The first annual Three Rivers Classic will start on December 28th and run through December 29th. The tournament will feature four Division I college programs, each playing two games at Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The four programs are Penn State, Robert Morris University, Ohio State, and University Miami of Ohio. Today, we will take a look at Ohio State’s ice hockey program.
Posting a 7-6-5 record this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes define “middle of the road.” While they received 14 votes to become a ranked team according to the USCHO standings, the Buckeyes haven’t done enough to show they are one of the top 25 teams in the nation. They’ve defeated beatable teams like Northern Michigan (2-9-3) and Bowling Green (2-7-3), and lost to excellent teams like #9 Quinnipiac and #5 Miami of Ohio. At the midpoint of the season, Ohio State is still looking for a defining win.
That moment could come Friday night where the Buckeyes will take on Miami of Ohio for the third straight game this season.
The Redhawks swept both games against OSU in Columbus back on December 14th and 15th. After a shootout loss in the first game, Ohio State came within a goal of tying Miami before Riley Barber tallied an empty netter to seal the game. Now, playing at a neutral site, the Buckeyes will have to play a near-flawless game to upset one of college hockey’s elite squads.
Power play goals would be a nice start.
The Buckeyes were 0-9 with the man advantage in their previous two games against the Redhawks and have only converted 10% of their power play chances this season. To do that, OSU will lean on two sophomore forwards, Tanner Fritz and Ryan Dzingel. Fritz leads the team with 10 assists and is only one point behind Dzingel for the team lead. Ryan, a seventh round pick by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 draft, leads the team in scoring with six goals and eight assists.
One goal would also make things easier for goaltender Brady Hjelle, a senior from International Falls, Minnesota. Hjelle has posted a .951 save percentage and given up 1.47 goals per game. The 5’11 senior lists Tim Thomas as his favorite goal. Appropriate since it may take a Thomas-like effort to defeat the Redhawks Friday night.
Photo courtesy of NCAA
