Paul Warriner knows that if his team expects to be in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament final on Sunday, they will not make it by cruising through the first two rounds.
It's going to be difficult because our league is the most difficult league in the country
he said. Part of our job as veterans on the team is to make sure guys aren't looking too far ahead.
The top-seeded Bobcats will begin the defense of their CSCHL regular season title tonight at Bird Arena as they face eighth-seeded Michigan-Dearborn.
Ohio will host the league tournament for the first time since 1995 and coach Dan Morris said that playing at home has its advantages and disadvantages.
At tournament time it's (playing at home) not as big of an advantage as in the regular season but guys can stay in their regular routines he said. The advantage is playing in front of your home crowd; the disadvantage is being unable to isolate the players.
Center Justin Althof added that playing in front of a home crowd gives Ohio a distinct advantage in close games and fuels Ohio's desire to win the CSCHL title.
It's almost like having another player out there with you
and it can make the difference in a close game
he said. The fact that it is at home makes us want to win the trophy in front of our fans.
The Bobcats play the final game of the day on Friday against Michigan-Dearborn, whom Ohio swept earlier this season at home with a combined score of 13-4.
Dearborn is a good team
they are an eight seed and they are going to nationals
he said. I think it shows you how tough our league is when the eighth seeded team is going to nationals as one of the top 16 team in the country.
If the Bobcats were to advance past the Wolves, they would face the winner of this morning's Kent State-Iowa State game. This season the Bobcats had a combined 4-2 record against the Golden Flashes and Cyclones.
Looking ahead to the CSCHL finals on Sunday, the possibility exists for a rematch between Ohio and Illinois.
Although the Bobcats swept the Illini in that series, Morris said the pressure is on Illinois to protect the tournament title that they won a year ago.
We defended our regular season title and Illinois has the tournament title
so the pressure is on them
Morris said. It's up to them to defend their title
and we want to take it back.
