Ohio (25-5) faced Canisius University (9-14-3) on Friday and Saturday at home. With only two weekends remaining until Nationals, the Bobcats needed to play hard against this team. Canisius might be a weak opponent, but every game counts. They did exactly that as the Bobcats played physically and put maximum effort into every play.
“We’ve never played Canisius before, so it was a different look,” alternate captain and senior forward Luc Reeve said. “Maybe not one of our hardest games. Our shots were really high. There were some good takeaways offensively.”
A key to Ohio’s success is its offensive possession time. Friday night, the Bobcats took 64 shots on goal. Saturday’s total was 54. Even when the goals aren’t coming, they tend to control the puck in the offensive zone. They embody the saying “the best defense is a good offense.”
“We came out and stuck to the standards that we set for ourselves,” alternate captain and junior forward Noah Holt said. “I’m really proud of this group, how we play.”
Holt scored twice in the second game, bumping his season total to 10 goals.
Another consistent strength for Ohio was the penalty kill. The team only drew one penalty in Friday’s game. Saturday, however, physical play led to seven penalties. Schutte said he wanted the team to finish checks, and his players delivered.
“We wanted to be a little more physical,” Ohio head coach Barry Schutte said. “(Saturday) was definitely more physical than last night on both sides.”
The Bobcats did not allow any goals on the penalty kill and almost scored short-handed twice. Over the season, their penalty kill sat at 87.38%.
“It’s just finding your rhythm and your partners,” Schutte said. “Jack Glen and Hollander Thompson have been really effective. They get us off on the right foot every kill, especially winning that face off.”
Senior goaltender Matt Zazon started in net in both games. He earned his fourth shutout of the year Friday. For goalies who played ten or more games, Zazon ranks first in save percentage at .950.
As they look toward their final home weekend against Liberty University (18-8-1), the Bobcats need to continue to dominate possession time. The goalies have not faltered all season, and the defense needs to help them stay that way.
Ohio has not lost momentum down the stretch of this season so far, and the wins against the Golden Griffins came in an impressive blowout fashion.
Importantly, the players remain relaxed while still training hard. They have fun and keep the pressure off. The team follows Olympic hockey closely, especially with three nationalities represented on the roster. Reeve mentioned how he prioritizes good sleep.
“Watched the 2019 Masters final round last night,” Holt said. “It was the most heartwarming little 45-minute clip I’ve ever watched.”
