After a rough weekend at Kent State, the Ohio hockey team remained undefeated but lost its winning streak. Tying both Friday and Saturday night, 3-3 and 2-2, respectively, the Bobcats struggled through team discipline problems to improve its record to 8-0-2.
Ohio took a two-goal lead into the third period Friday before allowing Kent State two unanswered late goals. The game ended in a tie according to the American Collegiate Hockey Association, but Central States Collegiate Hockey League rules mandate that every game must have a winner. The game went into a shootout, with Kent State winning.
Saturday's game was more of the same as the Bobcats took a 2-1 lead into the third before allowing Kent State to come back and force the game into a shootout. This time however, the Bobcats prevailed, improving their CSCHL record to 5-1 on the season.
While the two ties cost the team their 25-game ACHA winning streak, which dated back to January, the Bobcats were content because they played with only 12 players during Saturday's game.
Following an undisclosed team disciplinary action, the team only had 14 players for the weekend. On Friday defenseman Josh Granum and center Daniel Richardson sat out because of injury. This left the Bobcats only 10 position players and two goalies to play against all 20 Golden Flashes.
Coach Dan Morris would not comment on the disciplinary action the team took, but did say that he and team leaders addressed the issue quickly.
We took care of the discipline as a team
Morris said. We're all brothers and it was the team captains' decision to handle this now. (Captain Nick) Bassarab called me Friday and said we could do this with 14 guys. I was happy with that decision and it showed the kind of leadership we're looking for.
Among the 14 players who remained eligible for the weekend, Bassarab led the way, scoring two goals. Bassarab said that the mistakes made by his teammates will help improve the focus of the team from here on.
This is my fourth year here and I've been through a lot he said. I've seen how serious you have to be to get to the next level and I don't think some of the younger guys realized how serious it is. Hopefully
they'll all realize they need to focus everything on playing hockey.
Among the players suspended for Saturday night's game was goalie Derek DeFelice, who was scheduled to make his first back-to-back starts this weekend. DeFelice still started Friday, but sat out Saturday.
Morris said he was unsure if he would continue to alternate Ryan Baksh and DeFelice every weekend, but said he was disappointed that DeFelice did not get two chances to prove himself. For now, Morris said that the position is still open.
It's still up in the air right now
Morris said. I'll probably continue to lean towards the rotation
but we'll see. Baksh came in on Saturday and took a lot of heat and played pretty well. He proved up to the task of starting out of turn. But it's a long journey and we still have time.
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Mike Cottrill
