Men’s Hockey: Biondo’s Two Points Lead Buckeyes to 3-2 Win over U.S. National Under-18 Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio Led by a goal and assist from junior defenseman Nick Biondo, the Ohio State men’s hockey team posted a 3-2 victory over the U.S. National Under-18 Team in an exhibition game Friday in Value City Arena.
The Buckeyes will be back in regular-season action with a two-game series against Central Collegiate Hockey Association foe and defending national champion Michigan State next weekend. The teams will meet in Value City Arena Jan. 18-19.
The Buckeyes got out to a quick start when senior John Dingle scored from in close after taking a pass from freshman Brad Gorham. Biondo, from Parma, Ohio, also assisted on the goal, which came at 2:02. Freshman Sergio Somma then put the Buckeyes up by two, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play at 9:15, scoring off a cross-crease pass from classmate Patrick Schafer, with another rookie, Chris Reed, also assisting on the goal. The Buckeyes outshot the Under-18 Team, 9-7, in the period, and stopped all three power-play chances. OSU was 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
The teams did not score in the second period, with Ohio State putting 14 shots on net. Buckeye freshman goalie Dustin Carlson stopped all eight shots he faced. OSU was 0-for-1 on the power play and the Under-18 squad was scoreless on two chances.
Jeremy Morin put the U-18 Team on the board with an unassisted goal at 9:34 of the third. Biondo scored the eventual gamewinner at 16:59, when freshman John Albert found him in the slot with the Buckeyes on the power play. Rookie Todd Rudasill, who passed to Albert down low, had the second assist on the tally. The Under-18 Team again cut the lead to one on Ryan Bourque’s tally at 18:03. While on the power play, Team USA pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, setting up Bourque’s score. The Buckeyes put 12 shots on net in the period, while the U-18 Team had 10.
The Buckeyes outshot the Under-18 Team, 35-25, in the game. Carlson had 23 stops in 59:52 in net. Joe Cannata had 32 saves in 58:33 between the pipes.
Ohio State stopped Team USA on 6-of-7 chances, while converting 2-of-5 chances.
Postgame Notes
Five current Buckeyes played for the Under-18 Team seniors Jason DeSantis and Tom Fritsche, sophomore Joseph Palmer and freshmen John Albert and C.J. Severyn. The team is part of the U.S. National Team Development Program, created to prepare players for international competition and the next levels of hockey.
Ohio State is 1-1 all-time vs. the Under-18 Team.
U-18 defenseman Steven West signed an NCAA National Letter of Intent with Ohio State in November to enroll in the school and play for the Buckeyes beginning in the fall.
Statistics from the game do not count in the Buckeyes’ season statistics.
Postgame Quotes
John Markell, Ohio State head coach
On the game
“I thought that in the first we executed well, especially in that 5-on-3. They may have been a little flat from traveling, so we had some opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn’t take advantage of all of them and we let them hang around. We didn’t have the consistency we’re looking for yet but we’re a young team.”
On the youth on the ice
“We had 13 freshmen playing so we knew we would make some mistakes just as long as they weren’t effort mistakes. I’ve never played that many freshman but it was good to get some guys ice time and be able to get them on film and let them know what to do better.”
John Albert, Ohio State freshman forward
On playing against his former team
“It was fun. I called a couple kids from the team and talked to them. They’re a tough team and it was a good battle. It was such a good experience being there and when I look back over the last two years I can appreciate how far I’ve come.”
John Hynes, U.S. National Under-18 Team head coach
On his team
“The players had a pretty strong desire to get their legs under them in the third and get back in the game.”
On playing CCHA teams
“It is challenging for the guys at times because of the physical play. They have to make fast choices when playing college hockey because it’s a more systematic style. It is a test for us physically and mentally. We usually have pretty good success against our league after playing college teams.”
Hockey Game Box Score (Final)
Ohio State Men’s Hockey 2007-08
U.S. Under-18 Team vs Ohio State (Jan 11, 2008 at Columbus, Ohio)
U.S. Under-18 Team vs. Ohio State
Date: Jan 11, 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Arena: Value City Arena
Attendance:2012 Start time:7:05 pm End time:9:13 pm Total time:2:08
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
———————————-
U.S. Under-18 Team.. 0 0 2 – 2
Ohio State………. 2 0 1 – 3
1st period – 1, OSU, John Dingle (Brad Gorham, Nick Biondo) 2:02.
2, OSU, Sergio Somma (Patrick Schafer, Chris Reed) 9:15 (pp).
Penalties – Johann Kroll, OSU (cross-checking) 3:26; Ryan Hegarty,
NTDP (checking from behind) 7:56; Patrick Gaul, NTDP (checking from
behind) 8:46; C.J. Severyn, OSU (cth roughing atw) 11:16; Chris Reed,
OSU (interference) 15:28; Nick Biondo, OSU (cth roughing) 19:06.
2nd period – Penalties – Kevin McCarey, NTDP (hooking) 2:41;
Mathieu Picard, OSU (hooking) 10:36; Brad Gorham, OSU (hooking) 18:58;
Patrick Gaul, NTDP (roughing atw) 19:51; Mathieu Picard, OSU (roughing
atw) 19:51; Kevin McCarey, NTDP (roughing atw) 19:51; Shane Sims, OSU
(roughing atw) 19:51.
3rd period – 3, NTDP, Jeremy Morin 9:34. 4, OSU, Nick Biondo (John
Albert, Todd Rudasill) 16:59 (pp). 5, NTDP, Ryan Bourque (Jeremy
Morin, Jordan Schroeder) 18:03 (delayed penalty) (pp). Penalties –
Ryan Hegarty, NTDP (interference) 13:51; Ryan Hegarty, NTDP (slashing)
15:59; Peter Boyd, OSU (hooking) 17:17.
Shots on goal – NTDP 7-8-10 25; OSU 9-14-12 35.
Power plays – NTDP 1 of 7; OSU 2 of 5.
Penalties – NTDP 7 (14 min); OSU 9 (18 min).
Goalies – NTDP, Joe Cannata (58:33 minutes, 35 shots-32 saves) ,
EMPTY NET (01:27, 0-0); OSU, Dustin Carlson (59:52, 25-23) , EMPTY NET
(00:08, 0-0).
Penalty shots – None.
A-2012 T-2:08
Three stars: 1. None 2. None 3. None
Referee:C. Lisko, B. Gawlik AR:Brian Frerichs; Marc DesRosiers
Win-Dustin Carlson. Loss-Joe Cannata.
Exhibition Game (statistics do not count in OSU
season totals)
