One of the American Collegiate Hockey Association's most intense and long-standing rivalries will resume this weekend under the roof of Penn State Ice Pavilion.
The Bobcats (25-3-1, 11-1-0 CSCHL) face their Keystone State foes for the third and fourth times this season. The rivals split the first two games at Bird Arena in October.
Ohio took the Oct. 9 contest 2-1 and dropped a 4-3 overtime decision the following night.
The Icers (19-2-1) handed Ohio its first loss of the season in painful fashion as senior defenseman Steve Thurston scored the game-winner with less than one second remaining in the extra session.
Since then, both teams have hit stride. The Bobcats are 17-3-0 following that series, and Penn State is 16-1-1. The Icers won 11 straight games from Oct. 23 to Nov. 28, while Ohio took 15 contests in a row from Oct. 23 to Dec. 11.
We know each other real well
coach Dan Morris said. Their style of play is very similar to ours.
Penn State is undefeated at home this season through 12 games, and Ohio is 12-2-0 on the road. Unlike past seasons, the Bobcats hosted the Icers in the fall rather than travelling to University Park.
Waiting to visit the Icers until midseason allowed the Bobcats to find their form before playing at a tough venue.
We're usually not very good in the fall just trying to do a lot of different things Morris said.
Ohio has lost two of its last three games on the heels of a 3-2 home loss to Central Oklahoma, and Morris anticipates his team to put forth a workmanlike effort.
We kind of hit a high towards the Lindenwood weekend
and now we're going down a little bit off that
Morris said.
We might not be playing our best hockey right now
so I expect us to at least battle hard as we swing down emotionally and look to get better in some aspects of our game
he said.
Morris also noted a need for leadership in captain Phil Oberlin's absence. Oberlin has not practiced or played since the beginning of Winter Quarter. He had been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms
Morris said.
It's not so much about cheerleading; it's about leading
Morris said.
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