Men’s Hockey: Buckeyes Skate to 9-3 Victory Over York – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio Led by co-captain Zach Pelletier’s hat trick, the Ohio State men’s hockey team defeated York, 9-3, in an exhibition game Saturday at the OSU Ice Rink. The teams ended the first period tied at 2, but the Buckeyes outscored the Lions 6-1 in the second period for the decisive victory. Sophomore defenseman Shane Sims helped the offense with a goal and two assists, while sophomore forwards Todd Rudasill, John Albert and Patrick Schafer each had two assists. Freshman forward Cory Schneider had a two-point game with a goal and an assist.
The Buckeyes open regular-season play against Miami next weekend. The teams will face off in Columbus at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Value City Arena and in Oxford, Ohio, at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in Steve Cady Arena. The game Saturday is scheduled to be broadcast live on ONN.
Pelletier, who missed the 2007-08 season because of injury, was playing in his first game since March 4, 2007. Two of his goals vs. York came shorthanded, including the eventual gamewinner at 9:27 of the second period. Pelletier opened the scoring for the Buckeyes at 2:58 of the first period when he put in the rebound of a Cory Schneider shot and added an unassisted shorthanded goal following a giveaway by York’s goalie with a minute left in the opening period to tie the game at 2.
After Pelletier opened the scoring in the first, the Lions’ Rob Labute tallied at 7:40 to tie the game and Tyler Harrison put York ahead with his goal at 9:20. The Buckeyes outshot York in the first period, 14-7, with OSU freshman goalie Cal Heeter making five saves.
The Buckeyes carried the momentum of Pelletier’s shorthanded goal late in the first into the second period. Mathieu Picard scored, assisted by Albert and Nick Biondo, just 1:45 into the stanza. Pelletier added his second shorthanded goal at 9:27, completing a rush with freshman defenseman Matt Bartkowski and Schafer. Sophomore defenseman Erick Belanger then tallied at 12:22, assisted by Albert. York’s Adam Ross stopped the Buckeye run with a goal at 13:30. Sims’ power-play tally at 15:35, with assists from sophomore newcomer Hunter Bishop and freshman Zac Dalpe, put the Buckeyes ahead 6-3. Rudasill had assists on two goals in 50 seconds, as he got the puck to Sims before Schneider tallied at 17:01 and then set up senior Corey Elkins at 17:51, with rookie Sean Duddy also assisting on the goal. Ohio State put 21 shots on net in the period. Buckeye sophomore goalie Dustin Carlson faced eight shots, making seven saves.
Buckeye sophomore Kyle Reed scored the only goal of the third period, assisted by Schafer and Sims, at 14:50. Junior goalie Joseph Palmer stopped all seven shots he faced, while York’s David Davenport stopped 13-of-14 Buckeye attempts.
The Buckeye penalty kill was tough, stopping all eight York attempts. Ohio State converted 1-of-9 power-play chances.
For the game, the Buckeyes outshot York, 49-22. The Buckeye goalies, who each played a period, combined for 19 saves. York’s two goalies made 40 saves.
After the end of regulation, the teams took part in a predetermined five-round shootout, as Ohio State and the rest of the CCHA prepare for the first season with shootouts deciding tied games in conference play. The Buckeyes won the shootout, 2-0, with Albert and Peter Boyd scoring for the Buckeyes.
Postgame Quotes
John Markell, head coach
On Zach Pelletier
“I’m glad to have him back this year. He had a decimating injury last year and he chose to come back (for a fifth year) even though he didn’t have to because he already has his degree. He is a captain and he leads by example.”
On sophomore John Albert
“He is the best conditioned player out there. Last year, he saw a lot of ice time, but then he kind of hit a wall. He is now ready to go and I know we can count on him”
On the goaltending
“I wanted to play Cal (Heeter) early to get his nerves out. He really deserves to play. Dustin (Carlson) made some good saves in the second period and Joe (Palmer) also had some good saves today. I’m proud of all three of them. It was a good start.”
On freshman Cory Schneider
“Cory Schneider is a good hockey player. He is ready to play. He is a very smart hockey player and had a good game today.”
Zach Pelletier, senior forward
On playing for the first time in 18 months
“It was awesome. It’s almost the best feeling in the world. I’ve just been itching to go out there and play hockey.”
On one of his three goals
“It was a fun play. (There was) a big hit to start it off. I couldn’t have done it without (Patrick) Schafer and (Matt) Bartkowski.
On what he was thinking about last night coming into the game today
“Last night, all I could think about was going out there and hitting somebody but the exact opposite happened. But it was all for the better.”
John Albert, sophomore forward
On the schedule ahead
“We want to look at every game one at a time. We don’t want to look too far ahead. It is important for us to focus on one game.”
On the freshmen
“They have been great and have been producing a lot. When they came to training camp, it was apparent they were ready to play.”
On starting strong every period
“It is a goal of ours to start every period strong. We want to let them know we are there and we did great today. We started the first period slow, but picked it up a lot and kept it up.”
Hockey Game Box Score (Final)
Ohio State Men’s Hockey 2008-09
York vs Ohio State (Oct 04, 2008 at Columbus, Ohio)
York vs. Ohio State
Date: Oct 04, 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Arena: OSU Ice Rink
Attendance:350 Start time:2:05 pm End time:4:21 pm Total time:2:16
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
———————————-
York……………. 2 1 0 – 3
Ohio State………. 2 6 1 – 9
1st period – 1, OSU, Zach Pelletier (Cory Schneider) 2:58. 2, YORK,
Rob Labute (Scott Restoule) 7:40. 3, YORK, Tyler Harrison (Nathaniel
Brooks) 9:20. 4, OSU, Zach Pelletier 19:00 (sh). Penalties – Peter
Boyd, OSU (tripping) 5:06; Mathieu Picard, OSU (roughing) 8:48; Carlo
Di Rienzo, YORK (roughing) 8:48; Cassidy Preston, YORK (slashing)
9:37; Brett Short, YORK (cross-checking) 13:20; Mathieu Picard, OSU
(cth roughing) 16:05; Peter Boyd, OSU (tripping) 17:34.
2nd period – 5, OSU, Mathieu Picard (John Albert, Nick Biondo)
1:45. 6, OSU, Zach Pelletier (Matt Bartkowski, Patrick Schafer) 9:27
(sh). 7, OSU, Erick Belanger (John Albert) 12:22. 8, YORK, Adam Ross
(Bill Siekris) 13:30. 9, OSU, Shane Sims (Hunter Bishop, Zac Dalpe)
15:35 (pp). 10, OSU, Cory Schneider (Shane Sims, Todd Rudasill) 17:01.
11, OSU, Corey Elkins (Todd Rudasill, Sean Duddy) 17:51. Penalties –
Matt Bartkowski, OSU (roughing) 6:28; Jake Van Allen, YORK (roughing)
6:28; Shane Sims, OSU (elbowing) 8:22; Rob Groom, YORK (slashing)
15:12; Zach Pelletier, OSU (cth high-sticking) 17:59; C.J. Severyn,
OSU (hooking) 18:46; Nathaniel Brooks, YORK (slashing) 19:39.
3rd period – 12, OSU, Kyle Reed (Patrick Schafer, Shane Sims)
14:50. Penalties – Bill Siekris, YORK (holding) 5:41; Nathaniel
Brooks, YORK (cross-checking) 8:02; Rob Groom, YORK (cross-checking)
8:02; Brett Short, YORK (cross-checking) 10:12; Bill Siekris, YORK
(cross-checking) 16:23; Todd Rudasill, OSU (tripping) 18:49; Mike
Folkes, OSU (cth high-sticking) 19:20.
Shots on goal – YORK 7-8-7 22; OSU 14-21-14 49.
Power plays – YORK 0 of 8; OSU 1 of 9.
Penalties – YORK 11 (22 min); OSU 10 (20 min).
Goalies – YORK, David Davenport (20:00 minutes, 14 shots-13 saves)
, Carlo Di Rienzo (40:00, 35-27); OSU, Cal Heeter (20:00, 7-5),
Joseph Palmer (20:00, 7-7) , Dustin Carlson (20:00, 8-7).
Penalty shots – None.
A-350 T-2:16
Ref: Neil Stafford; Mark Wilkins Line: Ken Landis; Mark Michels
