An already depleted Ohio roster was dealt another blow last Saturday when first-line RW Nick Rostek left the Bobcat’s 4-2 victory over Oklahoma in the second period with a right ankle injury.
Rostek, currently third on the team with seven points, is out for this Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, head coach Dan Morris said, adding that he “hopefully” he’ll be back for next weekend’s early season showdown at Penn State.
Like he did Sunday against Delaware, John Luciana will take over Rostek’s spot on the top line against the Panthers.
The injury is one more setback to a roster already missing several key parts. Defenseman Jake Holzemer sat out all three games last weekend after injuring his knee against West Virginia on Oct.1 and will have an MRI today, while fellow senior blue liner Jonathan Gulch has yet to play a game due to a nagging lower-body problem. Sophomore forward David Veitch is also yet to see game time due to injury.
The injury bug has bitten Ohio so badly in the early that they were forced to play Sunday’s game against Delaware a player short due to lack of bodies. Morris said that while the “out” list is lengthening, he’d rather have it happen now than in February.
“If you’re going to get injuries, hopefully they’re going to happen early in the year,” he said.
One bit of good news came in the form of forward Alex DiMassa, who practiced for the first time all season yesterday after sitting out the early part of the season with a knee injury. DiMassa could make his first start Friday.
cd211209@ohiou.edu
