If its first two games against a Central States Collegiate Hockey League opponent were any indication of things to come, then the Ohio hockey team should have no problem repeating as league champions.
Rolling over Michigan-Dearborn 9-1 Friday and 8-2 Saturday, Ohio (4-0 overall, 2-0 CSCHL) played to every weakness the Wolves showed, scoring six power-play goals on the weekend.
Forward Matt Gallagher said the team set a tone for the year with the past two weekends.
It's huge to start off like that
Gallagher said, especially when you can get two conference wins. That gives us the confidence we need to head into our first big games.
It didn't take Ohio long to pull the Wolves apart, scoring two goals in the first period on Friday, including Brandon Steffek's goal at 6:20. Although Ryan Baksh let a power-play goal slip by him in the second, the goaltender recorded 27 saves as the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run to end the first game of the series.
Michigan-Dearborn tried to make up for its ineptitude by scoring first on Saturday, but Ohio trailed for less than six minutes before Jim Fuhs tied the game up. The Bobcats pulled out to a 4-1 lead before the Wolves scored again midway through the second period.
Ohio outscored Michigan-Dearborn 17-3 on the weekend; nine Bobcats scored goals, including Fuhs, who led the onslaught with three goals and five assists. Ohio has outscored their opponents 29-5 this season.
Defenseman Josh Granum said the explosive start to the season was exactly what the Bobcats needed to set the stage for all the younger players.
Big wins like this set an example for our program he said. We come in with high expectations but sometimes it's hard to really grasp that until we come out and play like this; that's when they can see the intensity.
Aside from the offensive explosion, coach Dan Morris continued his platoon in net, using both Derek DeFelice and Baksh, who started Friday and allowed just one power-play goal. DeFelice got the starting nod Saturday and gave up two power-play goals while recording 17 saves. Both goalies are 2-0 on the year; Baksh has a 1.00 goals average to DeFelice's 1.50.
Morris said he has not set a timetable on when he will pick a starting goalie for the season.
I'd love to have just one starter
but if we have to continue to platoon like this
I don't think that we drop off at all
he said. Both guys keep going out to prove themselves and there's a good competition going on.
With a strong start, the Bobcats will travel to play league rival Iowa State next weekend.
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Mike Cottrill
