Chat Live With Goalie Mike Betz and Forward Chris Olsgard – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
Buckeye men’s hockey seniors goalie Mike Betz and forward Chris Olsgard accepted and answered questions from fans in an online chat session at noon EST Tuesday at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Betz, an Elizabeth, Pa., native, will end his Buckeye career as Ohio State’s all-time leader in career goalie wins, saves and shutouts. He was the 2003 CCHA Goaltender of the Year and a second-team all-league selection, as well as the 2003 CCHA Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award winner. Olsgard, from Seattle, Wash., and an alternate captain for the squad this season, has seen action in almost 140 games as a Buckeye, posting over 30 points. Betz, Olsgard and the No. 11-ranked Buckeyes will play host to Bowling Green in a best-of-three series in the first round of the CCHA playoffs Friday-Sunday in Value City Arena. Ohio State is the No. 4 seed in the tournament, while the Falcons are the No. 9 seed. |
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| Bob(Toronto): Being from Canada we don’t have that good of universty teams. How is the atmosphere diffrent from the nhl if it is? | ||
| Chris: Well I’ve never played in the NHL so I dont really know what that’s like, but they treat us great here | ||
| Aliquippa: How will the loss of defensemen Nate Guenin affect the Buckeyes in the opening round of the playoffs against Bowling Green ? | ||
| Mike: Nate is a great d-man not to mention an incredible leader so it has been a tough adjustment without him, but we’re starting to get used to playing in his absence | ||
| Lee Mendelson (lahti, Finland): What has it been like for you two to be teammates for 6 consecutive seasons(2 years Junior + 4 Years NCAA? | ||
| Mike: To be honest i’m pretty sick of the kid by now, thank God I won’t have to put up with him next year | ||
| Chris: ditto here | ||
| Mike: fine i hate you | ||
| Chris: me too | ||
| Mike: No for real it was great to come to OSU knowing someone for two years already and we’ve only become closer over the years | ||
| Emme (Ohio State): Who has been the biggest influence on the success of your collegiate hockey career? Who has always pushed you to strive for more? | ||
| Mike: For me it has been my junior coaches Dave Hakstol (UND) Todd Jones (UAF) and Leigh Mendleson (Finn) those guys always got the best out of me. Also Steve Brent has always been there for me throughout my college career | ||
| Steve (Lewis Center): Your team swept the Falcons earlier this season … what will it take this weekend to continue the success against BGSU? | ||
| Chris: We tend to look at the playoffs as a whole new season…and therefore dont reflect too heavily on our past series. | ||
| Oak Park: Chris how are you adjusting to playing with an offensive minded player in Caponigri? | ||
| Chris: Apparently not so well since I’ve got zero points since he’s been on MY line | ||
| Ed (Seattle): Chris, You have a sweet skating stride, i was wondering if you took lessons or it is just natural. | ||
| Chris: Learned it from good old pops…hi dad | ||
| Herb Howenstine (Lewisville, TX): Just wanted to congratulate you guys on a great season to date. After all the off-season changes you went through, and some during the season … I was very proud of the way you all hung together and got the job done. Tell the rest of the boys ‘well done’ and now crank it up a notch for the post season. Make your last few games the ones you’ll always remember. I’ll be following your progress on- line. All the best and Go Bucks! The former Voice of the Hockeye Buckeyes! | ||
| Mike: Thanks Herb, its been great having us with you all these years. Good Luck to you. | ||
| Mike (Columbus): Who do you guys consider your biggest rival to be? | ||
| Mike: I’d have to say Miami, just because of the geographical situation | ||
| Jeff (Marion): What do you guys plan to do after college? | ||
| Mike: I’m not sure yet, maybe play hockey somewhere but everything is up in the air with the NHL CBA expiring | ||
| Casey Todt (West Portsmouth, OH): Ok, i want to start off by saying, you both are AWESOME! I go to most of the games and love them! I just wondered what it was like taking the ice to “Buckeye Battle Cry” and if you have had a favorite moment at Value City Arena? | ||
| Chris: I’d have to say my favorite moment was this past Saturday beating Miami with a minute left | ||
| Thomas Jefferson: Mike, you have been a really inspiration to my son, Chuck, I was wondering if you were doing any hockey schools back home, also give any lessons on mental preparation? | ||
| Mike: I dont think I’ll be home this summer, but I think RJ Umberger, JB Bittner, and Nate Guenin are holding a camp in Pittsburgh this summer | ||
| Eric: Do either of you plan to take your hockey career to the next level? | ||
| Chris: I’d love to but we’ll see if its in the cards | ||
| Larry Clifton (PA): we understand you guys like to take the freshmen under your wings. I got a chance to talk to Bryce Anderson and he said especially Chris has been a driving force with his resurgent play late this season. How does that make you feel? | ||
| Chris: Larry, I’m proud to have someone follow so closely in my footsteps in every aspect of my game | ||
| Kevin, Plain City: Hockey is definitely a growing sport in Columbus. Do you think the crowd has grown since you started playing at Ohio State? | ||
| Mike: I think it has, since the bluejackets have come to town it seems the sport has been taking off. Lets hope the trend continues. | ||
| Brad (Columbus): Why did you choose Ohio State and what has been your best experience here? | ||
| Mike: I came here for an opportunity to win something, and am looking forward to this years playoffs as a chance to really fulfill my dreams | ||
| bill – juneau: do you have any pregame rituals to get ready for a game? | ||
| Mike: Sorry Bill no superstitions here, but I prepare myself mentally every game by visualizing the saves I’m going to make | ||
| Chris: I try to get psyched up by wrestling with some of the guys, usually bittner or may , but they always get hurt and we have to stop | ||
| Pittsburgh: Whats the best part about being a buckeye? | ||
| Chris: Tradition | ||
| Madison (Westerville, Ohio): Mike – How does it feel to end your career owning almost every Buckeye goaltending record? | ||
| Chris: No clue | ||
| Mike: They’re nice accomplishments, but I’d trade them all for a shot at the ccha championship. All my records will fall someday, but the memories from winning a championship can never die. | ||
| U. Arling.: I noticed the line of Shembri, Knapp, and May have picked things up in the second half what do you think this is because and why were they not together earlier | ||
| Mike: They do have great chemistry together, but it has only been recently that they have started to click as a unit. Sometimes line combinations take time to develop. | ||
| Heather (Nashville): How did both of you get involved in hockey? How old were you guys when you started playing hockey? | ||
| Mike: My dad would always take me to Penguin games so the natural progression was to enroll in skating lessons, then on to full-fledged hockey | ||
| Chris: I grew up in Canada and if you didnt play hockey you usually got beat up…i dont like getting beat up so I play hockey | ||
| Dayton: Mike, You must have to be pretty flexible to make all those great saves. Just wondering, who taught you how to do those splits? | ||
| Mike: When I was young my sister was in gymnastics so I’d have flexibility with her. | ||
| Dayton: Mike, Have you ever considered playing for the Dayton Bombers? We could use a great goalie like you! | ||
| Mike: I’d love to play for a great team like Dayton, plus my loving sister lives there and I’m sure she wont mind giving me a place to stay. | ||
| dublin: The training staff must be really involved, who is your favorite trainer and why? | ||
| Chris: I’d have to say Dave Huber because of his gentle touch | ||
| Ben (Pittsburgh): What legacy do you want to leave as a Buckeye, both on the ice and off? | ||
| Mike: Just that I’ve given everything I have to this program and did everything in my power to help this team win. | ||
| Jim (Franklin): Thanks for your efforts over the last several years guys. How do you two, and the team in general, explain the Friday/Saturday disparity this year? Good luck with BG. | ||
| Chris: Its been a little confusing to us too. We’ve been trying to pull out of it all year, and I’m sure we’ll turn things around for the playoffs. | ||
| Marge (Marysville): You two both seem like great guys. And I would have to say Ohio State was very fortunate to have the two of you play for them! | ||
| Mike: Thanks Marge, its been great being here and having such wonderful support from people like yourself. | ||
| Andrea (Worthington): Mike, you are truly an amazing goalie. how do you stay focused on the task at hand? and how does it feel to hold so many records? | ||
| Mike: Thanks Andrea. Staying focused isnt as tough as having confidence in yourself game in and game out. Its a tough job, but I wouldnt want to be in any other position. | ||
| Chris: Thanks for all of the great questions. We’d love to stay and talk some more, but practice is calling. | ||
| Mike: Hope we’ll see everyone at the games this weekend vs. Bowling Green. Go Bucks!!! | ||
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