Bowling Green State University Athletics
Four Falcons Named All-WCHA
March 10, 2016 | Ice Hockey
Edina, Minn. – Sophomores Mark Friedman and Chris Nell headlined a group of four Falcons named All-WCHA, as announced by the league today in voting by the head coaches. Friedman and Nell were named to the six-person first team, while junior Sean Walker was recognized as second team all-conference. Senior Mark Cooper earned third-team recognition. In addition, 13 Falcons were named WCHA All-Academic.
Each of the All-WCHA teams are made up of three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie. Due to a tie in the voting, the third-team had four forwards listed. Friedman joined Minnesota State's Casey Nelson (who also earned league Defensive Player of the Year honors) on the first team, while Nell was the sole goalie. The first team forwards were made up of a trio of seniors – Michigan Tech's Alex Petan (who was also named Player of the Year), Minnesota State's Teddy Blueger and Alaska's Tyler Morley.
The four Falcons are the first BGSU hockey players named all-conference since Bobby Shea and Ryan Carpenter were named second team All-CCHA after the 2012-13 season. Friedman and Nell are the first first-team all-conference players since Jordan Sigalet in 2003-04. It has been 21 years since Bowling Green has had two players named first team all-conference – Brian Holzinger and Kelly Perrault were honored in 1994-95. The 1986-87 squad was the last to have four players honored as all-conference.
Friedman and Walker, who was bestowed the captain's jersey, earned all-league honors after shouldering a defensive unit that often boasted four freshmen among the starting six. In fact, the Falcons played just five defensemen seven times during the year, losing just one game when doing so. Both defensemen was taxed with extra ice time for much of the season, along with playing extensively on both special teams units. And despite all of that, the Falcons have one of the top defenses in the country, allowing just 2.18 goals per game.
Friedman ranks second on the team with 16 assists, 15 of which came in WCHA play. That total was tied with Walker for most among league defensemen and his 19 points were most in the conference by a blueliner. As well, Friedman is easily the team leader with 56 blocked shots and he is tied for the team lead with eight power play points. He also has a shorthanded goal and a shorthanded assist on the season and was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week Nov. 30.
Walker leads the Falcons with 17 assists this year and is fourth on the squad with 21 points. His +11 on-ice rating ranks third on the Falcons and his 15 assists in conference play are tied with Friedman for most among the league's defensemen. He has added two power play goals and has eight points on the power play, tied for the most on the squad. In total, his 21 points are the most in the league among defensemen.
In his first year as the starting goalie, Nell ranked among the nation's leaders in goals against average and save percentage throughout the entire season. He is on-pace to break the school's single-season record in both stats and already set the single-season shutouts record with four. His seven career shutouts are tied for the most in program history in just two seasons with the Orange and Brown. He has been the Falcons' most consistent player this year, allowing more than three goals in a game just three times and giving up two or fewer in 23-of-32 starts. Nell was in goal 18 times during a school-record 21 game streak in which the team allowed three goals or fewer. He was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week Dec. 14 and is a Mike Richter Award Nominee, given to the nation's top goalie.
Cooper was named third team All-WCHA after leading all Falcons with 14 goals and 28 points as well as ranking second on the team at +12 on-ice. He is tied for fourth in the league in goals and tied for sixth in points. Cooper has come up big when the Falcons need him most, scoring four game-winning goals and the team is 10-0-2 this year when he scores. Three times he has posted an unassisted score and he also has a shorthanded tally. He is the team's active career leader with 43 goals and 87 points.
Bowling Green State University
Tommy Burke* (Sr., G, Chaska, Minn.); Mark Cooper* (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario); Brett D'Andrea (So., F, Marysville, Mich.); Jose Delgadillo* (Sr., D, Milwaukee, Wis.); Kevin Dufour* (Jr., F, Québec City, Québec); Ben Greiner (So., F, Newport Beach, Calif.); Mitch McLain (So., F, Baxter, Minn.); Pierre-Luc Mercier (Jr., F, Montréal, Québec); Chris Nell (So., G, Green Bay, Wis.); Matt Pohlkamp* (Jr., F, Baxter, Minn.); Jakob Reichert (So., F, Langley, British Columbia); Tomas Sholl* (Jr., G, Hermosa Beach, Calif.); Tyler Spezia (So., F, Clinton Township, Mich.); Sean Walker (Jr., D, Keswick, Ontario)
* - Repeat honoree
Each of the All-WCHA teams are made up of three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie. Due to a tie in the voting, the third-team had four forwards listed. Friedman joined Minnesota State's Casey Nelson (who also earned league Defensive Player of the Year honors) on the first team, while Nell was the sole goalie. The first team forwards were made up of a trio of seniors – Michigan Tech's Alex Petan (who was also named Player of the Year), Minnesota State's Teddy Blueger and Alaska's Tyler Morley.
The four Falcons are the first BGSU hockey players named all-conference since Bobby Shea and Ryan Carpenter were named second team All-CCHA after the 2012-13 season. Friedman and Nell are the first first-team all-conference players since Jordan Sigalet in 2003-04. It has been 21 years since Bowling Green has had two players named first team all-conference – Brian Holzinger and Kelly Perrault were honored in 1994-95. The 1986-87 squad was the last to have four players honored as all-conference.
Friedman and Walker, who was bestowed the captain's jersey, earned all-league honors after shouldering a defensive unit that often boasted four freshmen among the starting six. In fact, the Falcons played just five defensemen seven times during the year, losing just one game when doing so. Both defensemen was taxed with extra ice time for much of the season, along with playing extensively on both special teams units. And despite all of that, the Falcons have one of the top defenses in the country, allowing just 2.18 goals per game.
Friedman ranks second on the team with 16 assists, 15 of which came in WCHA play. That total was tied with Walker for most among league defensemen and his 19 points were most in the conference by a blueliner. As well, Friedman is easily the team leader with 56 blocked shots and he is tied for the team lead with eight power play points. He also has a shorthanded goal and a shorthanded assist on the season and was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week Nov. 30.
Walker leads the Falcons with 17 assists this year and is fourth on the squad with 21 points. His +11 on-ice rating ranks third on the Falcons and his 15 assists in conference play are tied with Friedman for most among the league's defensemen. He has added two power play goals and has eight points on the power play, tied for the most on the squad. In total, his 21 points are the most in the league among defensemen.
In his first year as the starting goalie, Nell ranked among the nation's leaders in goals against average and save percentage throughout the entire season. He is on-pace to break the school's single-season record in both stats and already set the single-season shutouts record with four. His seven career shutouts are tied for the most in program history in just two seasons with the Orange and Brown. He has been the Falcons' most consistent player this year, allowing more than three goals in a game just three times and giving up two or fewer in 23-of-32 starts. Nell was in goal 18 times during a school-record 21 game streak in which the team allowed three goals or fewer. He was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week Dec. 14 and is a Mike Richter Award Nominee, given to the nation's top goalie.
Cooper was named third team All-WCHA after leading all Falcons with 14 goals and 28 points as well as ranking second on the team at +12 on-ice. He is tied for fourth in the league in goals and tied for sixth in points. Cooper has come up big when the Falcons need him most, scoring four game-winning goals and the team is 10-0-2 this year when he scores. Three times he has posted an unassisted score and he also has a shorthanded tally. He is the team's active career leader with 43 goals and 87 points.
Bowling Green State University
Tommy Burke* (Sr., G, Chaska, Minn.); Mark Cooper* (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario); Brett D'Andrea (So., F, Marysville, Mich.); Jose Delgadillo* (Sr., D, Milwaukee, Wis.); Kevin Dufour* (Jr., F, Québec City, Québec); Ben Greiner (So., F, Newport Beach, Calif.); Mitch McLain (So., F, Baxter, Minn.); Pierre-Luc Mercier (Jr., F, Montréal, Québec); Chris Nell (So., G, Green Bay, Wis.); Matt Pohlkamp* (Jr., F, Baxter, Minn.); Jakob Reichert (So., F, Langley, British Columbia); Tomas Sholl* (Jr., G, Hermosa Beach, Calif.); Tyler Spezia (So., F, Clinton Township, Mich.); Sean Walker (Jr., D, Keswick, Ontario)
* - Repeat honoree
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