Men’s Ice Hockey Travels To Take On The Bulldogs Of Ferris State – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/30/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 30, 2000
Columbus, Ohio — The Ohio State men’s hockey team (8-4-0, 5-3-0 CCHA) travels to Big Rapids, Mich., for two conference games with Ferris State (3-7-2, 1-6-1 CCHA). The squads will face off at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Broadcasts
The games at Ferris State can be heard live on WOSU (820 AM) and at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Recapping OSU vs. Findlay
Thirteen different players scored at least one point to lead the Ohio State to a shutout over Findlay, 10-0, at Value City Arena Tuesday in a non-conference game.
Peter Wishloff recorded the win in goal for the Buckeyes for his first collegiate victory. He and Kelly Holowaty shared the shutout, OSU’s second of the season. Wishloff posted 18 saves in 52:38, while Holowaty made one save in 7:20.
Eric Skaug and R.J. Umberger led the Buckeyes with two goals each. Jean-Francois Dufour, Dave Steckel and Umberger each had thee points in the game.
OUTSIDE THE CCHA
With the win over Findlay, the Buckeyes improved to 3-1 against non-conference opponents this season. The squad split a two-game series with Maine of Hockey East and defeated Niagara and Findlay from College Hockey America.
OSU vs. Ferris State
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series against Ferris State, 45-28-9. However, the Bulldogs have a one-game edge in games played in Big Rapids, 18-17-2. The Buckeyes have won four of the last five and 11 of the last 14 meetings. In 1999, Ohio State swept Ferris State at home in the first round of the CCHA Tournament.
OSU vs. FSU – Last Season
The Buckeyes and Bulldogs split a two-game series in Big Rapids last season. The Buckeyes posted a 2-1 win in the first game before falling, 4-3, the next night.
Markell vs. FSU
Ohio State head coach John Markell has a mark of 13-6-0 against Ferris State, the most wins he has compiled against any team in his career. His first victory as OSU’s head coach came against the Bulldogs, Feb. 18, 1995.
Scouting Ferris State
The Bulldogs are 3-7-2 overall and 1-6-1 in the CCHA after losing two games to Western Michigan last weekend. Prior to that series, the Bulldogs split two games with then No. 3-ranked Michigan.
Senior Kevin Swider leads Ferris State with 16 points in 12 games this season. He has tallied seven goals, including six on the power play, and ranks first on the team with nine assists. Chris Kunitz is second with 10 points while Rob Collins is second with six goals and third with nine points.
Vince Owen has played 11 games in net for the Bulldogs. He has a 4.18 goals-against average and a .852 save percentage.
Ferris State has fared much better at home than on the road. The squad is 3-1-1 at home, while it has not recorded a road win, going 0-6-1.
FSU Last Weekend
The Bulldogs lost two games to CCHA opponent Western Michigan last weekend. Ferris State fell in the first game, 3-1, before losing 7-4 in the second contest. Rob Lightfoot scored a short-handed goal for FSU’s only goal in the first game. In the second game, the teams were tied at four at the end of the second period before WMU scored three unanswered goals in the third period for the win.
Coach Bob Daniels
Bob Daniels, the all-time winningest coach at Ferris State, is in his ninth season at the helm for the Bulldogs. He also served as an assistant coach at Ferris State and at Illinois-Chicago. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State in 1982.
Wrapping Up November
The Buckeyes went 5-2 in the month of November to improve their overall mark to 8-4. Last season, the team was 2-4-1 in November.
The Leaders
Jean-Francois Dufour leads the Buckeyes with 14 points in 12 games this season. Freshmen Dave Steckel and R.J. Umberger are tied for second with 12 points each. Andre Signoretti also has reached double-digits with 10 points on the season. Dufour, Steckel and Nick Ganga rank first on the squad with seven goals. Dufour, Signoretti and Paul Caponigri are tied for the team lead with seven assists. Signoretti is first with a +12 rating and Dufour ranks first with 38 shots on goal.
The CCHA’s Leaders
In all games, Dufour is tied for 14th in the CCHA in scoring, while he is tied for eighth in conference games with 11 points. Umberger and Steckel are tied for 25th with 12 points each.
The Team Rankings
In overall games this season, the Buckeyes rank third in the CCHA with 3.5 goals per game and are tied for second in goals allowed per game (2.33). The penalty kill is second (.866) and the squad ranks sixth in penalty minutes per game (18.75). In conference games, the Buckeyes are tied for fourth in goals per game (3.12) and tied for fifth in goals allowed per game (2.88).
The Goalies
Freshman goalie Mike Betz is third in both goals-against average (2.32) and saves (28.27 saves per game) in all games among conference goaltenders. In league contests, Betz is fifth in both categories (2.57 GAA, 26.12 spg).
Many More than One
Eight Buckeyes had two or more points against Findlay. Jean-Francois Dufour, Dave Steckel and R.J. Umberger each had three points to lead the team. Scott May, Andre Signoretti, Chris Olsgard, T.J. Latorre and Eric Skaug each had two points.
A Natural
Eric Skaug scored two goals against Findlay for the first points of his collegiate career. He missed all of last season and the first eight games of this year because of prior major junior experience.
Finally
Freshman Chris Olsgard scored two points against Findlay, on a goal and an assist, for the first points of his career. Olsgard, who has played in nine games this season, was the last freshman who has seen action this season to record a point. All eight freshmen forwards or defensemen, as well as rookie goalie Mike Betz, who have seen playing time now have at least one point in their collegiate careers.
Firsts
A number of Buckeyes recorded season and/or career firsts against Findlay. Chris Olsgard, T.J. Latorre and Eric Skaug each recorded their first points of the season. Jason Crain scored his first goal and had his first multiple-point game of the season. Scott May (0-2), Olsgard (1-1), Latorre (0-2) and Skaug (2-0) each had the first multiple-point game of their careers. Peter Wishloff and Kelly Holowaty each saw their first action in goal this season. Wishloff posted the first win of his career.
Tied Again
Jean-Francois Dufour, Dave Steckel and Nick Ganga entered the game against Findlay tied for the team goal-scoring lead with six goals each. After scoring the first three goals of the contest, the trio ended the game still tied for first with seven tallies each.
On the Power Play
The Buckeyes scored two power-play goals against Findlay and now have tallied with the man advantage in four consecutive, and five of the last six, contests. Ohio State opened the season with PPGs in three-straight games before being held scoreless for three games.
One Away
After tallying three points against Findlay, Jean-Francois Dufour increased his career point total to 99 and now only needs one to reach the 100-point plateau. He has totals of 39-60-99 in 130 career games. His brother, Pierre (1994-97), had 102 points in his career while playing in 137 games.
Goose Eggs
The shutout against Findlay was the second time this season the Buckeyes did not allow a goal in a game. Mike Betz posted his first career shutout against Lake Superior State (Nov. 11) and Peter Wishloff and Kelly Holowaty shared the shutout over the Oilers. The Buckeyes only posted one shutout last season, a 6-0 victory in the season-opener against Wayne State.
On the Plus Side
Defenseman Jaisen Freeman led the Buckeyes with a +5 rating against Findlay. The total was a career high and moved his season rating to +8. His career plus/minus now stands at +17.
Shutting it Down
The Buckeyes held Findlay scoreless on the power play. It was the sixth time this season OSU’s opponents did not score on a power-play opportunity.
The Last Time
The last time an Ohio State squad scored 10 goals in a game was in a 10-7 win at Illinois-Chicago Dec. 14, 1991. The last time the Buckeyes had a 10-goal margin of victory was a 12-2 win over Guelph Oct. 13, 1990.
Down to the Wire
Three of the Buckeyes’ eight wins this season have come in overtime. Of those wins, all three game-winners have been scored with less than one minute remaining in the overtime period. Against Maine (Oct. 27), Scott May scored with 48 seconds remaining to lift OSU over the Black Bears, 3-2, in Orono, Maine. On the road at Lake Superior, Dave Steckel tallied with 31 seconds left to give the Buckeyes the win. Pete Broccoli scored with 26 seconds left in overtime against Bowling Green (Nov. 19).
Improving in OT
This season, the Buckeyes are 3-1 in overtime games. Last year, Ohio State did not post an overtime victory, going 0-2-4 when the game went into the extra stanza.
Six and counting
After posting a goal and two assists against Findlay, Dave Steckel moved his scoring streak to a team-best six games. He has nine points in those games, including goals in five of the six contests. He also has been +1 or better in the last six games, extending his streak of a plus/minus rating of even or better to 10. He is +9 in the last six games.
Steady
Buckeye defenseman Andre Signoretti leads the team with a +12 plus/minus rating. He has been +1 or better in five of the last seven outings and has not had a minus rating since the second game of the season against Northern Michigan (Oct. 14). His career plus/minus rating has improved to +36 with a +3 night against Findlay.
Consistent
Dufour has scored at least one point, including four multiple point games, in six of the last seven games. He has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in that span. He scored two points in both OSU wins at Lake Superior, scored two goals in the Buckeyes’ victory over BGSU and had a goal and two assists against Findlay.
Winning with R.J.
R.J. Umberger has scored in over half of the Buckeyes’ wins (5 of 8) this season. OSU is a perfect 5-0 in games when Umberger tallies (at NMU and Maine, vs. UAF, BGSU and Findlay).
Another Streak
R.J. Umberger had three points against Findlay to extend his scoring streak to four games. He has three goals and four assists for seven points in the stretch. He also has recorded an even or better plus/minus rating in seven-consecutive games. He has two three-point games, as well as a two-point outing, so far this season.
Posting Points
Paul Caponigri has scored nine points this season. All of his scoring has been in his last eight games. He has recorded three two-point games.
By the Classes
The nine freshmen that have played for Ohio State this season have combined to record almost half of the Buckeyes’ scoring output. The rookies have 45 of OSU’s 109 points (45 percent). The three member senior class is second with 28 points (25.7 percent). The five juniors have 18 points (16.5 percent) and the six sophomores have 14 points (12.8 percent).
Scoring Trio
Since being put on a line together Nov. 10 against Lake Superior, the trio of Dave Steckel, Paul Caponigri and Jean-Francois Dufour has combined for 23 total points in five games, including four OSU wins. Dufour leads the trio with nine points in those games (4-5), while Steckel has eight points (4-4) and Caponigri has posted six (2-4). As a team, the Buckeyes have scored 56 total points in those five contests, including 25 against Findlay.
Winners
Dave Steckel and Nick Ganga lead the Buckeyes with two game-winning goals each. In addition to leading the team, the tandem is tied for the league lead in overall games.
4X4
The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 5-3 in four-on-four situations so far this season. Against Findlay, the Buckeyes scored three times when each team was a man short.
We’re Even
Steckel leads the Buckeyes in scoring when OSU is at even strength this season. Eleven of his 12 points have come in five-on-five situations. Umberger is second with 10 even-strength points.
Up a Man
Jean-Francois Dufour is first on the team with four power-play goals and five power-play points this season. His four power-play tallies tie his career high, set last season. He is tied for third in the CCHA in power-play goals in league games.
On The Road
The Buckeyes are 4-2 in road games this season. They have posted at least one win in every two-game road trip this season (Northern Michigan, Maine, Lake Superior). In its last road series (Nov. 10-11), Ohio State posted a two-game sweep at Lake Superior State.
On the Road – Part Two
The game vs. Findlay marked the last time the Buckeyes will play at home until January 2001. The squad is on the road for six games in December, including the games this week vs. Ferris State.
Going Solo
Both Buckeye short-handed goals this season have been unassisted. Ganga tallied when Ohio State was down a man against Niagara, while Lafleche scored against Bowling Green.
Can We go First?
The Buckeyes moved to a perfect 4-0 when scoring the first goal of the game this season. Ohio State tallied first against Northern Michigan (Oct. 13, won 5-3), Lake Superior (Nov. 11, won 3-0), Bowling Green (Nov. 19, won 5-4) and Findlay (Nov. 28, won 10-0).
The Third
The Buckeyes are 7-1 in games where they were either leading or tied at the end of the second period.
SOG
The Buckeyes have outshot their opponents in each of their last four games. The team moved to 6-1 when it has more shots on goal than its opponents. The Buckeyes also are 6-1 in games where they hold their opponents to 30 shots on goal or less.
A Season High
The Buckeyes posted a season-high 50 shots on goal against Findlay. The squad did not reach the 50-shot plateau all of last season.
Up Next
After a week off, the Buckeyes return to the road to face Western Michigan for two games in Kalamazoo, Mich. The squads will face off at 7:05 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 14-15.
