Dear KK Readers,

My name is Jeremy Pellek and am a Senior at Bowling Green State University. In light of the current tough economic times, and lack of state funding, BGSU will experience a $6-10 million budget shortfall for this coming fiscal year. As it stands now, many part-time employees will be let go after the school year ends, but further cuts need to be made to negate this substantial loss of money. Recently, it has surfaced that one possible cut may come in the form of the varsity hockey program. While the hockey program has struggled on the ice the past decade, it remains rich in history and tradition, and provided the school with it’s only NCAA National Championship in 1984.

Bowling Green competes in the CCHA against the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, etc. It’s arena is considered one of the oldest and run down buildings in all of college hockey. As programs like Miami OH and Notre Dame have built new facilities, Bowling Green has fallen behind in terms of recruiting and winning teams. The university originally allotted money for arena renovations, but unfortunately this money has been taken off the table, while alumni donations for the Stroh Center, a new facility for the basketball programs have been collected.

Bowling Green’s hockey tradition includes current NHLers Rob Blake, Ken Klee, Kevin Bieksa, coaches Jerry York of Boston College, Ron Mason, former AD at Michigan State, and current coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Bylsma. Other notable alumni include Capitals GM George McPhee, play-by-play announcer Mike “Doc” Emrick, and Ken Morrow and Mark Wells from the Miracle on Ice team.

If you are on Facebook, we urge you to join the group created to save BGSU hockey.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=71342390743&ref=mf

Also, you are welcome to join the discussion on the BGSU fan board.
The loss of a national champion in college hockey will have very negative consequences for the sport. We encourage any and all hockey fans to help us keep college hockey alive at Bowling Green.