Women’s Ice Hockey Opens WCHA Action vs. No. 1 Minnesota – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 15, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team faces No. 1 Minnesota at 8:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The contest marks Ohio State’s and Minnesota’s regular season and Western Collegiate Hockey Association openers.
THE BROADCAST
The series this weekend will be broadcast at gophersports.com. To listen to the game, go to www.gophersports.com and click on the audio broadcast link, located on the right-hand side of the website under audio coverage. Live stats will also be available at gophersports.com.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Minnesota Golden Gophers also are opening regular season and WCHA action this weekend. The Golden Gophers won three exhibition games vs. the Aurora Panthers and a two-game series vs. Oval X-Treme.
Last season Minnesota finished 21-8-1 and second in the WCHA. The squad advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA championship before falling to Harvard, 6-1. The Gophers finished fourth in the tournament.
Minnesota welcomes back 70 percent of its point production from last season. Sophomore Natalie Darwitz will be looked upon to guide the Gopher offense after leading the squad with 68 points in 2002-03. Forward Krissy Wendell was the second-leading scorer with 55 points in her first year as a Gopher and is back to prove her success in her sophomore campaign.
Junior Jody Horak returns in goal for the Gophers. Horak finished the 2002-03 season with a 23-6-0 record. She also ranked first in the WCHA in save percentage (.927), second in winning percentage (.793) and third in goals against average (1.85).
BUCKEYES VS. GOLDEN GOPHERS
The Buckeyes and Golden Gophers will be meeting for the 19th time in the history of the programs. OSU trails Minnesota 3-15-0. Last time out Minnesota defeated Ohio State 2-1 Feb. 8, 2003 in Minneapolis, Minn.
GOLDEN GOPHERS HEAD COACH
Laura Halldorson enters her seventh season at the helm of the Minnesota women’s hockey program. She is looking to lead her squad to the NCAA Frozen Four for the third consecutive season. She has a 160-38-16 record at Minnesota and a 219-113-25 career record in 13 years.
LAST TIME OUT VS. MINNESOTA
Ohio State was defeated by the No. 3 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 2-1, Feb. 8, 2003 in Minneapolis, Minn. OSU started the first period out strong. The Buckeye power-play unit had two scoring opportunities, but was unable to capitalize on the chances. The first goal of the game was not scored until 11:48, when Minnesota’s Natalie Darwitz recorded a goal.
Ohio State senior Shana Frost scored her sixth goal of the season off a rebound assisted by Jeanne Chapple and Jana Harrigan at 17:59. After two periods of play, the scoreboard was tied at one and Ohio State led 22-10 in shots.
In the third period, Ohio State’s Emily Hudak received a penalty for holding at 18:05 prompting Minnesota to call a timeout. The Gophers’ Krissy Wendell scored on the power play at 18:35. Immediately following Ohio State called a timeout. The Buckeyes then pulled Stojak with 1:01 remaining but came up shorthanded.
The Buckeyes outshot the Gophers 26-17. The Buckeyes were 0-for-4 on the power play. Ohio State held Minnesota on three of its four power-play opportunities.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Golden Gophers wear an “R” patch on their jerseys for Bob and Kathleen Ridder, the couple that funded Ridder Arena.
HOMETOWN HOMIES
Ohio State’s Natalie Lamme attended the same high school as Minnesota forward Jerilyn Glenn and defenseman Stacy Troumbly. All three players were members of the Hibbing High School women’s hockey team.
OSU’s Katie Sershen also played on the Minnesota Thoroughbreds with Minnesota sophomore Allie Sanchez.
SAME TEAM NOW OPPOSITE TEAM
Did you know Ohio State head coach Jackie Barto coached Minnesota goalie Jody Horak and forward Natalie Darwitz.
Barto served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Women’s Under-22 Team which competed at the USA Hockey Festival Aug. 12-18 and in three-game exhibition series vs. Team Canada Aug. 20-23.
MINNESOTA NATIVES
Five of Ohio State’s players will be returning to their home state of Minnesota this weekend, four of which reside within 20 miles of the Twin Cities – Jeanne Chapple of Vadnais Heights, Natalie Lamme of Hibbing, Crystal Sayther of Burnsville, Katie Sershen of Woodbury, Krysta Skarda of Lake Elmo.
RIDDER ARENA
A women’s ice hockey only venue, Ridder Arena opened in December 2002 and is home to the Minnesota Gopher women’s ice hockey program. Ridder Arena is a 3,400 seat arena, which contains a club room with 210 seats and nine suites with seating for 14 in each. The ice surface is NHL-size. The arena also is accessible to groups and hockey teams.
LAST TIME OUT – TORONTO (EXH)
Ohio State swept Toronto in a two-game exhibition series Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The squad is 4-1 all-time against the Varsity Blues in exhibition action.
The Buckeyes defeated the Varsity Blues 5-2 Oct. 10. The team outshot Toronto, 46-16. The OSU penalty-killing unit held UT to one-of-three power-play chances, while the Buckeyes converted on two-of-five.
OSU duplicated its success Oct. 11 as it downed Toronto, 5-1. Ohio State outshot Toronto 41-12. The OSU penalty-killing unit held UT to one-of-four power-play chances, while the Buckeyes converted on one-of-five.
HATS OFF TO MULVANEY
Junior captain Meaghan Mulvaney posted an excellent performance as she recorded two consecutive hat tricks to lead the Buckeyes to a sweep over Toronto in exhibition action last weekend. The junior captain scored one even strength and two power-play goals in the 5-2 victory Oct. 10. The Ohio native duplicated her success Oct. 11, as she tallied one power-play and two even strength goals. Mulvaney posted 13 shots and finished +4 on the weekend.
For her performance Mulvaney earned WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.
SHOTS, SHOTS AND MORE SHOTS
In both exhibition games over the weekend, OSU outshot Toronto. It seemed like the Buckeyes could not stop taking shots, as they combined for 87 shots in the contests. The squad outshot Toronto 46-16 Oct. 10 and 41-21 Oct. 11. Last season, the Buckeyes outshot their opponents in 27-of-37 games.
MULTIPLE TALENT
Eleven Buckeyes tallied points in the two-game series vs. Toronto last weekend. Seven players posted points in the game Oct. 10 and 10 Oct. 11.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
The first three weekends of the season will be tough for OSU. The Buckeyes take on the top three teams in the WCHA, all of which are ranked in the top six nationally – No. 1 Minnesota, No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 6 Wisconsin.
IN GOAL VS. TORONTO
Junior Melissa Glaser and freshman Erika Vanderveer saw action vs. Toronto. Glaser recorded 14 saves and allowed two goals Oct. 10 and Vanderveer tallied 11 saves and allowed one goal Oct. 11. The statistics do not count from the exhibition series.
PLUSES ON THE WEEKEND
Three Buckeyes – Tessa Bonhomme, Jeanne Chapple and Meaghan Mulvaney – finished +4 on the weekend.
SORRY CHARLIE
Several Buckeyes posted excellent performances last weekend against Toronto. But, none of the team or individual statistics count in OSU’s season totals because the two-game series was exhibition.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 2003-04 Ohio State captains are senior Erin O’Grady and junior Meaghan Mulvaney. The alternate captains are seniors Jeanne Chapple and Emma Laaksonen.
CREARY COMPETED AT FESTIVAL
Forward Jeni Creary competed at the Canadian National Team Thanksgiving Festival Oct. 7-12 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Sixty of Canada’s top women athletes were asked to compete in the three-team tournament which was the first year for this camp and believed to be the largest camp ever. Coaches and scouts were on hand to see how the players reacted to playing in a competitive environment.
Creary competed for Team Wilson under head coach Ken Dufton of the Toronto Aeros. The group of players were divided into three teams, which were named in honor of Canada’s first three World Championship captains – Team Scherer, Team St-Louis and Team Wilson.
2002-03 SEASON RECAP
Ohio State finished the 2002-03 season fourth in both the regular season standings and the conference tournament. The Buckeyes posted a 12-22-3 overall record, including an 8-13-3 record in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference. OSU scored 88 goals, averaging 2.4 goals per game, as well as 130 assists. The Buckeyes allowed 114 goals, an average of 3.1 goals against per contest.
THE 2003 POSTSEASON
The Buckeyes earned a No. 5 seed in the 2003 WCHA Final Five Tournament, which was played in Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. OSU advanced to the second round with a win over No. 5 Bemidji State, 4-3, in a March 6 overtime game before falling to No. 1 seed Minnesota-Duluth, 6-1, March 7.
The postseason appearance marked the fourth consecutive time OSU advanced to the WCHA tournament. The Buckeyes are 6-6-0 all-time in the tourney.
IN THE TOP FIVE
The Buckeyes finished in the Top 5 in five WCHA categories last season. In scoring offense, scoring defense, power plays and penalty kills, OSU ended the season ranked fourth in the WCHA standings. The squad also finished second in penalty minutes with 337 PIM’s and 14.0 PIM/G.
(HAT) TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Jennifer Desson’s first career hat trick March 1 against Bemidji State marked the team’s fifth such achievement in program history. In 2003, the squad tied the 2000 season with two hat tricks in one year. Jeni Creary recorded the other hat trick Jan. 1 against Dartmouth last season.
THE SQUAD
The returning nine forwards bring a wealth of experience to the ice. The three returning defensemen will use their wisdom and strength to guide three defensive newcomers. Freshman Erika Vanderveer joins the combination of Melissa Glaser and Natalie Lamme in goal this season.
“The strengths of the team will be their work ethic and the desire to win,” Jackie Barto, OSU head coach, said. “We have a very good combination of quality returning players and a lot of energy and excitement with the six incoming freshmen. The two have the potential to come together both on and off the ice.”
GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH
After finishing 12-22-3 last season, the Buckeyes have a lot to build upon in 2003. The squad finished 5-10 in one-goal games and was 2-1-3 in overtime games.
“A goal of the team’s is to take the next step forward and come out with big wins,” Jackie Barto said “Last season we had 15 one-goal games and we only came out with a few wins. To accomplish this we need to improve our defense. If we are very strong and very committed to the defensive side of the puck that will improve us in the one-goal games.”
THE SCHEDULE
The Buckeyes open the season taking on WCHA runner-up Minnesota (Oct. 17-18) in Minneapolis, Minn. and return home to face defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth (Oct. 24-25). Then, the squad is on the road two consecutive weekends vs. Wisconsin and St. Cloud State. The toughest part of the schedule might be competing on the road for four straight weekends in January and February. The Buckeyes play every WCHA team four times during the season, a two-game trip on the road and a two-game series at home.
In nonconference action, OSU faces Niagara, Quinnipiac and Mercyhurst for the first time in the four-year history of the program. The team travels to Erie, Pa., to take on Mercyhurst, the teams faced off for the first time last season, with an OSU loss 2-1. In the final game of the regular-season (March 6), Ohio State looks to defend the Ohio Cup trophy after defeating Findlay for three consecutive years.
The 2003 WCHA Final Five Tournament will be held March 12-14 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The Buckeyes are striving for the 2003 NCAA Frozen Four March 26 and 28 in Providence, R.I.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Ohio State returns home to face defending national champion No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth at 7:05 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 at the OSU Ice Rink.
FIND OUT ON THE WEB
Keep track of the latest women’s ice hockey news, scores and stats by logging on to the official Ohio State athletic website at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
WCHA ROUND-UP
Minnesota State posted a sweep of the defending national champions, Minnesota-Duluth to open the 2003-04 WCHA conference schedule. Minnesota State posted a 4-3 win Oct. 10 and then completed the sweep with a win by the same score Oct. 11. The win ended a 17-game skid against Minnesota-Duluth and was the Mavericks’ first win against Minnesota-Duluth beginning the series in 1999-00.
Bemidji State opened the season with a two-game non-conference set against Wayne State. The Beavers picked up a 3-2 win Oct. 10 and then skated to a 2-2 tie Oct. 11. Also in non-conference action, Wisconsin earned a series sweep with back-to-back shutouts against visiting Vermont. The Badgers blanked the Catamounts 2-0 Oct. 10 and completed the sweep with a 7-0 win Oct. 11.
In exhibition play, Minnesota traveled to Calgary, Alberta, where the Gophers topped Oval Extreme 3-2 and 4-3. Ohio State defeated Toronto 5-2 and 5-1 while St. Cloud State split with Regina, winning 4-3 Oct. 10 and losing 4-3 Oct. 10. A full slate of conference games are scheduled for this week.
In WCHA action this week, Bemidji State travels to Minnesota-Duluth for two games while Minnesota entertains Ohio State for a two-game series. Minnesota State will host North Dakota in a two-game non-conference series. St. Cloud State hits the road for series at Findlay Saturday and Sunday while Wisconsin travels to Maine for two games, Sunday and Monday.
