Buckeyes Post 5-1 Road Win over Pioneers

Saturday, October 17

Fairfield, Conn.

7 p.m.

Ohio State

2-2-0

Sacred Heart

2-2-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Ohio St.	2	3	0	5
Sacred Heart	0	1	0	1

10/17/2026 10:07:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Wilmott, Tomko and Rucinski record first career goals, Jardine notches three assists

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With goals from five Buckeyes, including three freshmen, the Ohio State men's hockey team defeated Sacred Heart, 5-1, Saturday in Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn. The Buckeyes led 2-0 after the first period and stretched the lead to 5-0 in the second.

The Short Story
One night after scoring his first two collegiate goals, freshman Evan Jardine set up first period goals from Nathan Lewis and Will Tomko for a 2-0 Buckeye lead through 20 minutes. Tomko's goal was his first collegiate tally and his classmates Benjamin Wilmott and Ryan Rucinski (on the power play) tallied at 3:32 and 7:08 of the second for their first goals in the Scarlet and Gray and a 4-0 Buckeye lead. Felix Caron tallied on the power play at 11:30 for a 5-0 Ohio State lead. Sacred Heart broke up the shutout at 13:53 with a power play goal and what would be the final goal of the contest.

Ohio State outshot Sacred Heart 33-18 and freshman goalie Jakub Milota had 17 saves for his first career win. Jardine ended the game with a team-best three assists and points, Rucinski had two points with a goal and a helper and Jake Karabela had two assists..

Up Next
The home slate begins for the Buckeyes next weekend against No. 15 Augustana. Game one is set for 7 p.m. Friday and game two will be at 5 p.m. Saturday. Ticket Information

Ohio State 5, Sacred Heart 1

Rookie Evan Jardine had the primary assist on both Buckeye goals in the first period.
Nathan Lewis opened the scoring, driving the net and converting a Jardine pass. Ryan Gordon also assisted on the goal, which came at 7:51.
Freshman Will Tomko notched his first collegiate goal at 18:58, finishing a tic-tac-toe passing play with Jardine and Sam Deckhut.
Two more Buckeye newcomers scored in the second.
Benjamin Wilmott tallied off a Jake Karabela faceoff win at 3:32.
At 7:08, Ryan Rucinski scored from the high slot, set up by Wilmott. Karabela had the second assist on the power play tally.
On the power play, Felix Caron one-timed a pass from Max Montes for a goal at 11:30, also assisted by Jardine.
The Pioneers ended the Buckeye run with a power play goal at 13:53. The goal was the final score of the contest.
Each team had seven shots in the third period, with neither finding the back of the net.
Ohio State led in shots in the game, 33-18, including a 14-3 advantage in the first period and 12-8 edge in the second.
Buckeye freshman Jakub Milota played all 60 minutes and had 17 saves on 18 shots. Pioneer starter Ajeet Gundarah had 15 saves, allowing four goals, in 27:29, while Jack Spicer played 32:31 in relief and made 13 saves on 14 shots.
On the power play, the Buckeyes were 2-for-6, with Sacred Heart 1-for-3.
The Buckeyes won 36 of 60 faceoffs (60 percent). Gordon and Deckhut were first with nine each and Karabela won eight.

Buckeye This and That

Evan Jardine had a team-high five points in the series, with two goals Friday and three assists Saturday.
The Buckeyes' five goals were a season best, as was the one goal allowed.
Karabela has eight career games with two points and six two-assist outings.
In all, 10 Buckeyes had at least one point in the win.