Men’s Hockey To Take On Findlay and FSU – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 27, 2000
Columbus, Ohio — The Ohio State men’s hockey team (7-4-0, 5-3-0 CCHA) plays host to its last home game before January when it faces non-conference opponent Findlay (5-1-1, 4-1-1 CHA) at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes then travel to Ferris State (3-7-2, 1-6-1 CCHA) for a two-game series Friday and Saturday. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. both nights.
The Broadcasts
The game vs. Findlay will not be broadcast. The games at Ferris State can be heard live on WOSU (820 AM) and at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
The Last Time
The game against Findlay marks the final time the Buckeyes will play at home before January 2001. The squad will be on the road for six-consecutive games in December. Ohio State plays two games each at Ferris State (Dec. 1-2) and Western Michigan (Dec. 14-15) before traveling to Naples, Fla. for two games in the Everblades Holiday Classic (Dec. 27-28). OSU will play Cornell in the first game and either Maine or Clarkson the following day.
OSU vs. Findlay
The Buckeyes and Oilers have never met. Findlay recently completed its transition for all sports from NAIA to NCAA Division II. As of Sept. 1, 2000, the men’s and women’s hockey teams began a two-year transition to Division I status. Both teams currently have a provisional Division I status. Last season was the first time Findlay’s hockey teams played a predominately NCAA Division I schedule.
The CHA
College Hockey America, a six-member conference that includes Findlay, is college hockey’s newest conference. It is in its second season of competition. Other teams in the conference include Air Force, Alabama Huntsville, Bemidji State, Niagara and Wayne State.
OSU and the CHA
The Buckeyes have compiled an overall mark of 16-8 against the six teams currently in College Hockey America, with most of those games coming against Air Force. OSU is 14-6 overall against the Falcons. Those squads met for the first time in 1966, while the last meeting was a 7-4 OSU win in the Denver Cup in 1995. The Buckeyes are 1-1 against Niagara after posting a win over the Purple Eagles earlier this season. Alabama Huntsville posted a win over OSU in their only meeting (1995). Ohio State defeated Wayne State, 6-0, last season. In addition to Findlay, Ohio State also has never faced Bemidji State. Scouting the Oilers
Findlay is 5-1-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the CHA so far this season. The team’s only defeat was a 3-1 loss to Air Force in Findlay’s fourth game of the season.
In two exhibition games last weekend, the Oilers defeated Iowa State, 11-4 and 10-1. In the Oilers’ last CHA series (Nov. 17-18), they defeated Bemidji State, 9-1 and 2-1.
Freshman Aaron Weegar leads Findlay with 13 points (3-10). Junior defenseman Brant Somerville, a preseason All-CHA selection, is second with 11 points (4-7). Juniors Andy Croak and Darryl Somerville are tied for third on the squad with 10 points each. Croak has tallied seven goals this season, including five power-play goals. Darryl Somerville leads the team with three game-winning tallies.
In goal, freshman Kevin Fines and sophomore Jamie VandeSpyker have played three games each. Fines ranks first with a 1.91 goals-against average and .940 saves percentage. VandeSpyker has compiled a GAA of 2.30 and a saves percentage of .926.
Findlay’s special teams play has been strong this season. The squad has scored on 22.4 percent of its power-play opportunities (11-49) and has killed 41 of 47 (87.2 percent) opponent power play chances.
The Oilers Last Weekend
In an exhibition series against Iowa State, Findlay posted two wins over the Cyclones, 11-4 and 10-1. The Oilers scored on four of 13 power-play opportunities over the weekend. Three Oilers, Shane Martin, Christian Olson and Russ Kelley, had four point games over the weekend.
Coach Craig Barnett
Findlay coach Craig Barnett is in his sixth year overall at the helm for the Oilers and the fifth year with the squad as a varsity program. He has compiled a career mark of 81-57-9 in the squad’s first four years of existence. In college, Barnett was a four-year starter in goal (1985-89) for Division III power Plattsburgh State. The squad won the ECAC and NCAA Championships in 1987. Barnett’s assistant coaches are Rob Haberbusch (Fairfield ’93) and Wade Nilson (Findlay ’99).
Outside the CCHA
The Buckeyes are 2-1 against non-conference opponents this season. The squad split a two-game series with Maine of Hockey East and defeated the CHA’s Niagara. As a league, the CCHA holds a 13-3-1 advantage over teams in the CHA this season.
In Common
The Buckeyes and Falcons have not faced any common opponents so far this season. However, OSU has faced CHA member Niagara and Findlay has two-game series scheduled with CCHA members Ferris State (Dec. 15-16) and Nebraska Omaha (March 1-2). OSU has not faced FSU or UNO yet this season but will play two games against FSU in December and two games at Nebraska Omaha in February.
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.
Recapping OSU vs. BGSU
The Buckeyes and Falcons split a two-game series Nov. 18-19 in Value City Arena. Bowling Green won the first game, 5-2. Freshmen Dave Steckel (West Bend, Wis.) and Paul Caponigri (Oak Park, Ill.) each scored for the Buckeyes in the loss. In the second game, Pete Broccoli (So., Milford, Conn.) scored with 29 seconds remaining in overtime to give OSU a 5-4 win over BGSU. Jean-Francois Dufour (Sr., Bedford, Quebec) scored two goals in the contest. R.J. Umberger (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) tallied his fourth goal of the season and added an assist on the game-winning goal. Miguel Lafleche (So., Crysler, Ontario) added a short-handed score for his first goal of the season.
Down to the Wire
Three of the Buckeyes’ seven 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 (Fr., Surrey, British Columbia) scored with 48 seconds remaining to lift OSU over the Black Bears, 3-2, in Orono, Maine. On the road at Lake Superior, Steckel tallied with 31 seconds left to give the Buckeyes the win. 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.
On a Tear
Steckel has been on a hot streak recently. He currently has a five-game point-scoring streak, while his four-game goal scoring streak was stopped in the second game against BGSU. He has tallied six points, on four goals and two assists, in his last five outings. Steckel has been +1 or better in each of those game. He has not had a plus/minus rating below even since the second game of the season (Northern Michigan, Oct. 14).
A Plus
Buckeye defenseman Andre Signoretti (Sr., Manotick, Ontario) leads the team with a +9 plus/minus rating. He has been +1 or +2 in four of the last six 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 +33.
No. 16
Dufour has scored at least one point, including three multiple point games, in five of the last six games. He has three goals and five assists for eight points in that span. He scored two points in both OSU wins at Lake Superior before scoring two goals in the Buckeyes’ victory over BGSU.
Keep It Up
Umberger has scored in over half of the Buckeyes’ wins (4 of 7) this season. OSU is a perfect 4-0 in games when Umberger tallies (at NMU and Maine, vs. UAF and BGSU). He has a three-game scoring streak (1-3-4) and has had an even or better plus/minus rating in six-consecutive games. He had his second multiple-point game of the season with a goal and an assist in OSU’s win over Bowling Green.
On A Roll
Caponigri has scored his eight points this season in the last seven games. He has recorded three two-point games so far and scored his first career goal in the first game against Lake Superior.
Firsts
Broccoli’s game-winning goal was the first collegiate goal of his career. Mike McCormick (Jr., Peterborough, Ontario) recorded two assists in the second game against Bowling Green for his first multiple-point game as a Buckeye. Lafleche’s short-handed goal was his first tally of the season and the first short-handed goal of his career. Goalie Mike Betz (Fr., Elizabeth, Pa.) had his first career assist on Broccoli’s game winning goal against Bowling Green.
Breakdown
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 38 of OSU’s 84 points (45.2 percent). The three member senior class is second with 22 points (26.2 percent). The five juniors have 15 points (17.9 percent) and the six sophomores have nine points (10.7 percent).
What a Line
Since being put on a line together Nov. 10 against Lake Superior, the trio of Steckel, Caponigri and Dufour has combined for 16 total points in four games, including three OSU wins. Dufour leads the trio with six points in those games (3-3), while Caponigri (2-3) and Steckel (3-2) have each contributed five points. Dufour and Steckel have tallied the game-winners in two of those four games. As a team, the Buckeyes have scored 31 total points in those four contests.
We’re Even
Steckel leads the Buckeyes in scoring when OSU is at even strength this season. All nine of his points have come in five-on-five situations. Umberger and Dufour are tied for second with seven points at even strength each.
Up a Man
Dufour is first on the team with four power-play goals and points this season. He has recorded fifty percent of OSU’s power-play goals. His four power-play tallies tie his career high, set last season.
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.
Happy to Go First
The Buckeyes are a perfect 3-0 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) and Bowling Green (Nov. 19, won 5-4).
Strong in the Third
The Buckeyes are 6-1 in games where they were either leading or tied at the end of the second period.
Against the League
Dufour has tallied all of his points in conference action this season. He has 11 points, including six goals, in the Buckeyes’ eight conference games this year. Following OSU’s Bowling Green series, his point total was tied for fourth among all CCHA players in scoring in conference games.
SOG
The Buckeyes have outshot their opponents in each of their last three games. It is a good sign for the team, as it is 5-1 in games where it has more shots on goal than its opponents. The Buckeyes also are 5-1 in games where they hold their opponents to 30 shots on goal or less.
Inching Closer
Dufour only needs four points to reach the 100-point plateau. He has totals of 38-58-96 in 129 career games. His brother, Pierre (1994-97), had 102 points in his career while playing in 137 games.
Freshmen Leaders
Steckel and Umberger are tied for the rookie scoring lead with nine points each. Steckel has six goals to lead all freshmen, while Caponigri has six assists to rank first in that category.
Score!
Three Buckeyes are tied for the overall team lead in goals. Steckel, Dufour and Nick Ganga (Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) all have tallied six goals this season. Steckel is first on the team with two game-winning goals.
Led by the Rookies
Five of the Buckeyes’ six points in the first game against Bowling Green were scored by freshmen. Steckel and Caponigri had the Buckeyes’ goals, while Daymen Bencharski (Beaverlodge, Alberta), Doug Andress (Iroquois Falls, Ontario) and Umberger each had an assist. Senior Jaisen Freeman (Mahtomedi, Minn.) had OSU’s other helper.
They’ll Be Back
The Buckeyes will return to Value City Arena Jan. 5-6 when they play host to CCHA opponent Western Michigan. The first game (Friday, Jan. 5) is scheduled for 7:35 p.m., while face-off will be at 7:05 p.m. for game two (Saturday, Jan. 6).
