Greetings, hockey fans! It’s been a long hot summer but the season has finally turned, the ice is back in, and a brand new season of Buckeye hockey awesomeness is set to begin.
2017-18 brought an unprecedented level of success for the puck programs with both the men’s and women’s teams advancing to their respective Frozen Fours. And not only could the Bucks reach greater heights this season, but they’re also expected to.
| 2018-19 Big Ten Preseason Poll |
|---|
| 1. Ohio State |
| 2. Michigan |
| 3. Notre Dame |
| 4. Minnesota |
| 5. Penn State |
| 6. Wisconsin |
| 7. Michigan State |
The Big Ten today announced that Ohio State topped the conference coaches’ preseason poll. It is the first time the team has led the preseason Big Ten voting. It’s only the second time in program history that the Bucks have been the preseason conference favorite (CCHA, 2005-06).
The Scarlet and Gray also landed at No. 3 in the first national poll of the season. It is the highest preseason placement for Ohio State ever. USCHO pollsters sandwiched the Buckeyes between No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 4 Michigan. All three teams received two first-place votes each. Minnesota (No. 13) and Penn State (No. 16) also rank in the preseason top-20. Reigning NCAA champ Minnesota-Duluth claimed the top spot.
| Big Ten Players to Watch |
|---|
| Quinn Hughes, Michigan* |
| Josh Norris, Michigan |
| Jake Slaker, Michigan |
| Taro Hirose, Michigan State* |
| Patrick Khodorenko, Michigan State |
| Mitch Lewandowski, Michigan State |
| Rem Pitlick, Minnesota |
| Tyler Sheehy, Minnesota |
| Cale Morris, Notre Dame* |
| Mason Jobst, Ohio State* |
| Dakota Joshua, Ohio State |
| Tanner Laczynski, Ohio State* |
| Denis Smirnov, Penn State |
| Nate Sucese, Penn State |
| Walt Kalynuk, Wisconsin* |
| *Unanimous selection |
The source of Ohio State's optimistic outlook lies in its large, talented veteran core. The returning roster features most of last season's key contributors. Three Buckeyes were named Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch. Senior Mason Jobst enters the season as the NCAA’s active career points leader (128). This is his third straight Watch List selection.
It is (bafflingly) the first such nod for junior All-American Tanner Laczynski as well as senior Dakota Joshua. Laczynski is coming off a career 47 point year. The then-sophomore averaged 1.15 points per game in 2017-18 and finished just outside the top-10 on the national scoring chart. He is arguably the player to watch in the Big Ten this season.
Other Players to Watch include Michigan first-rounders Josh Norris (nineteenth overall, Ottawa Senators) and Quinn Hughes (seventh overall, Vancouver Canucks). Reigning Big Ten goalie and player of the year Cale Morris of Notre Dame makes the list too. So does last season’s rookie of the year, Michigan State forward Mitch Lewandowski.
The men’s hockey Buckeyes kick off the 2018-19 season on the road at Arizona State October 12-13. The home opener is set for the following weekend, October 19-20, as the Bucks play host to UMass.
Women’s Hockey Opens Season This Friday
The Buckeye men aren’t the only ones coming off a breakout season. The women’s hockey Bucks torched their program record books last year en route to Ohio State’s first-ever Frozen Four appearance. WCHA coaches predict a third-place finish for OSU in 2018-19 behind perennial favorites Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Buckeye women begin the year at No. 7 in the national polls. We’ll preview the women’s season opener later this week and take a closer look at their overall outlook.
It’s good to be back, puck heads. Here's to a new year, a clean slate, and a fresh sheet.
