The return of Travis Preble could not come at a better time.
Having missed the entire season with a broken right leg, Preble will resume his duties on the blue line tonight for the Bobcats.
His return to the lineup coincides with Ohio's biggest series of the season, against the American Collegiate Hockey League's No. 1 ranked team, the Illinois Fighting Illini.
To be honest
I am just happy to be playing again Preble said. It's really exciting to play after going through surgery and missing six months.
Although it is uncertain how much ice time Preble will see this weekend, coach Dan Morris said the Bobcats will receive a boost just from seeing him in uniform.
Just having him on the bench is great because he is such a positive influence Morris said. He's our only senior defender
and the other guys look up to him.
This weekend's series begins a stretch of three weeks where the No. 3 Bobcats will host the No. 1 Illini, the No. 2 Penn State Icers and the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament.
Center Jim Fuhs said that the upcoming set of games will determine the Bobcats success in the national tournament.
Every weekend from here on out we have to be focused
he said. This is going to be a measuring stick for our success in the national tournament. It's a good test for us.
Along with Preble, Ohio will welcome all three of its captains back to the ice in Fuhs, right wing Paul Warriner and defenseman Jim Roach.
Fuhs was representing the United States in the Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy, while Warriner and Roach sat out of last weekend's series with minor injures.
It brings stability back to our team this week
Morris said. Those are the guys we count on in certain situations and it's nice to have them back for our biggest test of the year.
In the Illini, the Bobcats face a team that has only lost two games on the season and has maintained their No. 1 ranking for the past five weeks.
Morris said that Illinois does not have many weaknesses, but one advantage the Bobcats can exploit is playing at home.
The only weakness that they may have is playing at our place
Morris said. We have to make sure that the energy in the rink is at an optimum and have the fans on our side.
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