On January 17th through January 20th, Men's Hockey traveled to Colorado for a Player Showcase, where many of the current student athletes have competed before. Facing off against four west coast programs in LMU, Grand Canyon, the University of Texas, and Utah State, BGSU fought hard in all matchups. When asked questions relating to the experience by Clara Foster, Social Media Manager, Ryan Hoover and Mark Rudo answered. 

Q: "How can the program build on this trip, both on the ice and off the ice?"

       "I think as a program we can build and establish a greater presence in the league but also establish our program more out west with teams we normally wouldn't see in the regular season. As for building the program off the ice, I think this trip really helped our team bond and grow as a whole. With trips like these we had a good amount of free time that we spent together doing stuff we normally wouldn't get to do. For example us hiking up one of the mountains in Colorado. Not only was that challenging but it was also fun and gave the boys a sense of accomplishment." - Ryan Hoover 

Q: "What was the best athletic development you received from the showcase, facing West Coast teams?"

    "Looking at the teams we play in league, with it being one of if not the best league in the ACHA for D2, I feel like going out west to play other teams that we wouldn't ever play is always nice. When it comes to the competition, ACHA hockey keeps getting better everywhere; the competition was great, and this caused us to play better. Moving forward, when we came back after that trip, we were more conditioned from playing out there and those teams. Another thing that I felt was great about the trip was it bonds us more together. Being on the road with your brothers is a very special experience for anyone, especially our young group of guys. Most of the team being freshman allows them to bond more with each other, making the experience that much more fun and enjoyable. These trips are something you will never forget in your life. I believe this trip was a great experience for our team not only on the ice, but as people moving forward in our lives." - Mark Rudo

As the Men's Hockey team builds their program for next season, be sure to look out for the camaraderie that was built in Denver and the heart of the team being shown out on the ice. 

To follow along with Men's Hockey, live updates, and their season, check out their socials below: 
X - @BGSUClubHockey
Instagram - @bgsuclubhockey