Men's Hockey
CCHA Preview
By Paula C. Weston
The Ohio State men's ice hockey team returns to Value City Arena this
week for the start of Central Collegiate Hockey Association play
against intrastate rival, Bowling Green. Buckeyes open the CCHA
season Thursday in Bowling Green before Friday's home opener against
the Falcons.
The No. 3 Buckeyes (1-1-0) split with No. 4 Colorado College (3-1-0)
in Colorado Springs last weekend, winning the season opener 4-2 Friday
before dropping Saturday's contest 1-0. This was the fourth
consecutive season that began with a road game against a nationally
ranked opponent, but the first time since 2000-2001 that the Bucks
began the Division I season with a win, and was the first significant
nonconference win for OSU since a 3-2 overtime road win against Hockey
East opponent Maine Oct. 27, 2000.
"You tell me another team that takes that kind of load on [to start a
season]," says OSU head coach John Markell. "We try to avoid home
games early in the season, and that's why we do what we do. As it
ends up, taking these good teams on the road doesn't hurt you [in the
long run]."
Junior Tyson Strachan, sophomores Kyle Hood and Matt McIlvane, and
senior and alternate captain Rod Pelley had the goals on the weekend.
Senior goaltender Dave Caruso made 45 saves for the weekend.
"We deserved to win," says Markell. "Saturday felt like an NCAA game.
Friday was more of a feeling-out game."
It should come as no surprise to Buckeye fans that OSU and CC were
evenly matched; the teams played to a tie in Nationwide Arena last
December in the title game of the inaugural Ohio College Classic,
hosted by the Bucks. The Tigers "won" that 2-2 game by virtue of a
post-game shootout.
In last weekend's shutout loss, Markell says the difference was not
only play of CC's junior goaltender Matt Zaba – who stopped 34 shots
in his fourth career shutout – but the way in which the Buckeyes tried
to solve Zaba in a game during which OSU outshot CC 34-23.
"The biggest thing I was upset was our shooting Saturday," says
Markell. "We weren't shooting high enough on a butterfly goalie.
"I was a little upset with some of the penalties we took on Saturday,
but I was real happy with our team on Friday night. I dressed the
same lineup but didn't have the same kick on Saturday."
Overall, says Markell, the trip was a good team-building experience
for Ohio State, even though the squad lost just two seniors from last
year's roster.
"There are new faces even though there are old faces. A guy like
[sophomore forward] Sam Campbell had a great weekend, didn't get any
points for it, but he was an Energizer Bunny out there. He was
looking to make a spot. That's a new face. Every year is a new team.
"It was good. High altitude, getting together as a team. It wasn't a
hard flight. Beautiful weather."
Although the season is young, Markell says that last weekend's early
tune-up against a team that made it to 2005 Frozen Four gave the
Buckeyes much to assess.
"Our defense played well. We gave up three goals in two games and we
scored four. We're doing something right as a team, team defense.
I'm a little disappointed that we didn't make better adjustments back
to them on the power play, because that was important. We found out
that maybe three or four guys didn't have their 'A' game."
League Action Opens
This week, the Buckeyes to Bowling Green for a game Thursday, followed
by a home game against the Falcons Friday. BGSU opened D-I play last
weekend with a pair of home losses to Hockey East opponents, a 3-2
loss Friday to Merrimack and a 9-6 loss Saturday to No. 6 Boston
College.
Senior forward Don Morrison and freshman defenseman Kevin Schmidt each
scored on Bowling Green's power play in the loss to Merrimack. In
Saturday's game, sophomore forward Jonathan Matsumoto had a hat trick
for the Falcons.
In net for BGSU, senior goaltender Jon Horrell registered Friday's
loss and then relieved freshman Jimmy Spratt Saturday after BC's first
five goals.
Former Falcon Scott Paluch (1991) enters his fourth season as head
coach for BGSU. Under Paluch, the Falcons have never beaten the
Buckeyes, who are 8-0-0 against BGSU for the last three seasons. Last
year, then-sophomore Mathieu Beaudoin had three goals in two 3-2 wins
over Bowling Green in Columbus in February; Matsumoto had a goal in
each game for BGSU.
Although Markell (BGSU 1979) and the Bucks are 9-2-0 against BGSU in
the VCA, the OSU coach and former Falcon says that his team is not
looking past 0-2 Falcons.
"We come back against a Bowling Green team that's going to be every
bit as fast and as tough as Colorado College. They'll respect you,
but they can upset you. This is a league-opening game on the road.
We have six of our first seven on the road. When we come back on
Friday night, we'd better be ready."
Both games in this week's series begin at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard
online at wosu.org. Season schedule magnets will given to the first
2,500 fans through the gates Friday night.
And the Rest of the CCHA
Ohio State was one of just two Central Collegiate Hockey Association
league teams invited to the NCAA post-season tournament in 2005, one
year after the CCHA saw a league-high five teams receive bids.
Rather than look at the past, however, CCHA coaches remain focused and
optimistic about the 2005-2006 season.
"On paper, I think our league is really going to be improved," said
Michigan head coach Red Berenson, in his 22nd season in Ann Arbor, at
this year's league media day.
"The CCHA is a young league, and with those players returning this
could easily be one of the best leagues in the country," added
Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle.
While coaches are often the best cheerleaders for their individual
leagues as well as teams, fans of the CCHA may have reason for
optimism this year. The Buckeyes return all but three players and
welcome only two freshmen to their ranks, giving them a solid squad
that can compete nationally.
Michigan, a team that hasn't finished below second place in league
play since the late 1980s, turned over half of its team before this
season began, with the graduation of a large senior class and the
early departure for the pro ranks of key players. A little research
into the Red Berenson era, however, shows that the veteran head coach
won a national title in 1998 with a large freshman class, including a
rookie goaltender named Marty Turco, the current starter for the
Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League.
Half of the teams in the league return veteran goalies while half the
teams welcome newcomers to that position – something that could create
genuine parity in the league.
Here's a brief look at each CCHA team in the order in which it was
chosen in the CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll. OSU was picked first in
both the preseason coaches and media polls, so we're going to start
with No. 2 Michigan. Numbers in parentheses indicate where a team was
chosen in the media poll if that differed from the coaches' pick.
(John, you may want to bold the stuff from the team name on through
the stats stuff, or give the stats stuff bullets or something.)
2. Michigan
Head coach: Red Berenson, 22nd season
2004-05 record: 31-8-3, 23-3-2 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: first
Even though this is one of the youngest teams in the nation, the
Wolverines are No. 1 in this week's USCHO.com/CSTV Poll after a 4-0-0
start that included a home sweep of Quinnipiac and 3-2 overtime
victory over Boston College. While the Wolverines bid would-be
seniors goaltender Al Montoya (2.52 GAA, .895 SV%) and forward Jeff
Tambellini (24-33—57) adieu in the off-season, freshman goaltender
Billy Sauer (.922 SV% in three games) was able to step in nicely for
Montoya and a slew of other players can pick up any scoring slack in
Ann Arbor.
"The Michigan team will have a different look to it this year with so
many different faces," said Berenson in preseason, yet the results
seem to be the same: win, win, win. More rookies to watch include
forward Andrew Coligiano and defenseman Jack Johnson, and with
veterans like T.J. Hensick, Matt Hunwick, and a host of other
household names to lead the youngsters, the Wolverines are legitimate
contenders locally and nationally.
3. Northern Michigan
Head coach: Walt Kyle, fourth season
2004-05 record: 22-11-7, 17-7-4 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: third
The Wildcats are an interesting combination this season: one of the
most experienced teams in the country but with untested goaltending.
NMU's strength lies in its depth and its nearly impenetrable defense –
but how impenetrable that D will be without Tuomas Tarkki in net
remains to be seen. Currently the plan is to rotate freshman Derek
Janzen and sophomore Bill Zaniboni in net to see who emerges as the
starter.
The seniors are the players to watch in Maquette; forwards Dirk
Sothern and Andrew Contois, and defensemen Nathan Oystrick and Geoff
Waugh are well known to CCHA opppoents.
The veteran Wildcats split a home series with unranked Western
Collegiate Hockey Association opponent St. Cloud State last weekend.
Said Kyle, "I think that we feel that we had a good run the last half
of last year, and really made some strides in becoming the type of
team that we want to become."
4. Michigan State
Head coach: Rick Comley, fourth season
2004-05 record: 20-17-4, 12-13-3 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: sixth
This may be the fourth season for Comley in East Lansing, but he's the
man who built the NMU program and in 32 seasons leading up to
2005-2006, Comley's amassed a 665-523-79 record. Spartan fans have
been disappointed in MSU's performance under Comley's leadership, but
this may very well be the year that MSU returns to top form.
The Spartans have one of the most gifted young teams in the nation.
Sophomore forwards Bryan Lerg, Chris Mueller, and Peder Skinner
emerged during the second half of the last season, and goaltender
Dominic Vicari is among the best in the country.
Two weeks ago, the Spartans won the Lefty McFadden Tournament, beating
the 2004-2005 national championship runner-up North Dakota Sioux in
the process. "I feel good about our hockey team," said Comley. "The
thing I like most about our hockey team is our balance."
5. Nebraska-Omaha
Head coach: Mike Kemp, ninth season
2004-05 record: 19-16-4, 13-11-4 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: fourth
Two years ago, the Mavericks were in last place looking up at the rest
of the CCHA. Last year, UNO finished fourth and head coach Mike Kemp
earned CCHA Coach of the Year honors. "I think the keys to our team's
success will rest with our forwards," said Kemp. "We have tremendous
depth at forward."
Those forwards include one of the best one-two punches in the league,
junior Scott Parse and sophomore Bill Thomas. Parse is poetry in
motion on the ice; Thomas knows how to set up a play.
The Mavericks are among the more experienced teams in the league, but
like NMU are auditioning goaltenders. Sophomore Eric Aarnio and
freshman Greg Barrett split time in the net last weekend as UNO
captured its second consecutive Maverick Stampede title, the early
season tourney hosted by the Mavs. Like other CCHA teams, UNO beat a
ranked team – No. 11 New Hampshire – en route to a trophy.
6. Miami (7)
Head coach: Enrico Blasi, seventh season
2004-05 record: 15-18-5, 11-13-4 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: seventh
Last year was disappointing for the RedHawks, who spent much of the
season so injured and ill that it was difficult for Blasi to put a
full compliment of players on the ice. Had Miami been healthy, who
knows what the 'Hawks could have accomplished. Miami has, without a
doubt, one of the most gifted group of forwards in the country,
including seniors Chris Michael and Tyler Hustead, juniors Marty
Guerin and Matt Christie, and sophomores Nathan Davis and Nino
Musitelli.
The Miami roster is also graced by senior defenseman Andy Greene,
certainly among the best in the nation. "I think our question mark is
in goal," said Blasi. "We have two young men that will battle for
that position." In two games, however – a win and a loss – only
freshman Jeff Zatkoff has seen time in net. Sophomore Charlie
Effinger is the other Miami contender for the starting job.
7. Alaska-Fairbanks (6)
Head coach: Tavis MacMillan, second season
2004-05 record: 17-16-4, 11-14-3 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: eighth
The Nanooks began the season in the most beautiful way: they traveled
from Fairbanks to Minneapolis where they defeated and tied then-No. 1
Minnesota in two games last weekend.
Whether this is the start of something beautiful or an early season
fluke remains to be season. Last year, with 11 rookies on the roster,
the Nanooks saw success at home but struggled on the road. By the end
of the year, those seasoned newcomers were playing more consistently,
but UAF turned over another large senior class and is young, again,
this year. "We have a good mix of youth and older players," said
MacMillan, "and I think it is obviously a challenge for us, this
season with the expectations that we have and others have for us to
come back and have a successful season."
Players to watch include sophomore forward Kyle Greentree, who scored
the overtime game-winner against the Gophers, senior defender Jordan
Hendry – who missed most of last season with an injury – and a slew of
sophomores – forwards Aaron Lee and Ryan McLeod, defenseman Darcy
Campbell, and goaltender Wylie Rogers.
8. Bowling Green
Head coach: Scott Paluch, fourth season
2004-05 record: 16-16-4, 13-12-3 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: fifth
Last year, the Falcons rallied around senior goaltender Jordan
Sigalet, who disclosed his struggle with multiple sclerosis last
December. This inspired and motivated the entire team, provided the
squad with a rallying point and an identity. "I think the important
things our goalies realize is that we are not asking anyone to be
Jordan or do anything that Jordan did, but to give us the opportunity
to be in games and to win games," said Paluch.
The season is very young, so it may not be fair to judge the Falcon
goaltending based on last weekend's performance. Between freshman
Jimmy Spratt and senior Jon Horrell, someone has to emerge as the
starter, and the money's on Horrell.
BGSU's best player is sophomore forward Jonathan Matsumoto, a young
player destined to be a star in the immediate future. Falcon seniors
Ryan Barnett, Mike Falk, Don Morrison, and Brett Pilkington are solid
veterans.
9. Notre Dame
Head coach: Jeff Jackson, first season
2004-05 record: 5-27-6, 3-20-5 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: 12th
Head coach Jeff Jackson is new to Notre Dame but no stranger to the
CCHA. Jackson was 182-52-25 as head coach of Lake Superior State from
1990-1996, and during that time he led the Lakers to two national
championships.
Jackson has inherited a team in desperate need of direction. The
2004-2005 Fighting Irish were last in the entire NCAA in team offense
(1.58 goals per game), 50th in team defense (3.63 goals per game),
57th on the power play (9.8 percent), and 48th in penalty killing
(79.3 percent). There were 58 D-I teams in men's ice hockey last
season
"I told the players I am going in with a clean slate," said Jackson.
"I have made an extreme effort not to evaluate them. Last year it was
difficult to say what happened or who was responsible."
10. Ferris State (12)
Head coach: Bob Daniels, 14th season
2004-05 record: 13-22-4, 7-17-4 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: tie 10th
Just three seasons ago, the Bulldogs were making their first-ever NCAA
appearance after capturing their first-ever regular-season CCHA title.
Now they're struggling again for credibility. Said Daniels, "We have
some good players that I think…given the ice time that our departing
seniors had a year ago, will prove to be some name players in the
league."
The Bulldogs turned over a number of players from a year ago,
something that Daniels hopes is a positive, a chance for previously
underused players to develop. FSU will be looking to junior forwards
Zac Pearson, Matt Verdone, and Eric Vesely to join classmate Mark
Bomersback near the top of the stats charts.
11. Lake Superior State
Head coach: Jim Roque, first season
2004-05 record: 9-22-7, 8-14-6 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: ninth
Like the Irish, the Lakers welcome a new head coach but one who is
completely familiar with the LSSU team, having served as the Laker
assistant. The Lakers were known for their decent, disciplined
defensive play last season, but scored on average just 2.21 goals per
game (52nd in the NCAA, 11th CCHA).
"I think our biggest challenge is to score goals," said Roque. "We
feel some guys throughout our lineup have that kind of ability. I
think they just need to be given the opportunity to try and showcase
their ability to score some goals."
While building that offense, the Lakers do have a solid last line of
defense in goaltender junior Jeff Jakaitis, who registered the home
win and tie last weekend against then-ranked Colgate.
12. Western Michigan (10)
Head coach: Jim Culhane, eighth season
2004-05 record: 14-21-2, 8-18-2 CCHA
2004-05 CCHA finish: tie 10th
The Broncos have a creative offense that can find the net from almost
anywhere, in nearly any given situation. Senior Brent Walton is one
of the best wingers in the country, and WMU averaged a respectable
2.84 goals per game last season. Unfortunately, the Broncos also
allowed 3.62 goals per game, making their main problem more than
obvious.
"We played in 16 one-goal games last year; eight we won and eight we
lost," said Culhane. "Obviously, we want to improve on that."
The Bronco defensive corps is young and uneven, but Culhane has
confidence in sophomore goaltender Daniel Bellissimo, who was hung out
to dry more than once by the Bronco blueline.
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