daily Sports Writer
BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green hockey coach Buddy Powers likes to challenge his players - to a scrimmage.
A couple of times a week after practice, Powers and his three assistants take on four of their players in a friendly half-ice contest until they get kicked off the ice by figure skaters.
Considering the recent history of his program, it's good that Powers can keep things lively and fun for himself and his players.
In both of Powers' first two seasons at Bowling Green, his team was the last one cut from the NCAA tournament field.
Last year, despite finishing fifth in the CCHA, the Falcons had a tournament bid wrapped up until upsets in the eastern conference tournaments gained automatic bids for teams ranked behind Bowling Green.
"Last year was the epitome of frustration," Powers said. "Two teams had to win their playoffs in order to knock us out, and both of them did. And both of them were longshots."
This year, the Falcons have to win their conference tournament to get to the NCAAs.
And they're the longshot.
"There's no bubble this year," Falcon co-captain Curtis Fry said. "This year we have to win it."
The Falcons (10-12-5 CCHA, 17-15-5 overall) swept Lake Superior last weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, advancing them to the conference semifinals.
This is the second year in a row the Falcons have won their first-round playoff series on the road and the third time in the last five years.
Bowling Green also completed its season sweep of the Lakers, winning all five meetings, four of which were in the Soo.
But despite their success against the Lakers, the regular season was disappointing and frustrating for the Falcons.
The Falcons were expected to contend for the CCHA title, but an 0-7-1 streak in November put them out of contention early.
A five-game winning streak in January after senior Brett Punchard returned from an ankle injury got the Falcons back on track, but they finished tied for fifth in the conference, nine points behind the fourth-place Lakers and 20 points behind first-place Michigan.
But, as Powers said, "the playoffs are a new season," and two victories would gain the Falcons a spot in the NCAA tournament.
"They can salvage their whole season if they can come out of Joe Louis champions," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
Bowling Green certainly gained some momentum coming into the CCHA semifinals.
The Falcons were down, 3-2, entering the third period Friday against the Lakers, but they exploded for three goals in the game's final 11 minutes.
"It was the first time it happened all year," Powers said. "And I was made well aware of that by all the reporters. It was the first time we could come back from being down and win."
Saturday, Bowling Green again scored three times in the third to pull away from the Lakers in an 8-4 victory.
Not only are the Falcons on a roll, but they have also finally recovered from a season marred with injuries.
"This is only the second or third time since Nov. 1 that we've had the whole team on the ice - and healthy at the same time," Powers said.
The Falcons have had 15 different players injured this season, for a total of 45 man-games missed.
They're healthy, they're on a roll and they have strong senior leadership. But they're still the longshot.
That's because they face the Wolverines in their semifinal game Friday at Joe Louis Arena.
Despite going 0-2-1 against the Wolverines this year, they don't seem to mind the challenge.
"You figure, to win the CCHAs you're going to have to play Michigan some time, so you might as well get it over with right at the beginning," co-captain Mike Johnson said.
But Powers said his game plan includes a little bit of luck.
"I just think (the Wolverines) have the ability to dictate what's going to happen in a game," Powers said. "It's not a team where you can say, 'If you shut down this line, if you shut down that guy.' Every guy they send out on the ice is capable of scoring a goal, or two goals or three goals.
"When they come to play, you better be on your game. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night."
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Although Brendan Morrison and the Michigan hockey team have beaten Bowling Green twice this season, the Falcons can salvage their year by upsetting the Wolverines and winning the CCHA tournament.
WARREN ZINN/Daily
While Jason Botterill apparently came out of this altercation sucking wind, Bowling Green senior Brett Punchard suffered a broken ankle in the same game.