Ohio coach Dan Morris normally does not stress the importance of any two games above others, especially during the regular season. So when he calls a series “make-or-break,” it’s a pretty big deal.
Those were the words Morris used to describe his team’s trip to Lindenwood this weekend in a series that could decide the fate of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League regular-season title. At 8-1-1, the Bobcats sit in first place in the league standings with 22 points, ahead of the 8-0-0 Lions, who have 20 but have two more games to play than Ohio.
All things considered, the 12 points on the line this weekend likely will decide the CSCHL championship.
“It is a make-or-break weekend. We have to win both games,” Morris said. “We have very little chance, if any, if we don’t. It’s a challenge, it’s an opportunity, and you present it as such.”
But sweeping two games at Lindenwood is a tough proposition for any team, even a perennial contender such as the Bobcats. In the past five seasons, they are just 6-9 against the Lions, the only team in the CSCHL that Ohio has a losing record against during that period.
The Bobcats accomplished the sweep the last time they traveled to Wentzville, Mo., back in December 2009. And when the teams last met in March for the CSCHL tournament championship, Ohio also got the better of Lindenwood in a 4-0 decision.
“They’re going to keep that in the back of their heads, and it’s going to be in the back of our heads as well, so that’s going to add some fire to this weekend,” forward Michael Schultz said. “We’ve been pretty successful against them in the past few years, and we plan on doing that this weekend, too.”
The games also will add to a burgeoning rivalry between the schools that started when Lindenwood joined the CSCHL back in 2006. The two have combined to dominate the league in recent seasons, winning the past three playoff tournaments and four of the past five regular-season titles.
Though the competition on the ice has been fierce, the rivalry has taken longer to take root off the ice — something Morris partly attributes to the lack of history and notoriety between the schools.
“Unfortunately, (Lindenwood) isn’t a big-name recognition school for us,” Morris said. “I think our base of fans understand they’re a great team and a great program, but for whatever reason a lot of people are just attracted to a bigger name like Penn State, Illinois or other Big Ten schools.
“But competition-wise, absolutely, there’s no better program out there playing-wise or talent-wise than Lindenwood. That should create a great rivalry, and it does with the players.”
cd211209@ohiou.edu
