The clock was lined with zeros, the final buzzer sounded and Ohio’s national championship hopes had slipped away.
Ohio’s season ended as it was eliminated from the semifinals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament Tuesday evening losing to No. 3 Minot State 5-1.
Forward Tom Whetsel blazed past the Beaver defense 1:56 into the game, beating junior goalie Wyatt Waselenchuk to his left and giving Ohio a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
But that would be the only taste of success the Bobcats would have, as Minot State clamped down defensively with an aggressive forecheck and held the Bobcats scoreless for the final 58:44 of the game.
“(Minot State) did a really good job of not giving us any second-chance opportunities,” coach Dan Morris said. “We would have the first shot and no second chance opportunities. And that’s a credit to their defense.”
Despite dominating puck possession, the Beavers couldn’t shake the Bobcats in the first period, as the score was tied at one heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, wasted opportunities and inopportune mistakes cost Ohio.
With 17:50 on the clock, both senior forward Jonathan Pietramala and freshman defenseman Mike Kretz were sent to the penalty box, giving Minot State a five–on–three advantage.
It didn’t take long for the Beavers, as senior captain Nigel Dube ripped a slapshot in the top shelf 12 seconds into the power play to take a 2-1 lead.
Ohio gained a five-on-three advantage of their own, along with several odd man rushes throughout the period, but could not capitalize and bust through Minot State’s stingy, veteran defense.
The turning point came with 3:31 remaining in the period, when Ohio forward Zander Dover was given a game misconduct for a charging penalty.
Minot State responded with vengeance, capitalizing on the five-minute power play with a goal by sophomore forward Michael Jordan just as time expired in the second period.
“We went from a game where the referee didn’t call those penalties,” Morris said. “We couldn’t get a read on what was being called and what wasn’t being called.
This was an emotional hurdle, and we didn’t do a good job of handling our emotions at this point.”
The Beavers tacked on two more goals in the third period and continued to hold the Bobcats in check offensively, holding the first line of junior Brett Agnew and seniors Nick Rostek and Tyler Pilmore in check.
“We had our opportunities,” Morris said. “But what it comes down to is (Minot State) did a very good job. The opportunities they gave us, they shut us down, and that’s what you’ve got to do in situations like this.”
ch203310@ohiou.edu
