Head Coach Andy Murray
On the game overall…
“Our players have a lot of respect for Bowling Green. They were a top 10 team coming in here tonight and our players knew that. You either play your best or there's a chance that you could be embarrassed. They are a hardworking and determined team and I think it raised the level of our competitiveness tonight knowing that they are coming into our building. We want to made a statement to college hockey people that we can play the game pretty well too. We were good right from the get go tonight.”
On freshman forward Griffen Molino and teamwork…
“I'm not one that talks about individual players or freshmen very often. The best thing I told our players about being a freshman with me is that next year you'll be a sophomore and you won't have to do some of the things freshmen have to do and the coach isn't quite as hard on you. He plays with speed and has tempo to his game. He needs to work on being a little stronger with the stick but he is an enthusiastic young man who we enjoy having on our team. We had so many different players that contributed tonight. Nolan LaPorte comes back in the lineup and was a bulldozer out there tonight with the puck. It was nice having him back in the lineup. We are looking forward to the time when Taylor Fleming comes back, who two years ago was our Rookie of the Year and last year was voted our best defenseman because he's still out of the lineup. We like what we've got going on right now but we've got some work to do before we take on a very good Clarcson team in their building.
On the penalty kill…
“Coach Shyiak does a great job of teaching the finer points of penalty killing. We've got a concept where we try to dictate what the other team has to do on their power play and puts them where our strengths are. I thought our guys did a great job and we blocked shots tonight, and something we were good at clearing the puck down the ice when we had the chance. I thought there were a few occasions and especially last year when we could get the puck out but we didn't and we paid for it. Tonight they didn't have a lot of ice time in our zone on the power play.”
On the power play…
“On our power play we have more skill than we have had before. It certainly helps when you can put people out there who can do things with the puck. Tonight if we look at our ice time and how we allocated it we played all four lines and got everybody involved in the hockey game. We were able to play with pace and tempo for 60 minutes. We have so much respect for Coach Bergeron and what they've done with that Bowling Green program. It's amazing. They were a national contender last year and will certainly be heard from again. Also good for Lukas Hafner as well who comes from Toledo and he wanted this game tonight. He played very well at Ferris and Colin Olson also played well against Ferris in the first game. We could have played either one. In most cases it is important as a coach that you coach with your head first, in other words you look at who is performing and go by the percentages. With things being equal between Colin and Lukas you can use your heart and look at Lukas who is a senior and from that area and he wants this game tonight.”
On the season overall…
“To be honest with you I don't care how we played. If we are 2-0-1 we would take that. There are things that we can work on. It's kind of like asking some of these football teams, how do you like being 5-0 or 6-0 and you will take it and shore up your weaknesses. We have a number of days now to prepare before Clarcson. We would rather play them tomorrow to keep this rolling but we've got a break now to work on some things.”
Lukas Hafner, Senior, Goaltender
On the win…
“It was an all-around good team. I think our defense and forwards were out there making it easy for any goalie who is in net.”
On the penalty kill…
“I think it is effort. I think we are out working their power plays.”
On the power play…
“It deflates the other team when you go out there and get a big power play goal. It takes their momentum and then we're right back out there.”
On the season overall…
“I think everyone has bought in and we are out there working every game. We are refusing to get out-worked.”
Griffen Molino, Freshman, Forward
On being a freshman in the lineup…
“It's nice to know that when they recruited me they believed in me to come in here and be a big part of the lineup and contribute. It's a great feeling for me, especially because my line is clicking. It's not just me out there doing it by myself. It feels good to get going early here.”
On chemistry with forward Kyle Novak…
“I don't know if it's anything special but a little bit of chemistry. We've just clicked from the very beginning and it's nice that Coach noticed that and we're still rolling with it and hopefully it keeps going.”
On the season overall…
“Right away from the beginning the older guys said that this is the best group in a long time. So it's good to hear that as a freshman coming in. It's nice to hear that all the guys I know coming in came in with the mentality to win this year. We're going to be better than last year. We've got a positive mentality in the locker room and I think that's a huge part of it.”
