2017-18 is the season of Buckeye women’s hockey. Ohio State is undefeated through six games (5-0-1 overall, 3-0-1-1 WCHA) with statement-making wins over powerhouse programs Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth. The team is leading the WCHA and skyrocketing up the national rankings.
This week’s polls have the Bucks up to No. 4. It is, I believe, the best national ranking ever for the Scarlet and Gray. Ohio State was No. 6 for a few days in October of 2012. As far as I can tell, that was the program’s previous best mark.
| Women's Hockey | individual Honors | Week |
|---|---|---|
| Tatum Skaggs, Fr. F | WCHA Offensive Player of the Week | No. 1 |
| Emma Maltais, Fr. F | WCHA Offensive Player of the Week | No. 2 |
| Tatum Skaggs, Fr. F | WCHA Rookie of the Week | No. 2 |
| Kassidy Sauve, RS-Jr. G | NCAA First Star of the Week | No. 3 |
| Kassidy Sauve, RS-Jr. G | WCHA Defensive Player of the Week | No. 3 |
There are many reasons for the OSU surge. One is a level of team chemistry and staff leadership not seen in Columbus for several years. Another is sensational individual performances in the early weeks of the season. It isn’t always the same Buckeye, but it’s always some Buckeye. This week it’s goaltender Kassidy Sauve.
Sauve earned the NCAA’s No. 1 Star of the Week nod. She was also named the WCHA’s Defensive Player of the Week. The stingy All-American was a huge factor in Ohio State’s sweep of Minnesota-Duluth.
The Bucks weren’t firing on all cylinders on Friday but Sauve stepped up for her teammates and blanked the Bulldogs with a season high 35 saves. The shutout was the second of the season for the pride of Whitby, Ontario and career whitewash No. 14. Sauve added another 31 stops in Saturday’s victory, including 16 in the third period. She also recorded the primary assist on the Bucks’ third goal. Your move, every other goalie.
Even Nadine Muzerall is running out of superlatives to describe her netminder, stating, “At times it feels like I’m a broken record when it comes to praising Sauve, but she, and the rest of our team, really stepped up last weekend to keep our momentum rolling. Sauve played her heart out, as did all of these women, and we’re happy that her outstanding work in net is being recognized as our team continues to move forward and work toward our bigger goals this season.”
This is the third consecutive week that Ohio State has been represented in the WCHA’s weekly awards and the first time a Buckeye has garnered national recognition. Two Bucks also picked up honorable mentions in the WCHA, Maddy Field (2-1--3) for WCHA Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman Emma Maltais (1-1--2) for Rookie of the Week.
The Buckeyes hit the road this week for a Friday-Saturday series at St. Cloud State. Games are presently scheduled for 4:07 p.m. and 3:37 p.m. ET starts, respectively.
- Missed last week's action? Catch a little bit of it in this week's WCHA highlight reel.
