No. 6 Buckeyes Head to Albany for NCAA Men’s Hockey East Regional – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 23, 2004
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FACEOFF
The No. 6 Ohio State men’s hockey team (26-15-0, 16-12-0/4th CCHA) won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Mason Cup after defeating Michigan in the CCHA Super Six title game to earn the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
The No. 2 seed Buckeyes will meet No. 3 Wisconsin at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the NCAA East Regional at Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. No. 1 seed Maine (the second seed overall) will face No. 4 Harvard in the other first-round game. The winners will meet at 6 p.m. Saturday for a berth in the 2004 NCAA Frozen Four in Boston April 8-10.
THE BROADCAST
The Buckeyes’ games in the NCAA tournament will be broadcast by WOSU Radio (820 AM/wosu.org) with Neil Sika (play-by-play) and former Buckeye John Mowat (color) on the call.
In addition, the games will be televised in a number of markets. Local clearances are available by logging on to ncaasports.com and clicking on the broadcast information section.
THE RANKINGS
Ohio State moved up to No. 6 in both the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and USCHO.com polls following its title run at the CCHA Super Six. The squad improved to No. 8 in the INCH Power Rankings (insidecollegehockey.com). Wisconsin holds down the 11th spot in both the USA Today and USCHO polls and is 10th in the INCH rankings.
Maine is ranked first in all three polls. Harvard is rated 15th in the first two and is No. 16 in INCH’s rankings.
1972 NO MORE
Ohio State defeated Michigan last Saturday in the CCHA Super Six Championship title game to win the Buckeyes’ first league crown since 1972 and just the second title in program history. The Buckeyes, the fourth seed in the tournament, used overtime wins over No. 5 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals (6-5) and No. 2 Miami in the semifinals (4-3) before upending the top-seeded Wolverines in regulation, 4-2.
OSU is the first team not based in Michigan to win the CCHA postseason title since 1988 (Bowling Green) and ends a streak of eight years in a row Michigan or Michigan State won the crown. The Wolverines won the last two titles.
LEADING THE WAY VS. THE CCHA
Buckeye senior Paul Caponigri had five points in the three games at the CCHA Super Six Championship, including a goal and an assist in the title game, to earn the Bill Beagan Trophy as the tournament’s MVP, the first Buckeye since Bill McKenzie in 1972 to do so.
Goalie Dave Caruso (3-0-0, 1.88 gaa), forwards Rod Pelley (2-3-5) and Caponigri and defenseman Doug Andress (2-4-6) earned all-tournament accolades.
The four Buckeyes named to the all-tournament team are the first since four Buckeyes were honored in 1998 when the squad lost in the championship game to Michigan State in double overtime.
GOOD PREP
Ohio State beat three 2004 NCAA Championship qualifiers in the CCHA Super Six en route to the league title. The Buckeyes topped Midwest region No. 4 seed Notre Dame in the quarterfinals, West region No. 3 seed Miami in the semifinals and Northeast region No. 2 seed Michigan in the final.
OSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Buckeyes are making their second consecutive and fourth overall trip to the NCAA tournament. The squad, which has qualified for the national tournament four of the last seven seasons, is 2-3 all-time in the national tourney, including a trip to the 1998 NCAA Frozen Four.
2003
East Regional, Providence, R.I.
Boston College 1, Ohio State 0
1999
East Regional, Worcester, Mass.
Maine 4, Ohio State 2
1998
West Regional, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Ohio State 4, Yale 0
Ohio State 4, Michigan State 3 (OT)
Frozen Four Semifinal, Boston
Boston College 5, Ohio State 2
OSU VS. UW – THE SERIES
Ohio State is 0-8-0 all-time against Wisconsin, with all eight meeting coming between 1965-1969.
Date W/L OSU-UW Site 2/5/65 L 4-11 A 1/8/66 L 1-8 H 2/10/67 L 1-10 A 12/28/67 L 2-11 N1 2/22/68 L 2-11 H 12/27/68 L 2-10 A2 1/25/69 L 1-10 A 1/29/69 L 0-5 H
1Big Ten Tournament, Minneapolis, Minn. 2Big Ten Tournament, Madison, Wis.
A LOOK AT THE BADGERS
Wisconsin is 21-12-8 on the year and went 14-7-7 in the WCHA. The team was upset in three games by Alaska Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA tournament.
Rene Bourque leads the team in assists (20) and points (35) and is tied for the squad lead with Ryan MacMurchy for the lead in goals with 15. The squad is allowing just 2.2 goals a game, backstopped by goalie Bernd BrLckler with a 2.14 goals-against average of 2.16 and a .922 save percentage in 36 games. The Badgers average 3.0 goals a game and their power play has converted 16.4 percent (33-201) of its chances on the year.
AGAINST THE WCHA
The Buckeyes are 10-28-2 all-time against teams in the WCHA; 3-1-1 vs. Alaska Anchorage, 0-1-0 vs. Colorado College, 2-4-0 against Denver, 3-4-0 vs. Michigan Tech, 1-8-1 against Minnesota, 1-0-1 vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 0-2-0 vs. North Dakota and 0-8-0 vs. Wisconsin. Minnesota State, Mankato and St. Cloud State have never played OSU.
The lone WCHA team on OSU’s schedule this season was Denver. The Pioneers beat the Buckeyes in the opening round of the Lefty McFadden Invitational, 5-2, Oct. 3 in Dayton, Ohio.
OSU VS. MAINE – THE SERIES
Ohio State is 2-10-0 all-time against Maine, including a 4-2 victory in the Everblades College Classic this season (Dec. 27).
Maine and Ohio State met in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, with the Black Bears posting a 4-2 win in the first round.
Date W/L OSU-Maine Site 11/4/88 L 4-6 H 11/5/88 L 2-10 H 11/3/89 L 1-10 A 11/4/89 L 2-6 A 12/29/92 L 4-9 N1 3/26/99 L 2-4 N2 10/29/99 L 2-3 H 10/31/99 L 1-3 H 10/27/00 W OT 3-2 A 10/28/00 L 0-2 A 12/29/01 L 2-6 N3 12/27/03 W 4-2 N3
1Cleveland College Hockey Classic, Richfield, Ohio; 2NCAA East Regional, Worcester, Mass.; 3Everblades College Classic, Estero, Fla.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS
Maine is 30-7-3 on the year and went 17-5-2 in Hockey East. The Black Bears are coming off a triple-overtime win over UMass in the championship game of the HE tournament. Maine leads the nation in goals allowed per game, giving up just 1.5 goals an outing. The squad averages 3.3 goals scored per game and its power play coverts on 17 percent (34-200) of its chances.
Colin Shields leads Maine in scoring with 42 points. Michel Leveille is first with 33 points, while Todd Jackson leads the way with 20 goals. In net, Jim Howard (19 games played; 1.05 goals-against average; .958 save percentage) and Frank Doyle (22 gp; 1.84 gaa; .922 svs%) share time.
AGAINST HOCKEY EAST
Against current Hockey East members, the Buckeyes are 13-21-3; 1-4-0 vs. Boston College, 0-2-0 vs. Boston University, 0-0-1 vs. Massachusetts, 2-0-1 vs. UMass-Lowell, 2-10-0 vs. Maine, 4-2-0 vs. Merrimack, 2-2-1 against New Hampshire and 2-1-0 vs. Providence. OSU and Northeastern have never met.
Maine is the only Hockey East school Ohio State faced this season, as OSU beat the Black Bears, 4-2, in the Everblades College Classic in December.
Hockey East member Boston College eliminated Ohio State from the NCAA tournament in both 1998 in the Frozen Four semifinals and in the first round last season.
OSU VS. HARVARD – THE SERIES
The Buckeyes and Crimson never have met on the ice.
A LOOK AT THE CRIMSON
Harvard is 18-14-3 on the year and went 10-10-2 in the ECAC. The squad beat Clarkson in the league’s championship game to claim the automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. Harvard is scoring 2.86 goals a game and allowing 2.54 tallies a contest.
Tom Cavanagh is first for Harvard in both goals (16) and points (36). Tim Pettit leads the squad with 23 assists. In net, Dov Grumet-Morris has played 32 games, with a 2.27 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.
OSU VS. THE ECAC
Ohio State has an all-time record of 29-19-6 against the current teams in the Eastern College Athletic Conference; 0-2-0 vs. Brown, 6-6-1 vs. Clarkson, 3-0-2 against Colgate, 6-5-0 against Cornell, 0-0-2 vs. Dartmouth, 3-0-0 against Princeton, 0-1-1 vs. Rensselaer, 4-1-0 against St. Lawrence, 0-1-0 vs. Union, 5-1-0 vs. Vermont and 2-2-0 against Yale. OSU has not faced Harvard.
This season, the Buckeyes traveled east to face both Colgate (a 2-1 win Nov. 21) and Cornell (a 4-3 win Nov. 22). The squad also met the Big Red in the Everblades College Classic championship game, where OSU fell in overtime, 4-3.
STREAKERS
Ohio State enters the NCAA tournament on a season-high six-game winning streak. It is the longest winning streak since the 1998 team won seven in a row from Feb. 26-March 20. Just as with the current streak, the stretch started with a win over Miami at home.
THE OTHER STREAKERS
Ohio State’s winning streak is tied (with Minnesota) for the second-longest active streak in the nation. It is behind only the seven-game streaks of Maine and Harvard, who also are competing in the NCAA East Regional.
EVERYBODY IN
A record five teams from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association earned a spot in the NCAA tournament this season – Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Michigan State and Notre Dame.
THE FIVE OF THE BIG TEN
This marks the first time the five Big Ten member schools with Division I men’s hockey programs all have teams competing in the same NCAA hockey championship – Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State from the CCHA and Wisconsin and Minnesota of the WCHA.
THEY’VE BEEN THERE BEFORE
Sixteen members of the current Buckeye squad had the chance to experience the NCAA tournament last season when the squad traveled to Providence, R.I., for the East Regional. Of those 16, 11 competed in the tournament game against Boston College – Nate Guenin, Reed Whiting, Scott May, Daymen Bencharski, Rod Pelley, Chris Olsgard, Paul Caponigri, Mike Betz, Dave Steckel, JB Bittner and Doug Andress. The Buckeyes that made the trip but did not compete were Dave Caruso, Thomas Welsh, Dan Knapp, Lee Spector and Kelly Holowaty.
Last season, the Buckeyes lost to Boston College, 1-0, in the regional semifinals. BC scored the lone goal of the game shorthanded 5:56 into the game. OSU was 0-for-7 on the power play, while the Eagles were 0-for-5.
ROAD TO THE CCHA SUPER SIX TITLE
A look back at the Buckeyes’ three wins in the CCHA Super Six at Joe louis Arena in Detroit March 18-20.
THE QUARTERFINALS
The No. 4 seed Buckeyes came back from two separate two-goal deficits to beat No. 5 in Notre Dame in overtime, 6-5, March 18.
The Irish jumped out to a 2-0 lead just 6:56 into the game on unassisted goals by Rob Globke and Aaron Gill. The Buckeyes tied the game with power-play goals by Rod Pelley and Dave Steckel, before ND’s Gill ended the scoring in the period with a power-play tally to regain the lead for the Irish.
In the second, Buckeye Scott May tied the game 16 seconds into the period before ND scored back-to-back goal at 4:43 and 10:14 to regain the two-goal edge. Matt Beaudoin made the score 5-4 with a power-play goal at 16:28 of the period.
The teams skated scoreless in the third period until Beaudoin tied the game at 17:34 to send it to overtime.
In the overtime period, Tyson Strachan won the game for Ohio State, as his shot from the point got through. May won a faceoff deep in the Irish zone and got the puck back to Andrew Schembri. Schembri passed to Doug Andress, whose shot was saved, but Strachan picked up the rebound for the winner.
Ohio State outshot the Irish in the game, 49-34. OSU was 3-for-5 on the power play and stopped ND on four of five chances.
THE SEMIFINALS
The Buckeyes fought back from three one-goal deficits to beat No. 2 seed Miami in overtime, 4-3.
The RedHawks’ Mike Kompon opened the scoring with a power-play goal at the 16:36 mark of the first period. In the second, Pelley tied the game at 6:36, but Miami again took the lead when Todd Grant scored with the teams skating 4-on-4 at 15:51 of the second.
In the third, Paul Caponigri tied the game for the Buckeyes with a score at 5:28; Miami again took the lead when Kompon scored his second of the night at 9:46. Just over three minutes later, Dan Knapp knotted the scored with an unassisted goal at 12:54. Buckeye goalie Dave Caruso made some point-blank saves in the waning minutes to keep the score tied and send it to overtime.
On the first shift of the extra stanza, JB Bittner scored just 23 seconds in to give the Buckeyes the win. Caponigri passed the puck from behind the net to Bittner in front, who backhanded it in for his team-best fifth gamewinner of the season.
Ohio State outshot Miami, 28-21. OSU was scoreless on two power-play chances; MU was 1-for-2.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ohio State controlled play through the first 50 minutes of the game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, and then held on to beat No. 1 seed Michigan and win the Mason Cup March 20.
There was no scoring in the first. Ohio State dominated the play, outshooting the Wolverines, 17-5.
In the second period, OSU scored twice in a span of 1:14 with the teams skating 4-on-4 to take a 2-0 lead. Caponigri, assisted by Pelley, scored 2:50 into the period, followed by an Andress goal at 4:04 off a rebound of a Beaudoin shot. Knapp ended the scoring in the stanza with a power-play tally with just 33 seconds remaining, as he banked the puck in off the back of UM goalie Al Montoya.
Michigan pulled within one (3-2) on goals by Milan Gajic at 10:40 and Brandon Rogers at 13:06. The Wolverines pressured the Buckeye net, attempting 42 shots, but could not get the equalizer. In the period, the Buckeyes blocked 17 Michigan shots, while Caruso made 12 saves. The Wolverines pulled Montoya for the extra skater before a Buckeye was assessed a penalty with 54 seconds remaining to give UM a 6-on-4 advantage. The Buckeyes held tough and Andress put the game out of reach with a shorthanded, empty-net goal at 19:29, lifting the puck the length of the ice and into the net.
OSU outshot UM in the game, 32-28. The Buckeyes were 1-for-1 on the power play and stopped UM on all three chances.
WHAT A RELIEF
Buckeye sophomore goalie Dave Caruso came in and played the final 39:07 against Notre Dame in place of starter Mike Betz. Caruso did not allow a goal as OSU won in overtime. Caruso started both the semifinal and championship games, backstopping OSU to a 3-0-0 record and league championship to earn all-tournament accolades.
COMEBACK KIDS
The Buckeyes did not lead in regulation time of their first two CCHA Super Six games and did not have a lead in the tourney until the 2:50 mark of the second period against Michigan in the championship game. The squad came back from two two-goal deficits against Notre Dame in the semifinals and battled back from three one-goal deficits against Miami before winning both games in the first overtime. Against UM, the teams played through a scoreless first quarter before OSU took a 3-0 lead in the second.
WHEN TRAILING AFTER TWO …
The Buckeyes entered the CCHA Super Six 0-10-0 when trailing after two periods this season. The squad entered the final period of the first two tournament games down by one, but came back to win. The last time the Buckeyes came from behind to win when trailing after two was Oct. 18, 2002 at Alaska Fairbanks. The team was down 2-1 at the end of two against the Nanooks and scored five times in the third for the win.
IN OT
The Buckeyes improved to 2-2-0 this season in overtime after the CCHA Super Six Championship. The squad, one of just two in the nation (Yale is the other) to not have a tie this season, lost its first two overtime games on the year (vs. Cornell Dec. 28 and at Miami March 5) before its back-to-back wins in the CCHA Super Six.
THERE’S GOT TO BE A WINNER
Ohio State will end its season without a tie, as NCAA tournament games are played until there is a winner. It marks the eighth season with no ties in Buckeye history and the first since back-to-back such seasons in 1971 and 1972.
MOVING UP
Ohio State’s record now stands at 26-15-0. The 26 wins for the Buckeyes are tied for the third-highest total in program history. The 1984 squad had 30 wins, while the 1998 edition posted 27 victories.
WINNER
Buckeye captain JB Bittner scored the overtime gamewinner against the RedHawks in the CCHA semifinals, his team-best fifth gamewinning goal this season. In his career, nine of Bittner’s 27 goals (33 percent) have been gamewinners.
CLICKING
The line of JB Bittner, Paul Caponigri and Rod Pelley led the way for Ohio State against the RedHawks. Caponigri and Pelley each had a goal and two assists, while Bittner had two points on a goal and a helper. Bittner was a team-best and career-high +4 in the game, while his linemates were +3 each. The trio combined for the overtime gamewinner, with Bittner scoring.
A CAREER NIGHT
Buckeye sophomore Rod Pelley had a career-best two assists and three points in the win over Miami. Pelley had just one two-point game this season (Oct. 31 vs. UAF) and had three multiple-point games last season. Pelley is on a team-best four-game scoring streak.
POSTSEASON PERFORMERS
Ohio State senior Paul Caponigri is just one point shy of the Buckeyes’ all-time record for career points with 17. Rick Brebant (1985-87) is the all-time leader. Caponigri is third in career postseason goals (5) and fifth in postseason assists (10).
Senior defenseman Doug Andress has nine points this postseason to tie for second in OSU history. His 14 career points are tied for sixth.
AGAINST THE IRISH
Buckeye freshman Matt Beaudoin had a career-best two goals, two assists and four points in the win over the Irish in the CCHA quarterfinals, marking his first multiple-point game as a Buckeye. His four points in the game tied the Ohio State record for points in a playoff game, last set by David Smith March 14, 1992 in Michigan. Beaudoin’s two assists in the first period tied the Buckeye record (set nine times prior), last recorded by Paul Caponigri March 9, 2001 at Nebraska-Omaha.
THREE AND THREE
Doug Andress had two three-point games in the CCHA Super Six, marking the first three-point nights of his Buckeye career. He had a career-best three assists vs. Notre Dame and two goals and a helper vs. Michigan.
TURN IT UP
The Buckeyes entered postseason play averaging 3.11 goals a game. In five playoff games, the squad is averaging 4.4 goals scored a game.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Three of the Buckeyes’ five games in the playoffs have been decided by one goal, with the squad going 3-0 in those contests. On the year, the team is 11-6 in one-goal games.
HELPER
Buckeye senior defenseman Doug Andress is fifth in the nation in scoring among defensemen with .74 points a game. He leads the Buckeye defensemen with 32 points (his first 30-point season) and is first on the team with 27 assists.
Andress’ 27 assists are sixth all-time in OSU history among defensemen. His 89 career points rank seventh all-time in OSU history among blueliners.
KEEPING CALM
Ohio State is averaging 12.2 penalty minutes a game in the postseason, under its overall average of 18.8 minutes a game. In the last two games, the team averaged just eight minutes a game, including six in the win over Miami.
IN THE POSTSEASON
The Buckeyes are 35-49-4 all-time in postseason play, including a mark of 33-46-4 in the CCHA tournament and a 2-3-0 ledger in NCAA play.
THE COACH
Buckeye head coach John Markell is 20-16-0 all-time in postseason play and 17-13-0 all-time in the CCHA playoffs.
DOUGIE THE D-MAN
Ohio State senior Doug Andress was named the 2004 CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced at its annual awards banquet Wednesday (March 17) at Fox Theatre in Detroit.
Andress, from Iroquois Falls, Ontario, is the first Buckeye to be so honored. Michigan State players had garnered six of the last seven accolades and lead the league with seven honors since the award was implemented in 1990.
ALL THE HONORS
This season, the Buckeyes garnered eight total league player of the week honors. Goalie Mike Betz was named defensive player of the week three times, while Dave Steckel was the offensive player of the week twice. Rounding out the honorees are Nate Guenin and Sean Collins, who each earned defensive player of the week accolades, and Andrew Schembri, who was named rookie of the week.
ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS
A trio of Buckeyes were honored by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, the league announced March 13. Sophomore defenseman Nate Guenin and senior defenseman Doug Andress received honorable mention All-CCHA accolades. Buckeye freshman Andrew Schembri earned 2004 CCHA All-Rookie Team Honorable Mention honors.
Buckeye senior forwards Scott May, Paul Caponigri and Dave Steckel, sophomore forward Dan Knapp and senior goalie Mike Betz also received votes for All-CCHA honors.
THE ACCOLADES KEEP COMING
Sophomore defenseman Nate Guenin, a native of Aliquippa, Pa., was named to the 2004 Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team, the league announced Tuesday. Guenin is the first sophomore to be honored since Bowling Green’s Brian Holzinger in 1993; Guenin is the only non-senior and the only defenseman on the 2004 squad. Buckeye senior defenseman Reed Whiting (Rochester, Minn.) and junior defenseman Thomas Welsh (Regina, Saskatchewan) received special mention honors.
Guenin, who has not yet declared a major, is an alternate captain for the Buckeyes this season. He has 15 assists and 17 points on the year, as well as a +13 rating, despite being limited to 29 games because of injury. Guenin was named an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete last season and also received CCHA All-Rookie Team Honorable Mention accolades. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 2002.
The all-academic team is voted on by the league’s faculty representatives. To be eligible for consideration, a player must have completed at least one academic year, have a 3.00 grade-point average on a 4.00 scale and be a letterwinner for the 2003-04 season. The six top vote getters (including ties), regardless of position, are named to the all-academic team with others who receive votes earning honorable mention. All players who are nominated receive special mention.
Guenin’s selection to the all-academic team gives the Buckeyes a first-team honoree for the third consecutive season. Scott Titus was honored in 2003 and Miguel Lafleche was named to the team in 2002. The Buckeyes have had at least one student-athlete earn CCHA All-Academic honorable mention accolades or better for nine consecutive seasons.
ADD ANOTHER TO THE LIST
Senior goalie Mike Betz made 24 saves in the win over the RedHawks March 5 to become Ohio State’s all-time leader in career saves, breaking Dan Stergiou’s record of 3,261, set from 1973-76. Betz now owns OSU’s records for career goalie wins (73), career saves (3,328), career shutouts (11), shutouts in a season (5) and season goals-against average (2.24).
THEY’RE IN
Seniors Scott May and Doug Andress moved into second place in OSU history with 160 games played each in their Buckeye careers. The duo will end their career in that spot, as the all-time leader, Mark Anderson, played in seven more games in his career and Ohio State has no more than four games remaining.
May and Andress each have missed one game in their Buckeye career. Andress has played a team-best 147 consecutive games.
IT’S A TEAM GAME
This season, all but one Buckeye skater has a goal on the year, while every Buckeye (including the goalies) who has played in more than one game has at least one point.
BALANCE
Five Buckeyes have at least 30 points this season, three others have at least 20 points on the year and six Buckeyes have 10 or more points.
30 X 30 X 30 (X 30)
Paul Caponigri had an assist in the loss to Miami March 5 to give him 30 points on the year. He is the only Buckeye with at least 30 points in each of the last four seasons. Caponigri leads the Buckeyes with a career-best 39 points on the year.
Senior Scott May has 33 points this season, marking his third consecutive 30-point season.
THREE FOR THREE
The win over Western Michigan Saturday, Feb. 21 gave the Buckeyes 20 victories on the year, marking their third consecutive 20-win season. It is the first time Ohio State has had three 20-win years in a row since 1979-81. OSU has five 20-win seasons under ninth-year head coach John Markell.
SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY …
The Buckeyes are 17-3-0 on Saturday this season and 7-11-0 on Friday. On Sunday, Ohio State is 0-1-0, the team is 1-0-0 on Tuesday and 1-0-0 on Thursday.
AFTER A LOSS
The Buckeyes are 12-3-0 following a loss this season. The squad has not lost more than two games in a row on the year.
A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME
The Buckeyes are 15-1-0 when leading after one period this season. Last year, the squad was 15-1-2 when leading after the opening stanza.
WHAT A CLUSTER
The members of the Buckeyes’ 2004 CCHA scheduling cluster – Ohio State, Miami, Michigan and Michigan State – ended the year holding down the Top 4 spots in the CCHA final standings and all advanced to the CCHA Super Six. Michigan was first, followed by the RedHawks, Spartans and Buckeyes. The teams in each CCHA scheduling cluster face each other four times each (twice at home and twice on the road) and face the other league teams twice.
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.
GET OUT YOUR HATS
After going 129 games and almost three whole years without a hat trick, the Buckeyes have had two players record three goals in a game this season. Paul Caponigri ended the streak with a hat trick at Northern Michigan Nov. 8, while Dan Knapp scored three times at Ferris State Feb. 7.
THE STREAK IS OVER
The loss at Western Michigan Feb. 20 marked the first time in 53 games the Buckeyes lost when leading after two periods; the squad was 49-0-4 in the situation in the last two-plus years. The team’s last loss when leading after two was March 11, 2001 at Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
A MARK TO HIT
The Buckeyes have been outstanding when scoring at least three goals this season, going 24-2-0. The squad is 5-2 when scoring three times, 9-0 when tallying four times, 6-0 when scoring five goals and 4-0 when posting six or more.
When scoring less than three times, OSU is 2-14-0; 0-2 when being shutout, 1-3 when scoring once and 1-9 when posting two goals.
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.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Junior JB Bittner is serving as the Buckeyes’ captain this season. He is the first Buckeye to be captain as a junior since Andre Signoretti in 1999-00. The alternate captains for the 2003-04 squad are seniors Chris Olsgard and Dave Steckel and sophomore Nate Guenin.
ON THE PLUS SIDE
Buckeye senior forward Paul Caponigri is a team-best +21, followed by senior defenseman Doug Andress at +17. In all, 18 Buckeye are even or better on the year, including six who are +10 or better.
AN EXPERIENCED BUNCH
The Buckeye roster contains nine seniors – forwards Daymen Bencharski, Paul Caponigri, Scott May, Chris Olsgard and Dave Steckel, defensemen Doug Andress and Reed Whiting and goalies Mike Betz and Kelly Holowaty. The group has combined for 85 wins in the last four seasons.
HELP THE CHILDREN
Ohio State senior goalie Mike Betz and the team will be holding a fundraising dinner at The Top Steakhouse April 18 to raise money for the Siouxland Tanzania Educational and Medical Ministries (STEMM). Members of the team will serve as waiters, with their tips going to the cause, and live and silent auctions will be held. For more information, call the OSU hockey office at 614-292-0820. Last year, the event raised more than $9,000. Betz and STEMM used part of the money this past summer to renovate an orphanage. In addition, the group built classrooms for elementary schools and was involved with HIV/AIDS education.
