Nationally Ranked Buckeyes Ready for CCHA Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/12/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
October 12, 1998
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
The Ohio State hockey team (0-2-0, 0-0-0), picked to finish second in the league in the both the preseason coaches’ and media poll, will open its CCHA season this Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., against Lake Superior (0-1-0, 0-1-0). The Buckeyes will then meet Ferris State (1-0-0, 1-0-0) Saturday night in the Bulldogs’ Ewigleben Arena (2,641). Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Ohio State will depart by bus for Sault Ste. Marie Wednesday evening.
BROADCAST
WOSU-Radio (820 AM) will keep the Buckeyes close to home even when they are in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The station will air both games live, with Herb Howenstine calling the action. WOSU aired both of last weekend’s Ohio State hockey games from Minneapolis, Minn., and will broadcast a minimum of 25 games throughout the season.
READING MATERIAL REQUIRED
Ohio State’s trip to the Upper Peninsula this weekend, the first of two this season, will cover 1,140.5 miles (approximately). The trip will require an estimated 22 hours and 38 minutes of total driving time.
The Buckeyes are in the midst of a nine game road trip to start the season – the fourth longest road stint in Ohio State hockey history. OSU will not play at home again until Nov. 13 when it battles Michigan State.
TOUGH TO TOP IN THE CCHA
The Buckeyes do not have a current losing streak against any CCHA team. OSU has an active winning streak against every CCHA teamwith the exception of Alaska-Fairbanks. The last time UAF and OSU hooked up, the team played to a 4-4 tie.
TICKETS ON SALE
Season and individual game tickets for the 1998-99 hockey season are now on sale through the OSU Athletic Ticket Office located in St. John Arena. For more information, call 1-800-GO-BUCKS or visit the official web site of Buckeye athletics at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
SERIES INFO
Lake Superior leads the all-time series with Ohio State, 63-36-7. The Buckeyes, however, have won the last three. LSSU holds a 7-3-0 advantage in the last 10 games of the series.
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Ferris State 40-26-9 and has won four straight against the Bulldogs. OSU also holds a 7-3-0 advantage in the last 10 games of the series.
THE OPPOSITION
Lake Superior and Ohio State got to know each other well last season, meeting five times. The Buckeyes won the season series 3-2-0, and swept the Lakers in two games in the first round of the CCHA playoffs. LSSU won both games in Sault Ste. Marie, however. The Lakers finished15-18-4 overall last season and in sixth place in the CCHA standings. After being blanked by Michigan 2-0 last weekend, Lake Superior enters this weekend’s game with an 0-1-0 mark. Seventeen letterwinners return from last year’s squad, including starting goaltender Rob Galatiuk (3.03; .893). LSSU’s top four scorers from a year ago are gone, however, including Terry Marchant, winner of last season’s CCHA Best Defensive Forward Award. Lake Superior is coached by third-year man Scott Borek, who will enter the game with a 34-33-9 record at Lake State. Borek is 6-3-0 against the Buckeyes.
Ferris State was one of three teams that Ohio State swept last year. The Buckeyes topped the Bulldogs once at home and twice in Big Rapids, Mich., outscoring FSU 15-5 in the three games. Ferris State finished 15-21-3 last season and in eighth place in the CCHA. The Bulldogs lost to Michigan State in the first round of the 1998 conference playoffs. Ferris State used three special teams goals (2 PP, 1 SH) to beat Western Michigan 3-1 last weekend. Standout defenseman Brett Colborne (7-30-37) was lost to graduation, but Joel Irwin (15-19-34), the team’s second leading scorer last season, returns. Goaltender Vince Owen (3.23; .879) gives the Bulldogs experience in the nets, and stopped 23-of-24 Western Michigan shots last weekend. Bob Daniels is in his seventh year at Ferris State and stands 87-125-18 overall entering this weekend. Daniels is 7-11-1 against Ohio State. FSU will host Notre Dame Friday night before battling the Buckeyes.
LAST WEEKEND
The Buckeyes struggled with the Olympic size (200' x 100') surface in Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena, falling 4-3 in double overtime to No. 1 Boston College and 4-3 to the host Gophers in the Icebreaker Cup tournament.
OSU, which entered the game as the fourth ranked team in the nation, fell behind 3-0 to Boston College midway through the second period. The Buckeyes refused to lie down, however, battling back with three unanswered goals to tie the score. Louie Colsant and Boisvert scored on the power play, and Brandon Lafrance netted OSU’s third goal with a pretty slapshot in the third period. The team’s played a scoreless five minute overtime before beginning a second 20 minute extra period. Brian Gionta, Boston College’s returning All-American, scored his third goal of the night at the 1:17 mark, giving BC a 4-3 win. Jeff Maund was in goal for OSU, stopping 36-of-40 shots. The Buckeyes were outshot 40-34.
The Buckeyes came out slow again against Minnesota in Saturday’s consolation game, falling behind 2-0 in the game’s first five minutes. The Buckeyes trailed 4-1 when Boisvert scored his second goal of the night at 1:12 in the second period. Lafrance brought OSU within one, 4-3, with his second goal of the weekend with six minutes remaining in the game, but the Buckeyes failed to tie the score. Ray Aho started in goal for Ohio State, stopping 42-of-46 shots. Minnesota held a huge advantage in the shots on goal department, outshot the Buckeyes 46-23. AWARD WINNER
After tying for the tournament lead in goals scored, Boisvert was named to Icebreaker Cup all-Tournament team. Boisvert is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with Chris Richards, who assisted on all three of Boisvert’s goals.
SPECTACULAR SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State’s special teams units were flawless in the Icebreaker Cup. OSU converted on 4-of-14 power-play attempts for the weekend. OSU’s penalty-killing unit also stopped all 10 opponent power-play attempts.
ONE POINT AWAY
After a three-point weekend for each of them, Richards and Boisvert each stand just one point away from reaching the 100-point plateau for their career.
LAST TIME
Ohio State last met Lake Superior in the first round of the CCHA playoffs in Columbus. The Buckeyes came back from a 1-0 deficit in the first game as Eric Meloche and Ryan Root scored in the second and third periods, respectively, giving OSU a 2-1 win. Maund stopped 31-of-32 shots in the victory. The Buckeyes scored early and often in the second game, rolling to a 6-0 victory. Richards scored a pair of goals and Maund stopped all35 Laker shots for his third shutout of the season.
Just one week prior to meeting LSSU in the playoffs, Ohio State swept Ferris State in Big Rapids. Chris Richards exploded for seven points on the weekend (4 G, 3 A) and Boisvert clinched the league scoring title as the Buckeyes rolled to 4-1 and 6-1 victories. Maund made 27 saves in win No. 1 and Aho stopped 29 shots in the second win.
YOU GO HUGO
Some notes on 1998 All-American and Hobey Baker Award candidate Hugo Boisvert.
Named a finalist for the 1998 Hobey Baker Memorial Award by US College Hockey Online.
Became only the second first-team All-American in Ohio State history last year.
The only hockey player ever to be named Ohio State’s Male Athlete of the Year.
Has 99 points in 82 career games.
Had a hand in just under 40 percent of Ohio State’s goals last season.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
By the vote of his teammates, senior Dan Cousineau has been elected captain of the 1997-98 Buckeyes. Cousineau served as assistant captain on last year’s team. Richards and Boisvert were elected assistant captains.
INSIDE THE OSU LOCKER ROOM
Ohio State lost only four lettermen from last year’s 27-13-2 squad, and brought in one of the school’s top recruiting classes of all-time. Returning All-American Hugo Boisvert, the CCHA’s scoring champion last season, will anchor Ohio State’s first line of forwards. Chris Richards, unquestionably one of the most underrated players in the country, ranked third in the league in scoring last season and set a new career high with 52 points (22-30). Eric Meloche, Ohio State’s third big-gun offensively, enters this year as one of the most prolific goal scorers in the CCHA. The son of former NHL goaltender Gilles Meloche, he led OSU with 26 goals last season and is intent on reaching the 30-goal plateau this year.
After a roller-coaster second half run that ended in the Final Four, starting goalie Jeff Maund may be the most experienced sophomore in college hockey. He saw more last year than some player’s see in their entire career – being an integral part of the nation’s hottest team, a double overtime loss in a league championship game, a berth in the NCAA Final Four. Maund will enter this year as the top returning goaltender in the league, statistically speaking. He put up All-American type numbers a year ago (2.31 goals against average; .922 save percentage), and should be even better with a season behind him. Andre Signoretti, Ryan Skaleski, and Ryan Jestadt are OSU’s most experienced returning defensemen. Sophomore Jaisen Freeman also played in 35 games last season. The Buckeyes are forced to replace Ryan Root and Taj Schaffnit on the defensive end, both of whom were lost to graduation. Freshmen Jason Crain and Scott Titus are the leading candidates heading into the season.
NEW FACES
The only three-time captain in the history of Ohio State hockey has joined the Buckeye coaching staff. Steve Brent was named an assistant coach at his alma mater this summer, and will assist with recruiting and on-ice instruction efforts. He served as an undergraduate assistant coach last season while completing his degree. Brent is a native of Penticton, British Columbia.
John LaCoste has also been named goaltending coach at Ohio State. A 1986 graduate of the University of Maine, LaCoste enjoyed a four-year playing career with the Black Bears and spent one season playing professional hockey in Europe. He holds a pair of master’s degrees from Ohio State. LaCoste is originally from Montreal, Que.
OHIO STATE AWARDS CANDIDATES
Boisvert enters this year as Ohio State’s first legitimate Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate since Paul Pooley in 1984. Boisvert and sophomore goalie Jeff Maund are OSU’s preseason All-America candidates.
DOWN THE ROAD
The Buckeyes continue CCHA play next weekend with two crucial road games. Ohio State will face Notre Dame Oct. 23 and then travel on to East Lansing, Mich., to meet Michigan State on Oct. 24. The game between the Spartans and Buckeyes is the first of three in the next four weeks. OSU will meet MSU again on Nov. 6 on the road and Nov. 13 in Columbus. THREE MONTHS FROM A NEW HOME
Jan. 2, 1999 will mark a historic day in the history of the Ohio State hockey program. That evening, the Buckeyes will face defending national champion Michigan in the first ever game played in the Jerome Schottenstein Center – college hockey’s premier facility. Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center will seat 17,500 fans, making it by far the largest collegiate hockey venue in the nation. The Center features a 200' x 85' ice surface and is larger than nearly forty percent of the arenas currently used in the National Hockey League.
Ohio State has five games remaining in the OSU Ice Arena while construction on the Jerome Schottenstein Center is completed (Nov. 13 vs. Michigan State; Nov. 14 vs. Northern Michigan; Nov. 20 vs. Miami; Dec. 4 vs. Notre Dame; Dec. 5 vs. Notre Dame).
KEEPING PACE WITH THE BUCKEYES
Last year’s success has translated into a pair of new partnerships with the Ohio State Hockey team. WOSU Radio (820 AM) has announced plans to broadcast a minimum of 25 Ohio State games, beginning with an Oct. 9 game against Boston College in the Icebreaker Cup. Herb Howenstine will call the action with former Buckeye John Mowat providing color commentary. Visit the OSU web site for the complete broadcast schedule (www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com).
FOX Sports Detroit will continue its partnership with the CCHA this season. Ohio State will appear on Fox on at least two occasions this season, including once at home (Jan. 2 vs. Michigan; Feb. 6 at Michigan). Fox Sports Detroit, which reaches 2.3 million homes in Michigan and northwest Ohio, will also air four CCHA Tournament games. The package will be made available to Fox affiliates across the nation, including Fox Sports Ohio.
Central Ohio Sport, the state’s newest all-sports channel, will also air six Ohio State hockey games on a tape delay basis. Columbus radio personality Randy Rhinehart will call the game. Central Ohio Sport, a partnership between two Columbus cable companies with the ability to reach over 300,000 households, can be found on channel 36 on the Columbus Coaxial system and channel 24 on the Columbus Time Warner system. Current plans call for the following six game to be televised: Dec. 4 vs. Notre Dame; Dec. 5 vs. Notre Dame; Jan. 2 vs. Michigan; Jan. 9 vs. Lake Superior; Jan. 30 vs. Western Michigan; March 2 vs. Bowling Green.
ONE-TIMERS
Dating back to last season, Boisvert has scored a point in 16 of his last 17 regular season games…OSU enters this weekend with a four game regular season winning streak in conference games…Ohio State was 9-0-1 last season when scoring two power-play goals in one game, but the Buckeyes are 0-2-0 when doing the same thing this year…Ohio State’s third place finish in the CCHA last season was the school’s highest in 14 years…The Jerome Schottenstein Center will contain 12 miles of pipe underneath the ice surface as part of the cooling system. The facility also features more luxury suites than any university arena in the nation.
