The No. 2 spot in the national rankings could be up for grabs in Bird Arena this weekend.
Penn State, who is ranked No. 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association poll, will face-off with the No. 3 Ohio club hockey team tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 in Bird Arena.
It is unlikely that the Icers will retain their No. 1 ranking after being swept by No. 2 Rhode Island last week.
The final poll that determines the seeding in the ACHA tournament comes out Feb. 17, but it is expected Rhode Island will jump Penn State for the No. 1 spot.
Ohio will have an opportunity to leap-frog Penn State by sweeping this weekend's series.
I don't know what kind of implications (the games against Penn State) are going to have on the rankings
said Ohio forward Paul Warriner. I think they're the biggest games so far. We definitely have to try to sweep them.
Because of the intense rivalry between Penn State and Ohio, the rankings factor only adds to the already intense atmosphere surrounding this weekend's hockey games.
Both teams can be unranked and any time we play Penn State it's an important game Morris said. You can throw (the rankings) out every time we meet up. Pride kicks in more than what other people perceive of our team.
Warriner said that a sweep would also be big for Ohio because it would give the team momentum going into the tournament.
Ohio again will be without leading scorer Jim Fuhs. Fuhs, who suffered a knee injury two weekends ago against Duquesne, might not be ready until the national tournament.
We're getting some guys back this weekend
Morris said. We're going to try to get them some ice time before the tournament starts to get their feet wet.
Coming back for Ohio will be defenseman John Yasak who missed the past two weekends with a groin strain. Forward Robbie Farmer will miss tonight's game as he is serving a one game suspension.
Fuhs again will be replaced by freshman J.J. Plutt in the first line with Warriner and Brandon Hanley. Plutt, who replaced Fuhs last weekend, scored a goal and looked comfortable playing with what Morris called the best line in the ACHA.
Despite a strong showing by freshman Paul Marshall in goal last weekend, Ryan Baksh will be between the pipes tonight.
When Baksh shut out the Icers earlier this season, Ohio's lone goal came from Clay LaBrosse. LaBrosse, who is a Pennsylvania native, said that has been a typical week of practice.
In the locker room
everyone has been joking around
trying to keep loose
LaBrosse said. On the ice
it's been more intense.
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