Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hockey Point in Time: The Longest Game in Ice Arena History
December 14, 2016 | Ice Hockey
The Bowling Green State University Athletics Department is celebrating 50 years of the Slater Family Ice Arena this season, culminating on Feb. 11, 2017 to honor the 50th anniversary of the arena's grand opening on Feb. 25, 1967. The Falcons will host Mercyhurst on that date, in what will be the team's final non-conference game of the 2016-17 season.
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Leading up to the anniversary, BGSU Athletics is taking a look back at some of the great moments in Slater Family Ice Arena history. This week, we look back to March 4, 1988, when the Falcons beat Ferris State for a key playoff victory in the longest home game in BGSU history.
Register for the 50th Anniversary Weekend
Get Season Tickets HERE
Original Release
The Bowling Green State University hockey team sought a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth during the winter of 1987-88. BGSU had not accomplished that since the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. After a slow 8-8-1 start, the team roared to a 16-3-1 finish and second place in the CCHA.
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The first round of the CCHA playoffs began on March 4, 1988, and that brought seventh-seeded Ferris State (15-20-5) to the Slater Family Ice Arena. BGSU had swept four regular season games from the Bulldogs by a cumulative score of 38-15, with at least eight goals and a three-goal margin in every game.
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The Falcons' offense continued to shred the Ferris State defense during the opening period of the best-of-three playoff series. Senior Don Barber lit the lamp just 44 seconds into the game, then did so again at the 6:53 mark to reclaim a 2-1 lead. The second score was the 83rd and final goal of Barber's BGSU career. Brent Regan added a goal near the end of the period to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes.
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Unlike the previous four meetings, the goals did not keep coming for BGSU. Bulldogs' goaltender Marc Felicio stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced over the final 40 minutes of regulation, en route to a Ferris State record 61 total saves.
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FSU's offense sparked for two goals while BGSU's lay dormant. Bill Thomas tied the game for the Bulldogs 2:50 into the second period, and Dean Cowling gave them the lead at the 3:23 mark of the third.
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Ferris State skated with the lead for over ten minutes until the Falcons finally came up with the equalizer. Andy Gribble connected on a pass to Nelson Emerson, who skated around and snuck the puck past Felicio with 5:52 left in regulation.
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Once the game went to overtime, the Falcon offense peppered Felicio relentlessly, but he met the challenge to the tune of 21 saves in three overtime periods. BGSU goalie Paul Connell was just as sharp, as he stopped all ten FSU shots in extra time.
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Bowling Green finally found the answer 2:10 into the fourth overtime. From behind the FSU net, Brian Meharry sent a pass to freshman Matt Ruchty, who had called for the puck. He sent a one-timer towards Felicio, who deflected it with his left pad. However, the deflection was not enough, as the puck found the net for a 5-4 BGSU victory.
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At 92:10, the game was the longest-ever at the Slater Family Ice Arena and was only five minutes shorter than the longest game in BGSU history, when BGSU won the national championship in a 5-4 win over Minnesota-Duluth in 97:11.
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The 1987-88 Falcons eventually won the CCHA Tournament, the last such championship for BGSU. The team defeated Vermont in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the quarterfinals, where they fell in back-to-back games to Maine.
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Leading up to the anniversary, BGSU Athletics is taking a look back at some of the great moments in Slater Family Ice Arena history. This week, we look back to March 4, 1988, when the Falcons beat Ferris State for a key playoff victory in the longest home game in BGSU history.
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BGSU Ice Arena 50th Anniversary CelebrationRegister for the 50th Anniversary Weekend
Get Season Tickets HERE
Original Release
The Bowling Green State University hockey team sought a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth during the winter of 1987-88. BGSU had not accomplished that since the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. After a slow 8-8-1 start, the team roared to a 16-3-1 finish and second place in the CCHA.
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The first round of the CCHA playoffs began on March 4, 1988, and that brought seventh-seeded Ferris State (15-20-5) to the Slater Family Ice Arena. BGSU had swept four regular season games from the Bulldogs by a cumulative score of 38-15, with at least eight goals and a three-goal margin in every game.
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The Falcons' offense continued to shred the Ferris State defense during the opening period of the best-of-three playoff series. Senior Don Barber lit the lamp just 44 seconds into the game, then did so again at the 6:53 mark to reclaim a 2-1 lead. The second score was the 83rd and final goal of Barber's BGSU career. Brent Regan added a goal near the end of the period to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes.
Â
Unlike the previous four meetings, the goals did not keep coming for BGSU. Bulldogs' goaltender Marc Felicio stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced over the final 40 minutes of regulation, en route to a Ferris State record 61 total saves.
Â
FSU's offense sparked for two goals while BGSU's lay dormant. Bill Thomas tied the game for the Bulldogs 2:50 into the second period, and Dean Cowling gave them the lead at the 3:23 mark of the third.
Â
Ferris State skated with the lead for over ten minutes until the Falcons finally came up with the equalizer. Andy Gribble connected on a pass to Nelson Emerson, who skated around and snuck the puck past Felicio with 5:52 left in regulation.
Â
Once the game went to overtime, the Falcon offense peppered Felicio relentlessly, but he met the challenge to the tune of 21 saves in three overtime periods. BGSU goalie Paul Connell was just as sharp, as he stopped all ten FSU shots in extra time.
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Bowling Green finally found the answer 2:10 into the fourth overtime. From behind the FSU net, Brian Meharry sent a pass to freshman Matt Ruchty, who had called for the puck. He sent a one-timer towards Felicio, who deflected it with his left pad. However, the deflection was not enough, as the puck found the net for a 5-4 BGSU victory.
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At 92:10, the game was the longest-ever at the Slater Family Ice Arena and was only five minutes shorter than the longest game in BGSU history, when BGSU won the national championship in a 5-4 win over Minnesota-Duluth in 97:11.
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The 1987-88 Falcons eventually won the CCHA Tournament, the last such championship for BGSU. The team defeated Vermont in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the quarterfinals, where they fell in back-to-back games to Maine.
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BG Hockey Press Conference vs Minn. St. 11.04
Tuesday, November 04
BG Hockey Postgame : Coach Williams 11.1
Sunday, November 02
BG Hockey Postgame 10.31
Saturday, November 01
BG Hockey Press Conference 10.28
Wednesday, October 29