Buckeyes in the Pros during 2015-16
6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
June 30, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State men’s hockey alums skated and coached in professional hockey leagues all over North America and Europe in 2015-16.
Highlighting the alumni success were championships won in three leagues by Buckeyes who have moved on to coaching roles. Mike Bales (1990-92) was the goalie coach for the NHL Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt McIlvane (2005-08) was as assistant coach with the Munich Red Bulls, which won the DEL championship in Germany. Hugo Boisvert (1997-99) won the DEL 2 title in his first year as an assistant coach with EC Kassel Huskies in Germany.
Congrats to Buckeye alum Mike Bales, goalie coach for #StanleyCup champion @penguins! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/viQs5LnPEQ
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) June 13, 2016
Other Buckeyes who spent 2015-16 in coaching roles include Jean-Francois Dufour (1998-01) who is on the staff with Gernoble in France. The collegiate coaching ranks included David Smith (1989-92), head coach at Canisius, Paul Pooley (1981-84), associate head coach at Notre Dame, JB Bittner (2002-05), assistant coach at Wisconsin, Paul Kirtland (2010-12), assistant coach at Trinity, and Joe Palmer (2007-09), volunteer coach at Cornell.
Seven Buckeyes saw playing time in the NHL in 2015-16. Ryan Kesler (2003) played in 79 regular season and four playoff games with Anaheim and was one of three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given to the league’s top defensive forward. Matt Bartkowski (2009-10) was a regular on the Vancouver Canucks’ blue line and saw action in 80 games. Zac Dalpe (2009-10) and Tyson Strachan (2004-07) both skated for the Minnesota Wild during the season, with Dalpe appearing in his first NHL postseason contests. RJ Umberger (2001-03) played with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Nate Guenin (2003-06) was a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Your 2016 Selke nominees are @PatriceBergeron @Ryan_Kesler @AnzeKopitar ; @NHL pic.twitter.com/JjwlfmaLXG
— NHL Awards 2016 (@AwardsNHL) April 30, 2016
Max McCormick and Ryan Dzingel both made their NHL debuts during the season with Ottawa. Both forwards, who skated for the Buckeyes from 2012-14, were playing in their second full professional season. McCormick saw action in 20 games with the Senators and had two goals and two assists for four points, while Dzingel played in 30 contests and had nine points on three goals and six assists.
Congrats to Ohio State alum Ryan Dzingel who recently scored his first NHL goal for the Ottawa Senators. pic.twitter.com/fj5vUA5JNU
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) February 24, 2016
ICYMI: alum Max McCormick scored his first NHL goal with @Senators last night. #GoBucks https://t.co/q1vrH0jFR2
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) January 8, 2016
Other Buckeyes played in leagues ranging from the AHL and ECHL to leagues in Austria, Germany, Italy and more. Click the PDF above for a complete list of former Ohio State players in professional hockey in 2015-16.
