The Ohio State men's ice hockey season is fast approaching and today, the Big Ten announced the preseason coaches poll. Head coach Steve Rohlik's Buckeyes, coming off a disappointing 15–18–4 season, were picked second in the league's preseason poll with seniors Josh Healey and Nick Schilkey and sophomore Mason Jobst named players to watch.
Minnesota is the league front-runner, per the coaches poll, while Michigan was picked third. Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State round out the six teams.
Schilkey, a Marysville, Mich. native, was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2016, finishing fifth in the league in scoring. Healey, from Edmonton, Alberta, was a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season at defenseman, becoming only the third Buckeye since 1981 to earn All-B1G accolades. Speedway, Ind. native Jobst earned Freshman All-Big Ten honors last year and scored the overtime game-winner against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Ohio State kicks off BTN's coverage of the 2016-17 men's ice hockey season when they travel to Minnesota for a two-game series in early December. The Buckeyes will also take part in BTN's “Super Saturday” on Jan. 28 when they face Wisconsin at 7 p.m.at Madison Square Garden in New York.
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2, 2016 | 9 p.m. | @ MINNESOTA | BTN |
| Dec. 3, 2016 | 8 p.m. | @ MINNESOTA | FSN Plus |
| Jan. 14, 2017 | 2 p.m. | ARIZONA STATE | ESPNU |
| Jan. 28, 2017 | 7 p.m. | WISCONSIN (at Madison Square Garden) | BTN |
| Feb. 3, 2017 | 8 p.m. | @ MICHIGAN | BTN |
| Feb. 10, 2017 | 8 p.m. | MINNESOTA | BTN |
| Feb. 11, 2017 | 8 p.m. | MINNESOTA | BTN |
| Feb. 25, 2017 | 8 p.m. | MICHIGAN | BTN |
| Mar. 10, 2017 | 8 p.m. | @ WISCONSIN | WPT |
| Mar. 11, 2017 | TBA | @ WISCONSIN | BTN |
BTN will also provide live coverage of all five games from the 2017 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, scheduled for March 16–18 at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.
The Buckeyes kick off the season with an exhibition against Wilfrid Laurier in Value City Arena on Sunday at 4 p.m. Ohio State opens the regular season Oct. 7-8 in Denver at the Ice Breaker Tournament, facing Denver and then either Boston College or Air Force.
You can find the full schedule for the men's ice hockey team on the official site.
