Paula C. WestonOhio State “did enough to win,” said their head coach, John Markell, as the Buckeyes downed Wayne State, 3-2, completing their first two-game sweep of the season. “I compliment Mike Betz for being there,” Markell said. “[WSU] created a lot of shots on the power play.” Betz made 31 saves as the Warriors outshot the … Read more
For the Wayne State Warriors, it was deja vu all over again. The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-2-1) bounced the Warriors (3-4-0), 9-0, in the second all-time meeting between the two teams; in two meetings OSU has outscored WSU 15-0. WSU played its first-ever game in the Schottenstein Center Oct. 2, 1999, a 6-0 OSU victory. … Read more
Two Is the Loneliest Number Before Nov. 2, the Lake Superior State Lakers had slim — but important — breathing room between themselves and the CCHA basement, and the Ferris State Bulldogs were winless. By the time the Lakers left Big Rapids, the Bulldogs were four points richer and Lake State was alone at the … Read more
Shane Glover had three points and Andrew Wong, Jeff Hoggan, and Greg Zanon each had a goal and an assist as the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks downed the Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1, earning two points and a road split in their weekend series in Columbus. Dan Ellis made 36 saves in the contest and 60 in the … Read more
Mike Betz stopped all 24 Nebraska-Omaha shots as Ohio State brought the Mavericks back to Earth Friday after UNO’s sweep of Michigan State last weekend. OSU blueliner Thomas Welsh provided all the offense OSU needed in victory with his first collegiate goal.
Halloween came a bit early — and it was all tricks, no treats — for Michigan and Michigan State last weekend, as both were swept. Paula C. Weston offers a post-mortem, and a look ahead in the CCHA.
CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos weighs in on the league’s playoff format; Ron Mason gets win number 900; and an NCAA rules change. Paula C. Weston reports.
The Ohio State Buckeyes overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Notre Dame, 3-2, in the second contest in a two-game set and the final regular-season meeting between the two teams. Scott May had two goals, including the game-winner, R.J. Umberger had two helpers, and Dave Steckel netted his first of the season in a game … Read more
It’s easy to call any tied game “hard-fought,” but the 4-4 decision Saturday between Notre Dame and Ohio State looked more like hard scrabble, as neither team played well defensively, neither goaltender found much help in front of the net, and neither team sustained any kind of momentum. But each team managed some offense, and … Read more
With the CCHA’s move to a 12- (read: “all 12”) team postseason format, two more of the league’s member schools gain a second chance at success — and the conference gains some extra ticket sales. Also, Western Michigan confronts Michigan in the Game(s) of the Week after a disappointing start. Paula C. Weston reports.
In her opening CCHA column of the season, Paula C. Weston previews the loaded Maverick Stampede, salutes lightly-regarded Alaska-Fairbanks, and makes a plea re:September 11, 2001.
In the game which set a world record for hockey attendance, top-ranked Michigan State and No. 5 Michigan fittingly skated to a 3-3 tie Saturday evening at Spartan Stadium. Mike Cammalleri scored twice for Michigan, but Jim Slater scored six-on-five in the final minute for MSU to force the draw.
I Among ten stationary players,The only moving thingWas the eye of the Ryan Miller. You’ve heard the noise. Ryan Miller didn’t deserve the Hobey because of the defense in front of him. Michigan State doesn’t score enough goals. The Spartans play boring hockey. Blah, blah, blah. Sure, they’re ranked No. 1, but Michigan State — … Read more
VII O speculative fans of the CCHA,Why do you imagine a last-place finish?Do you not see how the NanooksPersevere among the playersIn the rink where you worship? The Nanooks were picked last by the media in the CCHA preseason poll — by everyone but me, that is. The third of the league’s teams that fielded … Read more
V I do not know which to prefer,The beauty of inflectionsOr the beauty of innuendoes,Jason Deskins scoringOr just after. The RedHawks finished the 2000-01 season with a second-half record of 10-6-0, and still managed a slice of second place in the regular-season final standings. After securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs, … Read more
XII The season is beginning.The Bulldogs must be barking. Ferris State finished eighth last season, taking three of four games from cluster-mate Alaska-Fairbanks late in the campaign, but struggling down the stretch with Notre Dame, Lake Superior, and Bowling Green. The Bulldogs ended their season with two first-round playoff losses in Yost Arena. I Know … Read more
VIII I know noble accentsAnd lucid, inescapable rhythms;And I know, too,That the falcon is involvedIn what I know. Ice hockey is a game of irresistible beauty, combining the athletic with the aesthetic, power with form, brown with orange. Ay, Ziggy Zoomba. As one of the CCHA’s two resident enigmas, the Bowling Green Falcons have yet … Read more
II. I was of three minds,Like a rinkIn which there are three Mavericks. Two consecutive trips to the CCHA championship tourney in their first two years of league membership — do you think anyone is underestimating these Mavericks now? While UNO graduated a large senior class that included the last of the “original Mavericks,” the … Read more
IV The blade and the puckAre one.The blade and the puck and R.J. UmbergerAre one. The Buckeyes finished the 2000-01 season with a gritty, three-game, first-round CCHA playoff series against Nebraska-Omaha, losing by the width of two pucks in the very hostile Omaha Civic Center. The memory of those losses — games many Buckeye players … Read more
Saturday’s record-shattering contest between Michigan and Michigan State has been long in the making. “The Outdoor Game,” nee “The Cold War,” opens the CCHA season in a unique way. Paula C. Weston previews the battle.