A still-perfect Ohio squad will look to assert its dominance against Oklahoma — its first real test of the season — when the Sooners travel to Bird Arena for this weekend’s matchup.
The Sooners (6-1) will likely push the Bobcats to their limits like no other opponent could to this point, as they sit only three spots behind the top-ranked Bobcats in the American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings.
Ohio coach Dan Morris said that the way that the Bobcats will respond to playing a tougher opponent will clear up which facets of their game need to be improved as the season progresses.
“It’s still early in the year,” Morris said. “We get different tests to see what our guys are and aren’t capable of. I think part of playing a tougher competitor is their ability to expose some of our weaknesses better than some other opponents.”
Ohio’s roster has 14 additions this season. Of those 14, four have been able to score at least once. Goalie Matt Michno, who is in his first year with the team despite being a graduate student, has been statistically sound in the three games he’s played, racking up a .98 save percentage.
Morris says that the commitment of the rookies has contributed to the team’s early success.
“They’re doing all the things that they need to do right, and we’re having success because of it,” Morris said. “But they’re also very committed, and you see that reflected by the way they’re playing on the ice.”
Senior forward Tyler Pilmore played a pivotal role in the Bobcats’ come-from-behind win last Saturday by scoring a power-play goal in the third period. He said that the Bobcats’ rookies might come through similarly late in the game against the Sooners.
“This weekend is a huge weekend for us,” Pilmore said. “The competition will be a lot better. We have a lot of new guys who have played a steady stream of competition, but now with the huge jump, it could be difficult to adjust to. From a leadership standpoint, we have to get the younger guys ready to play.”
jd202409@ohiou.edu
