OSU at RMU game notes 

CCHA Release 

Dec. 29, 2011

Drop the Puck
The No. 4-ranked Ohio State men's hockey team returns from its December break to play in the RMU Hockey Showcase Friday night. The Buckeyes (13-4-1, 10-3-1-1 CCHA) and host Robert Morris Colonials (9-6-2, 7-2-2 Atlantic Hockey) will face off at 7:35 p.m. in Consol Energy Center, home of the NHL's Penguins, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

In the Polls
The Buckeyes are ranked fourth nationally in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and USCHO.com polls and are fifth in the INCH Power Rankings. The squad began the year unranked before entering the polls after sweeping then-No. 14/15 Northern Michigan Nov. 11-12. The team is ranked in the Top 5 for the first time since October 2005.

Records and Standings
The Buckeyes are 13-4-1 on the year, tying for second nationally in winning percentage and wins, and in first place in the CCHA with a 10-3-1-1 record. The team is five points ahead of second-place Notre Dame and Western Michigan. This is the first time the Buckeyes have had 13 wins prior to the December break since 1983-84. That squad opened the year 13-0 and was 17-3 at the break.

En route to their 13 wins, the Buckeyes went on a nine-game winning streak and 11-game unbeaten streak, the longest since the 2008-09 campaign.

Buckeye Brief
As a team, the Buckeyes - tied for first in the nation in winning percentage and second nationally in wins - are tied for seventh in the NCAA in scoring defense (2.11) and rank ninth on the penalty kill (.878). The squad is tied for 15th in the nation in scoring offense (3.28) and ranks 14th on the power play (.218). The squad is 11-1-1 in its last 13 games, dating to Oct. 21.

Sophomore Chris Crane leads the Buckeyes with 18 points, ranking second with 10 goals. Senior Danny Dries has a team-high 11 goals and is second with 16 points. Freshman Ryan Dzingel, who ranks eighth nationally in rookie points per game, is first on the team with 10 assists and ranks third with 15 points on the year. Blueliners senior Sean Duddy and junior Devon Krogh are second with nine assists each. Senior goalie Cal Heeter is second in the NCAA in winning percentage (11-2-1, .821) and is in the Top 15 in goals-against average (2.11) and save percentage (.926). Junior Brady Hjelle is 2-2 between the pipes, with a 1.83 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

Last Time Out - Ohio State vs. Miami
The Buckeyes last competed Dec. 9-10, splitting a home-and-home series with Miami. Ohio State lost the opener in Columbus, 5-3, to end its 11-game unbeaten streak and nine-game winning streak but rebounded with a 3-2 overtime victory on the road.

In game one in Value City Arena Dec. 9, Miami opened the scoring at 3:47 of the first period but Buckeye freshman Darik Angeli responded just 29 seconds later to tie deadlock the game at 1. The RedHawks tallied just 1:33 into the second period for a 2-1 lead and did not relinquish the advantage the rest of the way. The teams traded goals in 53 seconds late in the period, with Miami scoring shorthanded at 17:00 for a 3-1 lead and Buckeye rookie Nick Oddo answering with a power-play goal at 17:53 to draw the Buckeyes within one. The RedHawks score an early goal in the third for another two-goal lead (4-2). Sophomore Chris Crane scored for Ohio State to make it a one-goal game at 9:16, but Miami tallied at 14:20 for a third two-goal lead and Ohio State could get no closer. Ohio State was 1-for-6 on the power play and stopped the RedHawks on all five power-play chances.

In game two in Oxford Dec. 10, freshman Chad Niddery's overtime goal gave Ohio State a 3-2 road victory over Miami. The Buckeyes battled back from a goal down twice en route to the victory. Against Miami, the Buckeyes answered RedHawk goals within three minutes twice to force overtime. The teams were scoreless after the opening 20 minutes. In the second, the RedHawks opened the scoring at 11:14 before a goal by freshman Tanner Fritz at 12:56 to tie the game at 1. In the third, Miami converted once on a major power play when Reilly Smith scored at 8:21. The Buckeyes held off the RedHawks for the final 1:33 of the advantage and then scored less than a minute later when senior Danny Dries tallied at 10:32 for a 2-2 game. The final goal came one second after a Buckeye power play expired in overtime and was scored after an Alex Carlson faceoff win deep in the RedHawk zone. Buckeye junior goalie Brady Hjelle had 27 saves in the win.

On the Penguins' Ice
Friday night marks the third time Ohio State will play in the RMU Hockey Showcase but the first time in the Penguins' new building, Consol Energy Center. Ohio State was 2-0-1 in Mellon Arena, the Penguins' old home. The Buckeyes beat the RMU Colonials 4-0 in 2008 and tied Robert Morris 5-5 in overtime in 2007. Ohio State also posted a 4-1 win over Princeton in Mellon Arena in January 2003.

Buckeyes vs. Colonials
The all-time series between Ohio State and Robert Morris is tied, 2-2-1. The Buckeyes are 0-2 in games in Columbus but 2-0-1 in neutral-site matchups. The series began in November 2007 with Robert Morris winning 4-3 in Columbus Nov. 16. The teams then played in the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase two days later, tying 5-5 in Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.

In 2008 the squads faced off in two neutral-site games, with Ohio State winning both. The first was a 4-0 victory in Mellon Arena, along with a 7-4 victory at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio Dec. 6. Last year, the Colonials defeated the Buckeyes, 4-3, in Columbus (Oct. 15).

Colonial Content
Robert Morris, a member of Atlantic Hockey, is 9-6-2 this year and 7-2-2 in conference action. The team is on an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2), with a 4-0 win over RIT Dec. 17 in its last outing. The Colonials are averaging 3.06 goals a game and allowing 2.71 a contest. The power play is 10-for-83 (12 percent) and the penalty kill has been outstanding, stopping 94.7 percent of opponent chances (72-for-76) to lead the nation. The squad averages 11.5 penalty minutes a game.

Senior Cody Crichton has a team-best 12 assists and 15 points. Freshman Cody Wydo is first with eight goals, followed by classmate Scott Jacklin with seven. Senior Nick Chiavetta has a team-high eight assists and is tied with Adam Brace (6g, 7a) for second with 13 points. Brace and senior Trevor Lewis are tied for third with six goals. In goal senior Brooks Ostergard is 5-4-2 with a 2.44 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Junior Eric Levine is 4-2-0 and has a 2.52 gaa and .923 svpct.

A Comparison - This Year vs. Last Year
Last season, Ohio State was 8-8-1 at the mid-year point, averaging 2.9 goals a game while allowing 2.6. This year, the team is 13-4-1, scoring 3.28 goals an outing while holding opponents to 2.11 a contest. The special teams are also off to a better start. This year the team has converted 21.8 percent of its power-play chances (19-for-87) and was 15-for-80 (18.8 percent) a season ago. The penalty kill is also improved, stopping 87.8 percent (72-for-82) compared to last year's 63-for-77 (81.8 percent).

Individually, sophomore Chris Crane has more than doubled what he had at the mid-year point last year. After recording a 3-4-7 line through his first 17 games as a freshman, he now has a team-best 18 points, including 10 goals, this season. He went on to finish last year with 10 points (4g, 6a). Senior Danny Dries has one more point but three more goals this year than last year. He had an 8-7-15 line last year en route to 27 points with 15 goals and 12 assists. This year he has a team-high 11 goals and is second with 16 points.

Last year in December defenseman Curtis Gedig led the Buckeye rookies with nine points (all assists). This year, Ryan Dzingel has a freshman-high 15 points, with five goals and 10 assists.

Noting the Ohio State Squad
• The game vs. Robert Morris is the Buckeyes’ last regular-season non-conference game of the year.
• The Buckeyes have held opponents to two goals or less in 11 of the last 13 games. The squad is tied for seventh nationally in team defense giving up 2.11 goals an outing.
• Ohio State has trailed by a goal in five of its last seven wins, allowing the first goal in each contest. The squad is 7-1-1 when scoring first this year and 6-3 when the other team opens the scoring.
• The 3-2 overtime victory at Miami Dec. 10 in the Buckeyes’ last game was the squad’s first overtime win since Dec. 10, 2010 at Bowling Green. The team is 1-0-1 in overtime this year. The team’s last two wins at Miami have both been in overtime.
• The Buckeyes’ nine-game winning streak that ended with the 5-3 loss to Miami Dec. 9 was the longest since an 11-game winning streak Nov. 22, 2008-Jan. 16, 2009. The 11-game unbeaten streak was the longest since the team was unbeaten in 13 games Nov. 22, 20078-Jan. 23, 2009. The team’s previous loss was Oct. 20 at Michigan State.
• Miami had a Buckeye opponent season-high 38 shots in game one and then posted 39 in game two to outshoot Ohio State for the second game in a row. Ohio State was outshot in six of its first seven games of the season before putting more shots on net than its opponents in 10-consecutive games leading up to the series against Miami (dating back to Oct. 27 vs. Alaska).
• Ohio State has scored 23 third-period goals to go along with 18 second period and 17 first-period tallies. The squad has given up just 10 second-period goals this year, allowing 11 goals in the first and 17 in the third.
• The Buckeyes are 8-1-0 when leading after the first period this year and 3-1-1 when tied after 20 minutes. After 40 minutes, the squad is 7-0-0 when ahead and 6-1-1 when tied. The squad’s losing record (0-3) is when it is behind after the second.

Buckeye This and That
• Senior defenseman Sean Duddy has nine assists this season after entering the year with nine helpers in his career. He has an assist in each of his last five games and in seven of his last nine outings. At the midway point last year Duddy had two points, including his first (and only) career goal. Duddy is tied for third in the CCHA with nine assists in conference play and ranks third among defensemen with nine points in league action.
• Senior Danny Dries scored at Miami Dec. 10 and leads the Buckeyes with 11 goals, ranking second with 16 points. He is four shy of the career-best 15 goals he had a season ago. Dries is tied for 19th in the NCAA in goals per game and third in the CCHA in goals.
• Sophomore Chris Crane headed into break with a team-best 18 points, ranking second with 10 goals. He had a four-game goal-scoring streak stopped vs. Miami Dec. 10. Crane is fourth (tied) in the CCHA in points and fourth in goals with 10. In conference play, his 15 points are second, with his nine goals first. • Senior goalie Cal Heeter is 11-2-1 on the year, ranking second in the NCAA in winning percentage (821). He had a 10-game unbeaten streak and eight-game winning streak ended against Miami Dec. 9. Heeter has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his last 11 games, with two shutouts and four games with just one goal against.
• Cal Heeter has moved into 10th in the Buckeye record book with 37 wins and is now one behind Bob Krautsak, who had 38 from 1983-86.
• As a team, Ohio State is tied for eighth in the NCAA in scoring among defensemen, with 44 points through 18 games. Devon Krogh leads the Buckeye blueliners with 10 points. Sophomore Curtis Gedig and seniro Sean Duddy are tied for second with nine points each, followed by freshman Ben Gallacher with seven points. Freshman Al McLean has chipped in five assists, with classmates Justin DaSilva and Clark Cristofoli posting three and one assists, respectively.
• Buckeye blueliners Devon Krogh and Curtis Gedig each have eight points in CCHA play to tie for seventh among CCHA defensemen in scoring.
• In the Perani Cup standings, awarded for three star of the game honors in CCHA play only, Chris Crane leads the Buckeyes and the CCHA with 19 points. Cal Heeter is second for the Buckeyes with 13 points, followed by Danny Dries with 12. In all, 13 Buckeyes have been named a star of the game at least once this season, with Crane, Heeter and Dries each honored in three contests. Complete Perani Cup standings are online at collegehockeystats.net/perani.
• Buckeyes on scoring streaks entering the game vs. Robert Morris: Nick Oddo (3g, 2-1-3), Sean Duddy (5g, 0-5-5), Tanner Fritz (3g, 1-2-3).

Noting the Newcomers
• Junior transfer goalie Brady Hjelle started Dec. 10 at Miami and made a career-high 37 saves in the Buckeyes’ 3-2 overtime win. It was his first start since a shutout at Alabama-Huntsville Nov. 4.
• Freshman Chad Niddery’s overtime goal Dec. 10 at Miami was the first tally of his collegiate career. He is the eighth Buckeye rookie to score a goal this season.
• Freshman forward Nick Oddo is on a three-game scoring streak and has a point in six of his last nine games.
• The Buckeye freshmen are second in the NCAA in scoring with 67 points. Ohio State’s rookies are also second in the country in points per game by freshmen (3.72). Mercyhurst is first in both categories (70 points, 3.89 points per game).
• Freshmen have eight of the Buckeyes’ 12 game-winning goals this year, led by Darik Angeli, who is tied for fourth nationally with three. Ryan Dzingel and Nick Oddo each have two GWG to tie for 18th in the nation and Chad Niddery scored the OT winner Dec. 10 at Miami. Rookie defenseman Ben Gallacher recorded the Buckeyes’ game-tying goal vs. Alaska.
• All 11 Buckeye rookies who have played in more than two games have posted at least one collegiate point.
• Ryan Dzingel is first on the squad with 10 assists and ranks third with 15 points. He is tied for second in the CCHA in points overall and first in conference games only (11). Dzingel is eighth in the NCAA in rookie points per game (.88).
• Darik Angeli, who scored in game one vs. Miami, is tied for eighth in the CCHA in rookie scoring with 10 points, while he is tied for fourth in CCHA games only with eight points. Rookie defenseman Ben Gallacher is tied for third among rookie blueliners with seven points this year. In CCHA games only, Gallacher is tied for first among rookie defensemen with six points.
• Thirteen new faces are on the Buckeye roster this year, with 12 freshmen and a junior goalie. All 13 have seen action in at least two games, with 11 playing in more than four contests.
• The freshmen range in age from 18 (Riley Simpson, who turned 18 at the end of November) to 21 (Chad Niddery, Darik Angeli, Nick Oddo, Justin DaSilva). Simpson is the youngest player in the CCHA (according to collegehockeystats.net). There were nine 18-year olds playing in the league at the start of the season.

In the Pros
Seven Buckeyes began the year on NHL rosters - Nate Guenin/Anaheim, Matt Bartkowski/Boston, Zac Dalpe/Carolina, R.J. Umberger/Columbus, Rod Pelley/New Jersey, Dave Steckel/Toronto, Ryan Kesler/Vancouver. Pelley was traded to Anaheim from New Jersey in December.

Buckeyes in the AHL include Tyson Strachan/San Antonio, John Albert and Jason DeSantis/St. John’s, Mathieu Beaudoin/Portland and Sean Collins/Hershey. Guenin was assigned to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch after skating with the Ducks to start the year (and was also called up in December), while Bartkowski was assigned to the Providence Bruins after skating with Boston to open the campaign. Dalpe has played both in Carolina and Charlotte but is currently with the big club. Sean Collins skated in two games with Washington but has since been returned to the AHL.

In the ECHL, 10 former Buckeyes were on opening-night rosters - Patrick Schafer/Alaska, Chris Reed and Matt McIlvane/Cincinnati, Corey Toy/Greenville, Shane Sims/Gwinnett, Dustin Carlson/Ontario, Joe Palmer/Reading, Johann Kroll/South Carolina, Dave Caruso/Trenton and CJ Severyn/Utah. Schafer and Toy are currently with the Arizona Sundogs in the CHL, where they are joined by former Buckeyes Kyle Hood and Daymen (Bencharski) Rycroft. McIlvane retired from hockey because of injury and was recently named the coach and general manager of the Danville Dashers in the Federal Hockey League.

Up Next
The Buckeyes will return to CCHA action with a Saturday/Sunday series at Bowling Green Jan. 7-8. The team will then host Michigan in Value City Arena Jan. 13 before The Frozen Diamond Faceoff game outdoors at Progressive Field Jan. 15.