Sandwiched between the league playoffs and the national tournament, coach Dan Morris thought it would be difficult to motivate his club against West Virginia.
If it was a challenge, it wasn't obvious.
Ohio used a multi-point effort from departing senior J.J. Plutt in Friday's opener, and Michael Schultz tallied the first hat trick of his career the next night en route to 4-1 and 6-1 routs of the struggling Mountaineers.
West Virginia goaltender Chris Wilder made several key stops but never received defensive support. Ohio had 57 shots on goal on Saturday.
The Bobcats used three goaltenders throughout the weekend, with senior Chris Carlson manning the pipes in the opener and making 19 saves.
Paul Marshall made his return to the lineup on Saturday, playing two periods and stopping 16 shots before giving way to backup Patrick Morse, who saw his first action of the season.
After winning the league championship for the sixth time the previous weekend, it remained to be seen how the Bobcats came out for two games against non-contending opponents.
This is just the way we play
and have been playing for a while now Morris said. We're set in the fact that this is what we do and we aren't ready to change gears.
While the weekend was special to Ohio's outgoing seniors, Morris said that it was difficult to energize his younger players.
It's a challenge to get the young guys ready for a game like this
Morris said. But it's all part of our season.
Motivation isn't an issue for guys like J.J. Plutt - the seniors were flying out there.
In a game where the Bobcats lost top players Ryan Tessmer
Zack Barbis and Billy Hemann to the Central States Collegiate Hockey League All-Star Game in Illinois
the young core stepped up and provided an energetic flare to the series.
It was good to get the win for our seniors, Schultz said. The puck was following me the whole night, but I don't know what that was all about.
While it could have been easy to lose focus
Schultz said
the games were just like any other game.
We have to keep staying on this winning track, he said. Good teams do that.",",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,27453a.jpg,Freshman center Michael Schultz outstrips two West Virginia players and heads toward the goal during Ohio
