Bowling Green Hockey Outlook Bright Despite Departure of Seven Regulars

by Jim Schneider

Despite the fact the Bowling Green State University hockey team will be missing seven four-year regulars from 1977-78's 31-8 record-breaking squad, the 1978-79 squad should be in con- tention to repeat as Central Collegiate Hockey Association champs. Head coach , CCHA Coach-of-the-Year in 1977-78, will have 16 lettermen returning for the new season as the Falcons attempt to keep several team streaks alive. THREE KEY MEN: A trio of Falcons figure prominently in Bowling Green's hockey The Falcons have won 23 consecu- plans for the 1978-79 season which opens Friday night at the University of Michigan. tive home games, three straight CCHA The three players are (L-R) Paul Titanic, and Wally Charko. Titanic will championships and have been invited captain the Falcons this season, while Morrow was the first BG player to ever earn to the NCAA playoffs two seasons All-America honors last season. Charko, a sophomore, will be the Falcons starting in a row. goalie. The team will open its home portion of the season next Saturday night against However, Mason will face a problem Michigan starting at 7:30. this season similar to the one he faced a year ago and that is in the goalie position. With Brian Stankiewicz's decison not to return to Bowling Green this fall, Mason will look to The second defensive pairing at the Titanic was voted captain for the sophomore Wally Charko, who labored start of the season will most likely current season and is a solid two-way in Stankiewicz's shadow in 1977-78 include junior Mike Cotter (3-23-26), player. His eight- outburst in the at the all-important net-minding a Minnesota North Star (NHL) draft playoffs last season is an example position. pick this past summer, along with that Titanic is a clutch player. "Losing Brian was a tough blow to sophomore Pete Sikorski (0-3-3). Junior alternate captain Tom Newton our club, but I am very confident that Sikorski saw limited action his fresh- (20-19-39) will return to a center Wally can do an outstanding jo for us man season, but dressed for 38 of position this season after spending this winter," emphasized the Falcon the 39 games and played well when most of last year as a right wing. mentor. "He played exceptionally called on in the playoffs. Another key center for the Falcons well when he started and I know he The third pairing for the Falcons will be Yves Pelland (5-6-11) who will continue to improve with more will be made up from the group of teams up with Titanic as the top playing time this season. I felt we junior Mike Siccuro, sophomore Derek penalty killing unit. recruited two outstanding goalies a Arzoomanian and freshman Andre Other veteran forwards include year ago. He will be a very important Latreille. senior Bruce Newton (8-9-17) and man on our club this year." CCHA Player-of-the-Year John juniors Steve Dawe (5-8-13), Tim Charko started 11 games and com- Markell, the leading scorer in the Alexander (2-1-3), John Allen, Andy piled a fine 8-2 record in his starts league with his 61 points, returns to Crowther (0-5-5) and Tom Olsen (2-3-5). along with limiting the opposition to lead the Falcon forwards. Both Crowther and Olsen are coming just 3.19 goals-per-game. He had 264 Last season Markell (33-28-61) off surgery and Olsen may miss the saves and allowed just 33 goals. teamed up with (11-34-45) start of the season. Senior Steve All-American Ken Morrow will be and Paul Titanic (15-20-35) to give Douglass (2-8-10) will move up to back for his fourth season on the BGSU an exciting line that could play forward from his defense position. BG defense. Morrow (8-18-26) earned both ways. The new season will prove to be a all-league honors for his third straight However, Mason may have to break test as the Falcons will face a rugged year and was an all-tournament up the line to get a better all around 40-game regular season schedule that selection at the Cornell Holiday balance for the team. includes 24 CCHA games and non- Hockey Festival. Wells shared the CCHA scoring league tests from Michigan, Vermont, Mason may pair freshman John title with Markell when they were New Hampshire, Clarkson and St. Gibb with Morrow as his two-year both All-CCHA first team selections Lawrence. The Falcons will visit the partner John Mavity graduated along as sophomores and he is in great Old Colony Tournament at Christmas with former tri-captain Tom Thomas, shape after playing this summer along in Providence hosted by Brown Uni- who left BG after playing in a record with Morrow and the departed Thomas versity. McGill and Vermont join BG 145 consecutive games. in the Olympic trials in Colorado. as visitors in the round-robin tourney. Page 5