When Jeff Jepson's former team, the Eastern Michigan Eagles, came to Athens on Oct. 13, he was not sure what to expect.
Having transferred from the Eagles a year ago after things did not work out with the coaching staff, Jepson was more than anxious to show his former team that he made the right choice.Now, well oriented with his Bobcat squad, Jepson said he is much more relaxed entering this weekend's series against the Central States Collegiate Hockey League rival Eagles.
I'm more relaxed and we have played a lot of games since then
he said. When we played them earlier in the year I didn't know what to expect. Now we have a pretty good idea.
In that series, the Bobcats rallied to defeat the Eagles in both games, winning 4-3 and 9-4. Since that point in the season, Jepson said he has become much more comfortable in the Ohio offense, often playing the point on the Bobcats' power play.
After about two or three weeks it just started to click he said. Our program here is run so well
and I wasn't really used to that in past years. Playing with all the guys has made the transition easy.Coach Dan Morris said that the Eagles are a better team than what the Bobcats faced in mid-October, despite being 11-12-2.
They are a solid team and we have our work cut out for us to get four wins
he said. It is a challenge to defeat a team four times in one season.
Jepson is not the only first-year player to give the Bobcats a mid-season boost. Forward Phil Oberlin and goaltender Chris Carlson along with second-year defensemen Mike Peota and Dave Moyer have seen more shifts despite their lack of experience with the team.
That is their progression and development as hockey players
Morris said of their increased contributions. During the first half of the year they focused more on system work and what they are trying to do. That made it easier in the second half of the year when they could go back to just playing again.
Oberlin is coming off one of his best series as a Bobcat where he recorded a goal and an assist in the second game of last week's series against Lindenwood. He echoed Morris' sentiments that he has become knowledgeable in the Ohio system, one that he was familiar to before he even became a Bobcat.
I think I am adapting pretty well to the team
he said. The systems have come pretty easily because Coach Morris was my coach in high school.
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Steve Gartner
