College hockey is winding down to the winter break. A few Big Ten teams have non-conference games scheduled this week, but college hockey is generally winding down to the winter break. In lieu of previews and recaps in the next couple weeks we’ll take a look at Ohio State’s recruits, review the first half of the season, and get to know the new B1G. For now here’s the “art” from the OSU-Michigan series, as well as some Buckeye-related stories from around the hockey world.
Short Shifts
Buckeye Men
- The host cities for the 2014-18 Frozen Fours will be announced tomorrow. Columbus (with Nationwide Arena as the venue) is a candidate. Jim Connelly of USCHO categorized the city as a long shot to win their bid based on the fact that Columbus is not Boston or Chicago. (I suppose he’s insinuating the city isn’t interesting, though that isn’t true.)
- There were two (I know!) good OSU hockey articles from The Dispatch this week. One about Taylor Kuehl, which you’ll find a couple sections down in the women’s hockey news, and this one in which Shawn Mitchell writes about Steve Rohlik’s desire to have the Buckeyes and Blue Jackets work together for the good of the local hockey community.
Around the Big Ten
Last weekend Wisconsin swept Penn State by scores of 7-1 and 4-3. Minnesota only took four points off Michigan State, losing Friday’s shootout (which officially goes down as a 2-2 tie) before winning Saturday’s game 3-2. The Spartans were able to grab some conference points due, in part, to a huge series from sophomore goalie Jake Hildebrand who stopped 79 of 84 shots in the series. The must-see highlight of the weekend was this nifty goal by Wisconsin’s Tyler Barnes.
This week’s schedule of games includes a Wednesday night tilt between Michigan and former conference foe Ferris State. The Bulldogs keep the CCHA love flowing with a Saturday game against Michigan State. Colorado College visits Wisconsin in the only series of the week.
- Tough break (literally) for Minnesota defenseman Jake Parenteau as left Saturday’s game with a hideously fractured leg. SBN College Hockey has pics of the x-rays from Parenteau’s Twitter. By all accounts his surgery went well. Hopefully his recovery is as successful and he’s able to get back on the ice this season.
- Only marginally related to Big Ten Hockey, but still neat: The NHL’s Winter Classic will be held in Michigan’s football stadium on New Year’s Day. (Personally, I think it’s going to be difficult for them to top this.) NHL.com has a webcam up so you can watch the transformation from football field to hockey rink.
- I’m not sure to what extent any of you care about the NCHC, but they’ve determined their conference championship weekend will be called the Frozen Faceoff. R.I.P. Fabulous Four.
- Eric Burton looks at the NCHCs TV coverage here and also poses an interesting question that applies to college hockey fans in a more general way. If they’re willing to pay a lot of money for (sometimes really crappy) webcasts of the games, how much more would they pay for a television package a la Center Ice? I can’t imagine that becoming a reality any time soon but it’s an intriguing idea. I don’t have the internet capabilities to watch the BTN2Go games. Out of curiosity, how is their hockey coverage?
Buckeye Women
The ladies had their ups and downs against No. 1 Minnesota. One the plus side, Cara Zubko and Alexa Ranahan scored their first collegiate goals on Saturday, and a Danielle Gagne tally had the Bucks tied with the Gophers after the first period of Sunday’s game. On the other side, Minnesota put the gas pedal down and cruised to a sweep. The ladies take a much needed break next. They’ll return to action in January.
- You can read Ohio State’s game recaps, check out the boxscores, and view the Buckeyes’ postgame press conferences here and here.
- The week’s second piece of quality hockey coverage from The Dispatch features Buckeye junior Taylor Kuehl. She talked with Ray Stein about many things including her hometown in Minnesota, why she chose Ohio State, and how she avoided a penalty in the record-setting OSU-Bemidji brawl.
Nuts Abroad
- If you haven’t already, check out the nice finish by RJ Umberger on this Nick Foligno pass.
- Tyson Strachan had a huge game in Hershey’s win at Binghamton, a goal and two assists for the big guy!
- Ryan Kesler talks about taking it outside as the Canucks prepare to host the Senators in the NHL’s Heritage Classic next March.
- And finally, Rod Pelley talked here about the Albany Devils’ rounded scoring and what he intends to do with some time off.
