Men’s Hockey Faces the Falcons – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 14, 2000
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s hockey team (6-3-0, 4-2-0 CCHA) plays host to conference-foe Bowling Green (1-5-2, 1-3-2 CCHA) this weekend. The Buckeyes are coming off a two-game sweep of Lake Superior State, while the Falcons had last week off. BGSU went 0-1-1 against Northern Michigan in its most recent series.
The Broadcast
The Ohio State vs. Bowling Green games this weekend will be broadcast live on WOSU (820 AM). Herb Howenstine will call the action with John Mowat providing color commentary. Fans also can listen to the broadcast live at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Fox Sports Schedule Released
Two Ohio State games in Value City Arena are part of the CCHA’s television schedule with Fox Sports Net Detroit. The Buckeyes’ games vs. Michigan (Jan. 13) and Michigan State (Feb. 24) will both be televised. In all, 18 CCHA games, including the semifinal games and championship from the CCHA Tournament, will be televised by Fox Sports Net.
Ohio State Last Weekend
The Buckeyes recorded their first two-game weekend sweep in almost two years against Lake Superior State. In the first game, freshman Dave Steckel (West Bend, Wis.) scored with 26 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 victory over the Lakers. Paul Caponigri (Fr., Oak Park, Ill.) had a goal and an assist in the game, while Jean-Francois Dufour (Sr., Bedford, Quebec) had helpers on both OSU tallies. Freshman goalie Mike Betz (Elizabeth, Pa.) had 39 saves for the Buckeyes.
In the second game, Betz recorded 25 saves and three Buckeyes scored to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 shutout win. Dufour tallied the game-winning goal in the second period. Doug Andress (Fr., Iroquois Falls, Ontario) and Steckel scored in the third stanza for the Buckeyes. It’s Been a While
Ohio State’s weekend sweep of Lake Superior State was the Buckeyes’ first series sweep this season and its first two-game sweep of a team since two road victories at Alaska Fairbanks, Nov. 27-28, 1998.
CCHA Honorees
Betz and Dufour each earned Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Week honors following the series with Lake Superior State. Betz was named the defensive player of the week and Dufour earned the offensive player award.
Player of the Week – I
Betz, who earned rookie of the week honors earlier this season (Oct. 29), recorded 64 saves on 65 shots, allowing only one power-play goal, in the Buckeyes’ two wins over LSSU. He recorded a goals-against average of 0.48 and posted a save percentage of .985. In OSU’s first game, Betz stopped 39-of-40 Laker shots to help OSU to a 2-1 overtime victory. In the second game, he recorded his first career shutout as he posted 25 saves in OSU’s 3-0 win. He preserved the shutout, and OSU’s then one-goal lead, with a stop on LSSU’s Aaron Davis’ breakaway with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Player of the Week – II
Dufour scored four points in the Buckeyes’ two games against the Lakers and was involved in four of OSU’s five goals on the weekend. In the first game, Dufour had the primary assist on both OSU goals, including Steckel’s game-winning tally with 26 seconds remaining in overtime. In the second game, Dufour tallied the game-winning goal on the power play in the second period. He also posted an assist on the last goal of the game, scored by Steckel. Dufour recorded a +3 plus/minus rating on the weekend and recorded five shots on goal.
Quite a Combo
The trio of Steckel, Caponigri and Dufour accounted for all six OSU points in the first game against Lake Superior. Each Buckeye had two points in the game. Steckel and Caponigri each had a goal and an assist, while Dufour had two assists.
Multiplying
With four multiple-point outings by the Buckeyes over the weekend, including two by Dufour, Ohio State players have now recorded 15 showings with two or more points. Andre Signoretti (Sr., Manotick, Ontario) and Dufour lead the team with three each, while Caponigri, Steckel and Nick Ganga (Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) are tied for third with two multiple-point games each.
Leaders of the Bucks
The Buckeyes’ co-captains, Signoretti and Dufour, lead the team in almost every category this season. The seniors are tied for first on the team with five assists each. Dufour ranks first on the team with nine points and 26 shots. Signoretti is first on the team with a +8 plus/minus rating and 30 penalty minutes.
Game-Winner
Steckel leads the Buckeyes with two game-winning goals this season. He tallied the game winning goal in the Buckeyes’ season-opening victory over Northern Michigan as well as the overtime winner in the first game against Lake Superior.
In Goal
Betz, who has started every regular-season game in goal for the Buckeyes, has now recorded 278 saves this season. After stopping 64-of-65 shots and allowing only one goal over the weekend, his goals-against average dropped to 1.96, while his saves percentage increased to .939. He ranks second in the CCHA in goals-against average and saves percentage in overall games and is first in saves with 278 total saves in nine games (30.89 saves per game). He has recorded one of the only three shutouts by CCHA netminders this season.
OT
Ohio State improved its record in overtime games to 2-1 this season with its victory over LSSU. The Buckeyes posted a 3-2 overtime win at Maine (Oct. 27) before falling to Alaska Fairbanks, 4-3, in overtime (Nov. 4).
Discipline Works
The Buckeyes are 3-0-0 when they have fewer penalties than their opponents in a game. Ohio State only recorded five penalties and 10 penalty minutes in the first game against the Lakers, while LSSU had six penalties for 12 minutes. The 10 penalty minutes were the second-lowest total for the squad this season. In the first game against Maine, OSU took only four penalties for eight minutes.
Taking Over
This season, the Buckeyes are 2-0 whey they are tied at the end of the second period. OSU and LSSU were tied, 1-1, going into the third stanza in the first game before the Buckeyes won in overtime. When leading after two periods, including the second game against LSSU, the Buckeyes are 3-1-0.
Finally
Defenseman Eric Skaug (So., Portland, Ore.) saw his first action as a Buckeye in the games against Lake Superior. Because of eight games of major junior experience, he was forced to sit out all of last season in addition to the first eight games of this campaign.
Scoring against the CCHA
Dufour has tallied all of his points in conference action this season. He has nine points, including four goals, in the Buckeyes’ six conference games this year. His nine points rank fifth among all CCHA players in scoring in conference games.
A Career First
Caponigri’s goal against Lake Superior was the first tally of his Ohio State career. He has five points this season, including four assists.
Keeping the Shots Down
The Buckeyes are undefeated (4-0) when allowing 30 or less shots this season. They recorded their first win when allowing 31 to 40 shots with a victory over LSSU after allowing the Lakers 40 shots on goal. The Buckeyes won the only game in which they have allowed more than 50 shots on goal, as they defeated Maine in overtime despite the Black Bears’ 60 shots on net.
Contributions
The eight freshmen that have played forward or defense for Ohio State this season have combined to record 20 total points, 41.5 percent of the Buckeyes’ scoring output of 65 points. The three-member senior class ranks second with 18 points (27.7 percent). The junior class, which has had five skaters on the ice, has 13 points (20 percent) and the five sophomores have scored seven points (10.8 percent).
Solid on D
Signoretti has recorded an even or better plus/minus rating in eight of nine games this season. He leads the Buckeyes with a +8 rating and has had four +2 outings.
All About Nick
With six goals so far this season, Ganga has already set a new career high as he had four tallies in each of his first two seasons as a Buckeye. He already has two three-point games this season: a hat trick against Niagara (Oct. 21) and two goals and an assist in the Buckeyes’ win over Alaska Fairbanks. Ganga has scored the only short-handed goal of the season for OSU. In addition, he has not had a minus rating in any game this season, compiling a mark of +5.
The 100 Point Watch
Dufour is now only six points away from the 100-point barrier. He has totals of 36-58-94 in 127 career games. His brother, Pierre (1994-97), had 102 points in his career while playing in 137 games.
The Rookies
Of the eight freshmen forwards or defensemen who have played for the Buckeyes this season, seven have recorded at least one point. Steckel ranks first among rookies with seven points (5-2) and Umberger ranks second with six points on three goals and three assists. Andress and Caponigri are tied for third with five points each.
Defensive Scores
Of the 65 total points OSU has scored this season, 16 (24.6 percent) have been scored by defensemen. Signoretti leads all defenders with seven points and Andress ranks second with five.
More on Team D
The Buckeyes rank second in the CCHA in goals allowed per game with 2.11. The squad also ranks second in penalty killing. They have stopped 89.4 percent of opponent power-play opportunities so far this season.
OSU vs. BGSU – The Series
The Falcons hold an 88-50-5 lead in the all-time series. The series is closer in Columbus, as BGSU has a one-game edge, 31-30-2. Ohio State has won six of the last 10 meetings between the squads.
OSU vs. BG Last Season
Last season the squads split the season series with two wins each. Each school posted its two wins in its home rink. OSU won 4-1 and 4-3 in Columbus, while BGSU won 3-0 and 7-1 in Bowling Green.
Markell vs. BG
Ohio State head coach John Markell has a career mark of 10-9-1 against Bowling Green, his alma mater.
The BG Coach
Buddy Powers is in his seventh year at the helm for the Falcons. He has a career record of 231-181-32 and a mark of 111-110-17 at Bowling Green. Prior to coming to BGSU, Powers spent five years as the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His first head coaching opportunity came at Rochester Institute of Technology in 1988-89. He also served as an assistant coach at Colgate and at Bowling Green.
The League Standings
The Buckeyes are tied for third (with Northern Michigan) in the CCHA with a record of 4-2-0, while the Falcons are tied for seventh (1-3-2) with Alaska Fairbanks and Lake Superior. Ohio State has finished third in the conference in two of the last three seasons.
Scouting the Falcons
Bowling Green has compiled a mark of 1-5-2 overall this season. Their first win came over Alaska Fairbanks (Oct. 27). In their last series (Nov. 3-4) they fell to Northern Michigan in the first game (4-2) before tying in the second contest, 4-4. Forward Greg Day leads the Falcons with seven points, including six goals. Tyler Masters has played seven games in goal for BGSU. He has a goals-against average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .918. They are in the midst of a six-game stretch of games on the road. They will travel to Fairbanks, Alaska to take on the Nanooks next weekend, Nov. 24-25.
The Race for the Cup
The games this weekend mark the first contests for the Ohio Cup. The traveling trophy, initiated in 1982-83 by Buckeye Sports Bulletin, is given yearly to the Ohio school (Ohio State, Miami or Bowling Green) with the best record against the other teams. The Buckeyes won the cup last year, while the Falcons lead with 12 titles.
Buckeyes vs. Falcons
Signoretti ranks first on the Buckeyes’ scoring ladder with nine career points against Bowling Green, the highest total he had compiled against any team coming into the season. Dufour ranks second with eight points. Sophomore Luke Pavlas (Anchorage, Alaska) recorded four points in four games against BGSU last year, including a three-point night (1-2-3) Jan. 15.
Up Next
Ohio State takes a week off before returning to Value City Arena to face non-conference opponent Findlay at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28. The Buckeyes and Oilers, members of College Hockey America, have never met.
