Men’s Hockey Welcomes Teams to Value City Arena for Ohio Hockey Classic this Weekend – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Ohio Hockey Classic
Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 29
Miami vs. St. Cloud State, 6:05 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Harvard, 9:05 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 30
Harvard vs. Miami or SCSU, 5:05 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Miami or SCSU, 8:05 p.m.
The Series
Ohio State vs. Harvard – First Meeting
Ohio State vs. Miami – Ohio State leads 56-53-10
Ohio State vs. St. Cloud State – Ohio State trails 0-1-0
Buckeye Bullets
Ohio State is 4-0-2 all-time in the Ohio Hockey Classic but has just one tournament title to its credit. The team lost in shootouts following regulation and a 5-minute overtime period in the first two years of the tournament.
Senior Tom Fritsche had a goal and an assist in Ohio State’s last series and now has 99 career points as a Buckeye. He is looking to become the first Buckeye with 100 points since 2004.
Buckeye sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer will miss the Ohio Hockey Classic and the team’s series with Alaska Jan. 4-5 while with the U.S. Junior National Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.
Three of the Buckeyes’ last four games have gone to overtime, with Ohio State going 1-1-1 in the three contests combined.
Senior Tommy Goebel has a team-best 10 goals this season. He has seven power-play tallies to tie for third nationally and in the CCHA. It is the most power-play goals for a Buckeye in a single season since Mathieu Beaudoin had 14 and Rod Pelley had 13 in 2005.
Faceoff
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State men’s hockey team will play host to the fourth-annual Ohio Hockey Classic in Value City Arena this weekend. The 2007 edition of the tournament includes the host Buckeyes, No. 1-ranked Miami, No. 15 Harvard and No. 16 St. Cloud State.
On the opening day of the tournament Saturday, the RedHawks and Huskies will meet at 6:05 p.m., followed by a matchup between the Buckeyes and Crimson at 9:05 p.m.
On day two, championship and consolation games will be played, with the winners and losers facing off. Ohio State will play either Miami or St. Cloud in the late game at 8:05 p.m., preceded by a matchup between Harvard and either MU or SCSU at 5:05 p.m.
The Broadcast
WOSU Radio (820 AM Columbus, wosu.org) will carry both of the Buckeyes’ games this weekend in the Ohio Hockey Classic. Neil Sika (play-by-play) and former Buckeye Luke Pavlas (analysis) will call the action.
Live stats from all four tournament games can be accessed from the men’s hockey schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
Buckeye Brief
Overall, the Buckeyes are 5-13-2 and 2-9-1 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action this season. The team is averaging 2.2 goals a game, while allowing 3.3.
The Buckeyes have converted 15.1 percent of their power-play chances (16-106) and have at least one power-play goal in each of the last three games. The team has stopped 81.4 percent of its opponents’ chances (83-102).
Senior Tommy Goebel leads the Buckeye offense this year. He has a team-best 10 goals and 16 points. Goebel also has a career-best seven power-play goals, tying for third nationally. Classmate Tom Fritsche has a team-high eight assists and ranks second with 11 points. Freshman Sergio Somma is second with six goals, while senior Matt McIlvane and freshman John Albert are tied for second with seven assists each.
In net, sophomore Joseph Palmer started 19 of the team’s first 20 games, with a 3.22 goals-against average and .887 save percentage. Palmer is unavailable to the team this weekend, however, as he was selected to the prestigious U.S. National Junior Team and is in the Czech Republic competing for Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship through Jan. 5. Freshman Dustin Carlson has one start this season and sophomore Nick Filion saw time in relief in one game.
Last Time Out
The Buckeyes last played Dec. 14-15, when they traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, for a two-game series with the Alaska Nanooks. The Buckeyes were 0-1-1 in the series, with a 2-1 overtime loss and 2-2 tie.
In the series opener, the Buckeyes took a 1-0 lead early in the second period on Sergio Somma’s power-play tally. Alaska tied the game with a goal with just 47 seconds remaining in the middle period. The score remained tied until the Nanooks’ Jeff Penner scored at 4:21 of overtime, less than a minute after the Buckeyes had a goal disallowed.
In the second contest, the Buckeyes came back from two goals down to tie the game.
Alaska took a two-goal lead with two power-play goals, scoring at 17:39 of the first and 14:54 of the second. The Buckeyes got on the board at 18:08 of the second when Tom Fritsche tallied. Tommy Goebel tied the game with 5:03 remaining, scoring on the power play. The Buckeyes had the only four shots on goal of overtime, but were unable to get the gamewinner past Alaska goalie Wylie Rogers.
A New Home
For the first time in its four-year history, the Ohio Hockey Classic will be held on the Ohio State campus in Value City Arena. The tournament was held at Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, in downtown Columbus, the first three years. Because of a scheduling conflict with the major-league team, the tournament was moved to the Buckeyes’ home rink.
History Lesson
A different team has won the Ohio Hockey Classic each of the first three years. Colorado College won the inaugural event with a shootout victory over Ohio State in 2004. Miami was the tournament’s champion in 2005, defeating the Buckeyes in a shootout after the teams finished regulation and a 5-minute overtime tied at 1. Last season, Ohio State defeated the RedHawks, 5-3, to claim its first tournament crown.
Ohio State and Miami both have participated in the tournament all four years of its existence.
OSU in the OHC
Ohio State is 4-0-2 all-time in the Ohio Hockey Classic, but lost in a shootout each of the first two seasons.
In the first tournament in 2004, Ohio State downed Minnesota State, 5-1, before losing to Colorado College in a shootout after the teams tied in regulation and a 5-minute overtime period, 2-1.
In 2005, the Buckeyes beat Holy Cross, 4-0, in the first round. In the championship game, the Buckeyes and Miami tied through regulation and OT before the RedHawks won the title in a shootout.
Last year, Ohio State defeated Minnesota Duluth, 4-1, and Miami, 5-3, to claim its first OHC crown.
Buckeyes in the OHC
Buckeye senior defensemen Johann Kroll and Kyle Hood are the only two Ohio State players who have appeared in all six Ohio Hockey Classic games to date.
Senior Tom Fritsche, a two-time all-tournament team selection (2004, 06), leads the Buckeyes with five assists and six points in OHC play.
Senior Tommy Goebel had three assists in the two games combined last season to earn all-tournament team honors in his first appearance in the tourney. Goalie Joseph Palmer posted two wins and had a 2.00 goals-against average a year ago to also earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
Well Represented
Three of the six collegiate hockey conferences are represented this weekend. Ohio State and Miami both compete in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, Harvard is a member of the ECAC Hockey League and St. Cloud State skates in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
This is the second time three leagues are in the tournament, joining 2005 when the CCHA, ECAC and Atlantic Hockey all had teams in the tourney. Last year, three CCHA teams (Ohio State, Miami, Bowling Green) were joined by WCHA-school Minnesota Duluth.
Nice to Meet You
Harvard is one of 10 current Division I teams Ohio State had never faced entering the season. The Buckeyes met Robert Morris for the first time in program history Nov. 16/18 and will face Harvard Saturday.
The other programs Ohio State has never faced are American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, Bemidji State and Northeastern.
Busy Days in VCA
The Ohio State men’s basketball team kicks off a triple-header in Value City Arena Saturday when the Buckeyes host UMBC at 11 a.m. The Ohio Hockey Classic follows with games at 6:05 and 9:05 p.m.
The arena conversion crew is keeping busy, changing the floor from the basketball court to ice Thursday night before changing it back for hoops after the OHC participants practice Friday. After the basketball game Saturday morning, the crew will get right back to action to get the ice uncovered for the hockey tournament.
Post Holiday Fun
This marks the 10th-consecutive season the Buckeyes are participating in a December tournament. The stretch began with an appearance in the 1998 Mariucci Classic at Minnesota, followed by the Vermont Hockey Classic in 1999. The Buckeyes participated in the Florida Everblades College Classic for three years (2000-03) before hosting the Ohio Hockey Classic the last four years.
The Buckeyes are 8-4-3 in those tournament games combined.
The Goal Story
On offense, the Buckeyes have improved over the past 10 games, averaging 2.8 goals a game and scoring two or more goals in all but one contest. The squad is averaging just 2.2 goals a game on the year, which includes a stretch of 10 games where they scored more than two goals just once.
The Man with the Man Advantage
Senior Tommy Goebel has a team-high and career-best seven power-play goals this season to tie for third nationally and in the CCHA. Goebel’s previous high for power-play goals in a season was four, set as a freshman at Michigan State in 2003-04. Last season, four Buckeyes shared the team lead with four power-play goals on the year (37 games).
Goebel has nearly half of the Buckeyes’ 16 power-play tallies this season. He has five PPG in the last nine games.
Goebel enters the Ohio Hockey Classic on a four-game scoring streak (3-1-4).
Bonus Hockey
Three of the Buckeyes’ last four games have gone to overtime. The team beat St. Lawrence, 3-2, Dec. 7, for its first overtime win since March 13, 2005 (5-4 vs. Ferris State in the first round of the CCHA playoffs).
The team then went to overtime in both games with Alaska Dec. 14-15, with a 3-2 OT loss and 2-2 OT tie. It was the first time Ohio State had two games of a regular-season series go to overtime since tying Michigan in back-to-back games
March 7-8, 2003 (4-4, 3-3).
The Buckeyes are 1-1-2 in overtime this season.
Albert’s Assists
Freshman forward John Albert had an assist in each game vs. Alaska. It was the first time he had assists in back-to-back games since the first two games of the season.
Albert leads all Buckeye freshmen with seven assists and is second on the team in helpers. He is tied with Sergio Somma (7-1-8) and Peter Boyd (4-4-8) for the rookie lead in points.
So Close
Senior Tom Fritsche enters the Ohio Hockey Classic with 99 career points, on 30 goals and 69 assists in 117 career games. He is looking to become the first Buckeye to hit the 100-point mark since Paul Caponigri, Scott May and Dave Steckel all eclipsed 100 points in the 2003-04 campaign. All-time, 50 Buckeyes have posted 100 or more points.
Fritsche is first for the Buckeyes this season with eight assists and ranks second with 11 points.
Oh So Close
Senior Tommy Goebel is just five points away from his 100th collegiate point. Goebel had 53 points, including 21 goals and 32 assists, at Michigan State in his first two collegiate seasons. He now has 42 points as a Buckeye, with 22 goals and 20 helpers.
Somma Scores
Freshman Sergio Somma, who ranks second on the team with seven goals, has a point in five of his last six and six of his last nine games. After scoring in the second game of the year vs. Wisconsin, Somma went through a nine-game scoreless streak. He now has six goals and eight points on the year to tie for third on the squad.
He’s Back
Senior defenseman Johann Kroll returned to the lineup in the series vs. Alaska after missing six games with an injury. Those games marked the first games he did not play in as a Buckeye and ended his streak of consecutive games played at 130. He now ranks second on the team in games played with 132, behind classmate Matt McIlvane (135).
Chipping In
Twenty-three Buckeyes (every skater who has played this season, along with goalie Joseph Palmer) have at least one point this season, with 16 scoring a goal and 21 having an assist. Fourteen Buckeyes have at least one goal and one assist this year.
Steady
Six Buckeyes, including three freshmen, have played in all 20 games this season. Seniors Matt McIlvane, Jason DeSantis and John Dingle have appeared in every game, along with rookies John Albert, Peter Boyd and Sergio Somma.
Palmer and the WJC
Sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer will miss the Ohio Hockey Classic because he is with the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team that is currently competing in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. The tournament, which features the best players in the world under age 20, began Wednesday and runs through Jan. 5 in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic.
Live audio for all games is available online at usahockey.com.
Palmer and Team USA opened play with a win in an exhibition game at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich., Dec. 18. The team then lost to the Czech team in an exhibition.
Team USA opened tournament play vs. Kazakhstan Wednesday with a 5-1 victory and followed with a 4-2 victory over Switzerland Friday. The team will meet Russia Saturday and Finland Monday. The quarterfinals will be next Wednesday, followed by the semifinals Jan. 4 and the gold/bronze medal games Jan. 5.
Palmer is the fifth Buckeye but first goalie to be named to the U.S. National Junior Team, joining current senior Tom Fritsche (2006) and former Buckeyes Ryan Kesler (2003, ’04), Dave Steckel (2001, ’02) and R.J. Umberger (2001, ’02).
Finishing Up
Former Buckeye Mike McCormick (1999-02) returned to campus this quarter to complete his undergraduate degree. McCormick, who has been playing in Germany since completing his eligibility at Ohio State, worked with the Student-Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO) and its degree completion program to wrap up his requirements. He took 20 credit hours and worked in SASSO each week to earn his sociology degree. He walked in commencement ceremonies Dec. 9 in St. John Arena.
Save!
Sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer tied his career best with 39 saves at Alaska Dec. 14 in a 2-1 overtime loss. It matched the total he had at Michigan State Dec. 2, 2006. He had a 1.87 goals-against average and .940 save percentage vs. the Nanooks.
The Bells are Ringing
Members of the hockey team took turns volunteering as Salvation Army bell ringers at two Columbus grocery stores Dec. 10. From noon-6 p.m., the Buckeyes rang bells and collected donations in the traditional red kettles. Donations are used each holiday season to provide food, clothing and toys for families in need.
Photos from the day can be found on the men’s hockey page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
The Young Ones
For the seventh-consecutive game, the Buckeyes dressed 10 freshmen skaters, including three defensemen, at Alaska Dec. 15. The team has had nine rookie skaters play in eight games this season and dressed eight freshmen in four other contests.
So far this season, 13 Buckeye freshmen have seen game action, with 12 skaters and one goalie. Each rookie forward and defenseman that has played has at least one point. Forwards Peter Boyd Sergio Somma and John Albert share the rookie lead with eight points each. Somma is first among the freshmen with six goals and Albert has seven assists to lead all first-year players. Boyd has four goals and four assists for Ohio State.
Wearing the Scarlet & Gray
Buckeye senior captain Matt McIlvane has played in a current team-high 135 career games.
Four other Buckeyes have played in more than 100 career games – Johann Kroll (132), Jason DeSantis (123), Kyle Hood (120) and Tom Fritsche (117). Tommy Goebel has played in 127 collegiate games, with 76 at Michigan State and 51 at Ohio State.
Sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer has played in 53 career games, followed by junior Corey Ekins (51) and Goebel (51). Sophomore Mathieu Picard played in his 50th career game vs. Alaska Dec. 15. Zach Pelletier, who is out with an injury, has played in exactly 50 games for the Scarlet and Gray.
No other Buckeye has played more than 24 games in his Ohio State career.
We’re On the Air
Nov. 26 marked the debut of Buckeye Hockey Weekly, head coach John Markell’s weekly radio show, for 2007-08. The show is broadcast on 1460 AM in Columbus and online at 1460thefan.com. The show will return Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. It will then run from 8-8:30 p.m. on Mondays for seven-consecutive weeks beginning Jan. 14. More shows may be added depending on the Buckeyes’ postseason schedule.
In the Bigs
R.J. Umberger, a member of the Philadelphia Flyers this season, has played in 33 games and has six goals and 18 assists for 24 points. A Buckeye from 2001-03, he has seen action in 187 career NHL games and has 42 goals, 48 assists and 90 points.
Former Buckeye and current Washington Capital Dave Steckel, who played for the Buckeyes from 2001-04, has played in 50 career NHL games, including 38 this season. He has six points, including three goals and three assists, this season with all three goals coming against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rod Pelley, a Buckeye from 2003-06, and a member of the New Jersey Devils this season, now has five points, on two goals and three assists, in 36 games this season. He played nine games for the Devils last season.
Ryan Kesler, the fourth former Buckeye currently in the NHL, has 9-9-18 totals in 36 games for the Vancouver Canucks this season. A Buckeye in 2003, he has played in 194 career games in the NHL, with 27 goals, 35 assists and 62 points.
Nate Guenin, who played at Ohio State from 2003-06, has spent time with both the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and Phantoms (AHL) this season. He has played in two NHL games this year after playing in nine a season ago.
Former Buckeyes Scott May (Binghamton Senators) and Sean Collins (Hershey Bears) also are playing in the AHL.
Starting Off Right
Four Buckeyes had points in their first collegiate games – Peter Boyd (goal) and John Albert (assist) vs. Mercyhurst Oct. 12, Patrick Schafer (goal) against Wisconsin Oct. 13 and Todd Rudasill (two goals) vs. Ferris State Nov. 2. They were the first Buckeye freshmen to score points in their first collegiate games since NHL first-round draft picks R.J. Umberger had a goal and two assists and Dave Steckel had two goals at Northern Michigan Oct. 13, 2000.
The Year that Was
Ohio State was 15-17-5 last year and finished seventh in the CCHA with a 12-12-4 mark.
The squad returned 12 letterwinners. Senior Tommy Goebel is the leading returning scorer, posting 26 points last year and ranking second on the squad with 12 goals. Senior defenseman Jason DeSantis was second among blueliners last season with a career-best 25 points, including a team-high 20 assists.
The Buckeye State
Nine Buckeyes hail from the state of Ohio, including the first three Central Ohio products in head coach John Markell’s tenure in Patrick Schafer of Hilliard, Todd Rudasill of Columbus (Powell) and Ryan Markell of Pickerington. Three Buckeyes are from Parma (Tom Fritsche, Nick Biondo, Tommy Goebel), along with John Albert from Concord, John Dingle from Shaker Heights and Chris Reed from Solon.
I Feel a Draft
On the Buckeyes’ 2007-08 roster, six players are NHL draft picks, including seniors Tom Fritsche (Colorado 2005) and Matt McIlvane (Ottawa 2004), sophomore Joseph Palmer (Chicago 2006) and freshmen John Albert (Atlanta 2007), C.J. Severyn (Calgary 2007) and Shane Sims (New York Islanders 2006).
Break it Down
The Ohio State roster for 2007-08 includes nine seniors and 14 freshmen, along with just two juniors and three sophomores. The 14 freshmen mark the biggest rookie class for the Buckeyes since the 1992-93 squad opened the year with 13 freshmen. Head coach John Markell has opened a season with 11 freshmen three times (1996, 2000, 2004).
Up Next
The Buckeyes will remain at home for five-consecutive games, including four CCHA contests. The team will host Alaska Jan. 4-5 before an exhibition game with the U.S. National Under-18 Team Jan. 11. Ohio State then hosts Michigan State Jan. 18-19 before a road trip to Lake Superior State Jan. 25-26.
