No. 11 Buckeyes Head South For Holiday Tourney – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 22, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
No. 11 Ohio State
at
Everblades College Classic
TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
First Round, Saturday, Dec. 27
Notre Dame (8-5-2, 7-5-2 CCHA)
vs. No. 15 Cornell (4-2-5, 4-0-2 ECAC)
4:05 p.m.
No. 11 Ohio State (11-7-0, 8-5-0 CCHA)
vs. No. 3 Maine (12-2-1, 6-2-1 HE)
7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Championship – 1:05 p.m.
Consolation – 4:05 p.m.
The Series
vs. Maine – OSU trails 1-10-0
vs. Notre Dame – OSU trails 21-23-6
vs. Cornell – OSU leads 6-4-0
Faceoff
The No. 11 Ohio State men’s hockey team (11-7-0, 8-5-0 CCHA) returns to action Dec. 27-28 at the Everblades College Classic at TECO Arena in Estero, Fla. The Buckeyes open the tourney against No. 3 Maine at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, while Notre Dame will face off against No. 15 Cornell at 4:05 p.m. in the other first-round game. The championship game will be held at 4:05 p.m. Sunday, preceded by the consolation game at 1:05 p.m.
The Broadcast
CSTV: College Sports Television will televise both first-round games of the Everblades College Classic, as well as the championship tilt. Eric Frede will call the action, while Dave Starman will provide the color commentary. CSTV is available nationwide to more than 15 million homes via cable and satellite. Log on to cstv.com to find out if it is available in your area.
Ohio State will not have radio broadcasts of the tournament. The game between the Buckeyes and Black Bears can be heard online by logging on to www.zoneradio.com/wzon. Broadcasts of games involving Cornell can be accessed by going online to cornellbigred.com and Notre Dame broadcasts can be found at und.com.
Back Again
Ohio State is making its fourth appearance in the Everblades College Classic. The Buckeyes, as well as Maine and Cornell, have competed in the tournament each year. The fourth team changes each year and has included Clarkson (2000), Northern Michigan (2001) and Massachusetts (2002).
At the Holidays
The Buckeyes are 20-20-6 all-time in holiday tournaments. The squad last won a tournament in 1991, when it beat Colgate (6-5 OT) and Clarkson (4-3) in the Syracuse Invitational.
The Pattern
The Buckeyes have improved in the Everblades College Classic each year. The squad was 0-2 in 2000, 1-1-0 in 2001 and 1-0-1 in 2002.
In the Sunshine State
The Buckeyes are 2-3-1 in the Everblades College Classic all-time and never have advanced to the championship game. In tournament records, the squad is 2-4-0, as Ohio State lost in a shootout to Massachusetts in the opening round last year to drop to the consolation game.
OSU All-Time in the Everblades Classic 2002 12/28 Massachusetts T OT 2-2 (L 2-1) 12/29 Cornell W 1-0 2001 12/28 Maine L 2-6 12/29 Cornell W 2-0 2000 12/27 Cornell L OT 5-6 12/28 Clarkson L 6-7
Buckeyes and Black Bears
The Buckeyes open the tourney against Maine. The teams have met just once in Florida, when Maine topped the Buckeyes, 6-2, in the first round in 2001. That marked the last meeting between the squads
All-time, the Buckeyes trail the series with Maine, 1-10-0. OSU’s lone win over Maine came Oct. 27, 2000, in Orono, Maine. Buckeye goalie Mike Betz made a career-high 58 saves in the game and then-freshman Scott May scored in overtime to give OSU a 3-2 victory.
A Look at the Black Bears
Maine, ranked No. 3 in the nation, is 12-2-1 on the year and 6-2-1 in Hockey East play. The squad is averaging 3.9 goals a contest, while allowing just 1.8.
Three Black Bears – Greg Moore (8-6), Colin Shields (8-6) and Michael Leveille (0-14) – share the team scoring lead with 14 points each. Todd Jackson is right behind with a 9-4-13 line. In net, the duo of Jim Howard (5-1-1, 1.69 gaa, .932 svs. %) and Frank Doyle (7-1-0, 1.88 gaa, .919 svs. %) have shared time, however, Howard is expected to miss the Everblades College Classic with a knee injury.
Tim Whitehead, a 1985 graduate of Hamilton, is in his third year at the helm of the Black Bears and has a career mark of 62-23-13 at Maine. In his career, he is 138-118-24 in his eighth year.
OSU vs. the Black Bears
Scott May (1-1) and Paul Caponigri (0-2) lead the Buckeyes with two points each against Maine. Daymen Bencharski, JB Bittner and Dave Steckel, with an assist each, are the only other current Buckeyes with a point vs. the Black Bears.
Buckeyes vs. Big Red
Ohio State and Cornell have met once this season, when the Buckeyes topped the Big Red, 4-3, Nov. 22 in Ithaca, N.Y. Buckeye senior Dave Steckel scored twice in the game, including the gamewinner with 53 seconds remaining, to lead Ohio State to the win.
The Buckeyes hold a two-game lead in the series with Cornell, 6-4-0. The teams have met the first three years of the Everblades College Classic, with OSU going 2-1-0, including back-to-back shutouts the last two years.
A Look at the Big Red
Cornell is 4-2-5 on the year (4-0-2 ECAC) and enters the tournament on a three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2) after falling to the Buckeyes Nov. 22. Matt Moulson leads the team in goals (7), assists (11) and points (18), while Ryan Vesce is second in goals (6), assists (10) and points (17). In net, David McKee has played all 11 games, with a 2.11 goals-against average and .910 saves percentage.
Mike Schafer, a 1986 graduate of Cornell, is in his ninth season at the helm of his alma mater. He is 160-90-30 at CU and in his career.
The Connection
Ohio State associate head coach Casey Jones is a 1990 graduate of Cornell. He served as a team captain for the squad and posted 112 points for the Big Red in 112 career games.
Buckeyes vs. Irish
Ohio State and Notre Dame also have met this season, as the teams split a series in Columbus. The Irish won the opener, 5-2, before the Buckeyes rebounded for a 3-1 victory.
Notre Dame’s win over the Buckeyes stopped a nine-game unbeaten streak for Ohio State (6-0-3) vs. the Irish. In the last 10 games, Ohio State is 6-1-3 vs. ND.
All-time (according to the Ohio State record books), the Buckeyes trail the series with the Irish, 21-23-6. The teams have met twice at a neutral site, with OSU going 2-0-0, including a victory over the Irish, 3-2, in the 2003 CCHA Super Six Quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The only other neutral-site meeting was Dec. 20, 1966, a 6-5 Buckeye win.
A Look at the Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is 8-5-2 on the year and is tied with Ohio State for second place in the CCHA with a 7-5-2 ledger. The team is coming off two losses at Western Michigan Dec. 5-6.
Rob Globke (10-7) and Aaron Gill (5-12) are tied for the team scoring lead with 17 points each. Freshman David Brown has played in 13 games, with a 2.42 goals-against average and .919 saves percentage.
Dave Poulin, a 1982 graduate of Notre Dame, is in his ninth year at the helm of his alma mater. In his career, he is 122-160-42.
Markell vs. the Opposition
Ohio State head coach John Markell is 1-5-0 in his career vs. Maine, 4-3-0 vs. Cornell and 14-6-4 against Notre Dame.
Live on TV
The game Saturday marks the third time this season and the fourth time overall the Buckeyes will appear on CSTV. The squad is winless so far, going 0-2-1. The Buckeyes appeared on a special telecast in March vs. Michigan when the teams tied, 4-4. OSU and Notre Dame were on CSTV Oct. 10, a 5-3 ND win and the Buckeyes fell to Michigan, 4-0, Nov. 14 on CSTV.
OSU is scheduled to appear on CSTV Friday, Jan. 23 at home against Michigan State at 8:05 p.m.
OSU’s 2003-04 Television Schedule Oct. 10 Notre Dame CSTV (L 2-5) Oct. 18 at MSU MSU local (W 4-1) Oct. 31 UAF UAF local (W 4-2) Nov. 7 at NMU NMU Local (L 1-2) Nov. 8 at NMU NMU Local (W 6-1) Nov. 14 Michigan CSTV (L 0-4) Dec. 5 Miami ONN (L 1-2) Dec. 27 Maine CSTV Dec. 28 Everblades Championship CSTV Jan. 9 at Michigan Fox Sports Net Jan. 23 Mich. State CSTV Jan. 24 Mich. State ONN Feb. 14 UNO ONN March 6 Miami ONN
At the Holidays
Ohio State ended the first part of the season 11-7-0 overall. Its 11 wins are tied for the fifth-highest total for the program before Christmas. The 1983-84 squad holds the record with a 17-3 ledger before the holidays.
Looking for a Stop
The Buckeyes enter the Everblades College Classic looking to stop a season-low two-game losing streak. The Buckeyes were swept by Miami in the last time out, the first time they lost back-to-back games this season.
Where they Stand
The Buckeyes two losses against Miami dropped the squad out of the top spot in the CCHA into a second-place tie with Notre Dame, one point behind the RedHawks.
Have a Month
Senior Paul Caponigri was the CCHA’s nominee for national player of the month honors for November. He had a team-best 12 points during November, with a point in 7-of-8 games and four multiple-point games (1.50 points per game). He tallied his first career hat trick during the month and hit the 100-point mark for his career.
The Friday-Saturday Thing
The Buckeyes fell to 3-6-0 on Fridays following their first loss to the RedHawks. The squad suffered its first loss on Saturday when it fell to Miami Dec. 6 and now is 8-1-0 on the day.
A Team Effort
Bryce Anderson recorded an assist in the loss to Miami Dec. 5, marking his first career point. Now, all 21 Buckeye skaters (as well as goalie Mike Betz) have at least one point. Fifteen have scored at least one goal. Seven Buckeyes have at least 10 points on the year.
Help(ers) from the D
This season, the Buckeye defensemen have contributed 44 points (2.44 points a game), including 39 assists, through 18 games. Nate Guenin leads the defensive corps with 2-10-12 totals, while Doug Andress is second with 0-10-10. Matt Waddell leads the freshmen defenders with 1-8-9.
Last season, the Buckeyes’ defensemen had 10-54-64 totals in 43 games (1.49 points a game).
Not the Norm
The Buckeyes gave up four goals in the Saturday loss to Miami, marking just the fourth time this season (in 18 games) the team has allowed more than three goals. The team is allowing 2.3 goals a game this season. The squad set a school record last year, allowing just 2.19 goals a game.
The Leaders
Buckeye senior Paul Caponigri is first on the team in both goals (11) and points (19). He is just two goals short of his career high of 13, set in his first two seasons at Ohio State. Caponigri also is first on the squad with a +19 rating.
Dan Knapp, Nate Guenin and Doug Andress share the assist lead with 10 helpers each.
Nate Guenin is the team leader in penalties (22) and penalty minutes (52).
Even Steven
After being outshot by Colgate, 33-16, Nov. 21, the Buckeyes and their opponents had identical shot totals for three consecutive games. Against Cornell and at Bowling Green, both teams had 26 shots, while OSU and Miami had 33 each Friday. In the finale vs. the RedHawks, the Buckeyes were outshot by one, 31-30.
A Recap – OSU’s Last Time Out
Miami 2, Ohio State 1
The Buckeyes fell to Miami, 2-1, Friday Dec. 5 in Value City Arena. The RedHawks got on the board 4:01 into the game, as Todd Grant scored a power-play goal. Rod Pelley tied the game 3:09 into the second period, assisted by Bryce Anderson and Andrew Schembri. The score remained tied until Miami’s Derek Edwardson gave the RedHawks the win with a goal with 1:29 remaining. The teams ended the game with 33 shots each, however, Miami outshot the Buckeyes in the first, 16-6, and OSU outshot the RedHawks in the second, 14-5. In the third, OSU had 13 shots, Miami 12.
Miami 4, Ohio State 2
For the second consecutive game, the Buckeyes went into the third period tied with Miami but suffered a loss, as the squad lost, 4-2.
The Buckeyes got on the board first with a goal by Paul Caponigri in the first, but the RedHawks tied the game late in the period. In the second, the teams traded goals, as Greg Hogeboom scored for MU at 7:16 and Daymen Bencharski tied the game at 14:27. Miami scored twice on the power play in the third for the win. The Buckeyes were 0-for-10 on the power play in the game, while holding Miami scoreless on 7-of-9 chances.
Rebounders
This season, the Buckeyes are 5-1-0 in games following losses.
The Buckeyes’ two losses against Miami Dec. 5-6 marked the first time they were swept this season and the first time they lost back-to-back games.
So Close
Buckeye senior Scott May has seven points in his last six games, with two points against Michigan (1-1) Colgate (0-2) and Bowling Green (1-1) and a helper vs. Cornell. May is four points away from the 100th point of his Ohio State career. He has 36 goals, 60 assists and 96 points as a Buckeye.
The Newest Buckeyes
Ohio State head men’s hockey coach John Markell announced Nov. 19 the addition of six student-athletes who have signed NCAA National Letters of Intent for the 2004-05 season. Sam Campbell (Hamilton, Ontario/Hamilton Red Wings), John Dingle (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Tri-City Storm), Ian Keserich (Parma, Ohio/Cleveland Barons) Domenic Maiani (Shelby Township, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers), Matt McIlvane (Naperville, Ill./Chicago Steel) and Brandon Scero (Canton, Mich./U.S. National Team Development Program) comprise the class that will enroll in Ohio State beginning in Fall 2004. The group will be joined by defenseman Kyle Hood (Osoyoos, British Columbia), who signed with the Buckeyes in Fall 2002.
Watch In the Middle
The Buckeyes have posted 25 goals in the second period, their highest total this season. The squad has outscored its opponents 16-14 in the first, 25-13 in the second and 17-14 in the third.
A Change
The game time for the Ohio State vs. Michigan State game Friday, Jan. 23 has been moved to 8:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by CSTV: College Sports Television as part of its Friday Night Hockey programming.
What’s UP Next
After the Everblades College Classic, the Buckeyes will return to action with three games the week of Jan. 4. The squad will play host to Quinnipiac at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 before traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a two-game CCHA series Jan. 9-10. The Buckeyes and Wolverines will face off at 7:35 p.m. in Yost Ice Arena.
Ohio State at The Everblades College Classic Player GP G A P P-PIM +/- Bencharski 6 3 2 5 2-4 +2 May 6 2 4 5 4-8 +1 Caponigri 6 2 1 3 1-2 +1 Andress 6 1 2 3 4-8 -1 Bittner 4 1 1 2 0-0 +1 Olsgard 6 0 2 2 3-6 -1 Guenin 2 0 1 1 2-4 +1 Knapp 1 0 1 1 0-0 +1 Pelley 2 0 0 0 0-0 E Spector 4 0 0 0 0-0 E Steckel 2 0 0 0 1-2 E Whiting 4 0 0 0 1-2 E Welsh 2 0 0 0 0-0 -1
W-L-T GA GAA Svs. Sv.% Betz 1-2-1 17 3.94 118 .874 Caruso 1-0-0 0 0.00 24 1.00
