Ohio State Buckeyes 2023-24 The Muzzinator Gonna Muzzinate!!

[pgb-ohio]

Final Score From Saturday, March 2nd
Ohio State 8
Bemidji State 0

Buckeyes Complete The Sweep; Alpha & Omega All Over Again

The series win in the 1st Round of the WCHA Playoffs has been secured. Like Friday, a single Buckeye sharpshooter both opened & closed the scoring.

Three Stars Of The Game: Decidedly Unofficial & Just For Fun

Bemidji State Honorable Mention: Makenna Deering
Makenna had 4 blocked shots. Certainly that's a significant contribution. But I'm also making a subjective judgement that Deering was the best Beaver Defender on Saturday night.

Ohio State Honorable Mention: (tie) Lauren Bernard; and Jenna Buglioni
Lauren & Jenna both had a goal and an assist. Fine contributions, too good to ignore. But not quite enough to break into the Star List -- on yet another highly productive night for the Buckeye Offense.



#3 Star: Joy Dunne,Ohio State
The Gardiner/Buglioni/Zanon Line, appearing at the top of the depth chart, ruled the 1st Period. Producing a 3-0 lead, they got the Buckeyes off to an excellent start.

The Dunne/Matthews/Mobley Line, listed 3rd on the depth chart, ruled the second period. Led by a goal and two assists from Joy, they built the lead to 6-0 and effectively ended the contest.

On Tally #4, Joy dislodged the puck from a scrum. That gave linemate Sloane Matthews the opportunity to grab the loose puck, make a beeline for the slot, and drive the puck home.

On Tally #5, Dunne and linemate Olivia Mobley executed a fine odd man rush. Remember the Lauren Bernard Assist from the Honorable Mentions? That was the Assist that launched Joy & Olivia.

On Tally #6, Dunne ripped a stiff shot toward the Bemidji net. Difficult to tell if the initial shot would have gone in. But a nifty tip off the shaft of Jordan Baxter's stick made sure it did.

Thank you, Joy!


#2 Star: Kiara Zanon, Ohio State
Hat Trick of Assists for Kiara! All came in the 1st Period. Clearly the Playmaker of the Game, Zanon was +3 on the night.

Zorro is one thing. But when you're on receiving end of the "Mark of Zanon" three times in the 1st Period, you know it's going to be a long night.

Thank you, Kiara!


#1 Star: Jenn Gardiner, Ohio State
Saturday the Alpha/Omega Honors went to Jenn. Like Barnes on Friday, Gardiner both broke the ice and put an exclamation mark on the procedings. And in this game, the Alpha Goal was also the GWG.

Jenn's strong skating stride makes her tough to catch. If you somehow do catch up, she's very difficult to separate from the puck. And when Gardiner gets her shot off, it's going to take both considerable skill & luck to keep it out of the net. She's a dangerous weapon who reaps what she sows.

On the Alpha Goal, Jenn took aim from a tough angle. It initially appeared that she was attempting a cross-slot pass to Zanon. Instead, the puck caught the inside of the goalkeeper's right leg. From there it caromed through the 5 hole and into the net.

On the Omega Goal, Jenn accepted a head-man pass from Hadley Hartmetz. From there, it was a multi-zone dash, and a truly audacious top shelf finish. That completed a +3 night for Gardiner, a stat matched only by Zanon.

Thank you, Jenn!



Up Next: The WCHA Final Face-Off. The Puck Drops Friday at 3:00 PM Eastern/2:00 PM Central. The Buckeyes Face A Familiar Playoff Opponent: The UMD Bulldogs.

[Hockeybuckeye]

I hope Webster is OK, she took a hard shot to the ice late in the game and did not return. It looked like she was off to the side of the bench with ice on her right arm / wrist but it was difficult from the distance to be certain if I saw that correctly.

I got word she's OK. I cringe at the thought of losing any player to injury going into the final stretch of the season.

[Hockeybuckeye]

I hope Webster is OK, she took a hard shot to the ice late in the game and did not return. It looked like she was off to the side of the bench with ice on her right arm / wrist but it was difficult from the distance to be certain if I saw that correctly.

[osualum86]

Ohio State took care of business in this WCHA Quarterfinal Series, eliminating Bemidji State by a final score of 8-0 to advance to next weekend's WCHA Final Faceoff. The Buckeyes scored three times in the first period to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Scoring for Ohio State in the first frame were Jenn Gardiner, Lauren Bernard, and Jenna Buglioni. The Bucks added three more goals in the second period from Sloane Matthews, Joy Dunne, and Jordan Baxter to take a 6-0 lead into the final intermission. Ohio State added two more goals in the final period from Hannah Bilka and Jenn Gardiner to round out the scoring in the 8-0 victory. Ohio State outshot the Beavers in this one, 62-9. Raygan Kirk stopped all nine shots she faced to get the win. Abbie Thompson started in net for Bemidji and stopped 53 of the 61 shots she faced. Emerald Kelley came in for the Beavers in the final 2:44 of the game and earned one save, making the totals for BSU 54 saves on 62 shots on goal by the Buckeyes. Bemidji's season comes to a close. Ohio State advances to the WCHA Final Faceoff at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis where their opponent is not yet known. If Minnesota defeats Minnesota State tomorrow, they will advance to take on Wisconsin and Ohio State will play Minnesota-Duluth. If Minnesota State pulls off the upset in game three tomorrow, they will advance to play Ohio State and Wisconsin will play Minnesota-Duluth.

[osualum86]

OK, being grounded is a good thing. But not that well grounded!

Now I don't want to be too macabre. But maybe you've just unearthed the one argument in favor of Mausoleum Hockey. (winking emoticon here)

Pgb, hahaha! Thank you for making me laugh! (laugh emoticon here)

[ARM]

I don't read Sierra as saying that.

Okay; I'll defer to your opinion on this.

In terms of physical plant, that's accurate. But we are not at the bottom in terms of in-game atmosphere and home ice advantage. ... Mausoleum Hockey vs. The Ugly Building? In all sincerity, give me the Ugly Building.

I kind of agree with you. But ...

When a similar question came up for the MN HS girls (oversized Xcel Energy Center or Ridder Arena for Girls HS Tournament), they wanted to play in the NHL rink versus the college rink packed full of atmosphere. They wanted to play where the boys played.

I don't really have a problem with "ugly" per se. Remember back to when Mankato was still playing in All Seasons Arena? Nobody claimed that the OSU's barn was the worst then. It wouldn't be accurate to say that it didn't have seating, because there were a few rows of bleachers, some of which were pulled out so that people could sit on them. When Lindenwood came to town, it held the 60 people in attendance fine. If the Gophers were in town and 300 showed up to watch, it was a challenge. There were all sorts of walls and overhangs that could come into play. My favorite was the year that the Zamboni door (which was behind and to the right of one goal) wasn't closing properly, so there was a gap beneath it. When a team got stuck in that zone and couldn't get a clear, a defender would just stuff the puck under the door. The refs would have to allow a change, because there wasn't a rule forbidding intentionally hiding the puck under the boards. To get to the ice, depending on what locker room they were put in, teams might have to either descend the long, metal staircase that came down one wall, or tromp through the paying customers in the concession area. There must have been a lot of players over the years who thought, "This would have been the worst arena in my HS conference."

Never been to your home, so I can't say if it's just unsightly, or if it impacts play. I hate watching men's regionals that are held in arenas where the ice degrades so badly that skill teams have to make a play in the first 10 minutes of a period, because the ice won't allow skating, much less puck handling while skating, thereafter. If the ice is good, the boards/glass yield mostly true bounces, and the players can change/shower in a room that isn't out of a prison movie, then I can tolerate other cosmetic issues.

Ultimately, I hope you get a new rink that your players deserve.

[Eddie Schorr]

President Carter was interviewed during the men's game, and it was extremely eye opening. He addressed the issue of new arenas (that's right arenas...plural) head on. Said that The Schott is too big for the men and the Ice Rink is too small for the women. He specifically said (and this is the jaw dropping moment) that while the "assessment period" is still ongoing that he really believes that there's "a need for two new sheets." In the context, he clearly meant two new arenas.

Also, don't underestimate the positive benefit of Gene Smith leaving. I've gone from believing that he was indifferent to hockey to believing that he had an actual grudge against the sport. The men have the lowest budget in the Big Ten. I'll bet there's not another D1 sport on campus that is anywhere close to having the lowest budget in their conference. Good riddance, Gene.

[pgb-ohio]

...I do agree that we have an intimate setting for our games and with the packed crowds we have been getting lately, the atmosphere beats the crap out of teams that play in 5,000 seat arenas but there are only 100 people there ... as Pgb put it, mausoleum hockey.

Mausoleum Hockey: Just Say No!

I did talk to someone at the game tonight who assured me and Hockeybuckeye that a new facility was on the way and to just be patient. I told him I just hope I am still on this side of the ground when it gets built ... LOL.

OK, being grounded is a good thing. But not that well grounded!

Now I don't want to be too macabre. But maybe you've just unearthed the one argument in favor of Masoleum Hockey. (winking emoticon here)

[pgb-ohio]

Final Score From Friday, March 1st
Ohio State 10
Bemidji State 1

Playoff Hockey Or Pond Hockey?

A little bit of both, actually. There's no question about the vital nature of these games. It's win or miss the Final Face-Off. As you would hope, the Buckeyes brought playoff urgency to the Ice Rink.

But the players were also having some fun. Before quite a few of the face-offs, the Buckeyes on the ice huddled up. I presume that there was a certain amount of improvisation going on. Or perhaps they had practiced a number of face-off plays, and were deciding which one to call. Regardless of the exact explanation, it was a lot of fun to watch.

One element that was almost certainly part of the formal game plan was to activate the defense for offensive play. The tactic proved to be quite effective. And it definitely gives subsequent opponents something to worry about. Ultimately the Top Three Stars will be given to the 3 'D' who contributed the most offense to the Ohio State cause. But first, the Honorable Mentions.

Three Stars Of The Game: Decidedly Unofficial & Just For Fun

Bemidji State Honorable Mention: Olivia Dronen; and Taylor Nelson
Olivia gained possession of the puck along the right wing boards, then fired a startling shot on goal. Taylor created quite a distraction in the slot, waving her stick at the puck and very nearly tipping it. But the puck evidently went straight into the net, meaning that Dronen was awarded the goal.


Ohio State Honorable Mention: (tie) Jenna Buglioni; Hannah Bilka; Jen Gardiner; and Sloane Matthews
OK, we may be focusing on the 'D' this time. But we can't -- and won't -- take the Buckeye Forwards for granted. Four of them had two point games. Jenna contributed 2 Goals. Hanna & Jenn each bagged a Goal and an Assist. Sloane posted 2 Helpers. These 4 led the productivity parade among the forwards.


#3 Star: Hadley Hartmetz,Ohio State
In addition to her always solid defense, Hadley provided a goal and an assist. The goal came unassisted. Hartmetz gained possession, and maneuvered into the slot. From there Hadley whistled a screaming shot into the net.


#2 Star: Stephanie Markowski, Ohio State
Hat Trick of Assists for Stephanie! All were Primary Assists. Markowski made magic all over the ice. But her main "partner in crime" was 'D' Partner Cayla Barnes. Stephanie assisted on both of her partner's goals.


#1 Star: Cayla Barnes, Ohio State
On this night, Cayla was the Alpha and the Omega for the Buckeyes. Barnes both opened the scoring and closed the scoring. On the offensive highlight of the evening, the stealthy Barnes quietly snuck into a backdoor position. Perfect centering pass from Stephanie; easy (but very satisfying) tap-in for Cayla.


Confidential To Jordan Baxter: You didn't fit into my story line this time. But an unassisted goal off a center circle face-off is pretty darn great. On second thought, maybe I just found a place for you in the story after all! (winking emoticon here.) Anyhow, you were noticed and appreciated.


Up Next: Game 2 of the WCHA Playoffs. Face-Off at 3:00 PM

[osualum86]

Love the discussion about the OSU Women's Hockey facility. I think most on here who have read my posts know that I stand clearly on the new facility side. I am amazed at what Coach Muzerall has done here at tOSU considering we have arguably the worst facility in the country (maybe not the country, but definitely the worst facility in the WCHA, hands-down). I do agree that we have an intimate setting for our games and with the packed crowds we have been getting lately, the atmosphere beats the crap out of teams that play in 5,000 seat arenas but there are only 100 people there ... as Pgb put it, mausoleum hockey. I did talk to someone at the game tonight who assured me and Hockeybuckeye that a new facility was on the way and to just be patient. I told him I just hope I am still on this side of the ground when it gets built ... LOL.

Enough about that, there was a WCHA Playoff Game played tonight, and unfortunately for Bemidji State, it did not go their way. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back in this one. Ohio State's first-period goals were scored by Cayla Barnes, Joy Dunne, and Jordan Baxter as they went into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead. Bemidji State's Olivia Dronen would get the Beavers on the board in the second period to cut into Ohio State's lead at 3-1, but that would be as close as BSU would get. Ohio State added goals from Hadley Hartmetz, Jenna Buglioni, Hannah Bilka, and Jocelyn Amos to take a 7-1 lead into the final intermission. The Buckeyes tacked on three more goals in the final frame to win it 10-1. Scoring for the Bucks in the third period were Jenn Gardiner, Jenna Buglioni, and Cayla Barnes. Eva Filippova got the start in net for the Beavers and stopped 30 of the 37 shots she faced through two periods. Abbie Thompson came on in the third period and stopped 22 of the 25 shots she faced for Bemidji State. Raygan Kirk started in net for Ohio State and stopped 12 of the 13 shots she faced. The two teams will play game two tomorrow at 3:00 pm EST.

[pgb-ohio]

I agree, and I don't see your position and mine being too far apart, based on past discussions.

I'm good with this characterization.

The current poster's view seemed to be more along the lines of women's hockey players shouldn't expect anything more than this.

I don't read Sierra as saying that. Supporting the status quo is one thing. But I don't believe that this implies a reflexive opposition to improvements. Of course I'll let my hockey sibling speak for herself.

I can't speak to what kind of buildings other CCHA teams were playing in during that era, but I know that most of the teams that were in the WCHA when I first realized that tOSU played men's hockey didn't have the caliber of arena that they do now.

The OSU Ice Rink was at the bottom of the Men's CCHA. Now I always cringe a little when criticizing the Ice Rink. I've had so much fun in that building over the years, both on and off the ice. But truth be told, it's always been a plain-to-ugly building on the outside. Fan amenities have always been limited. Back in the CCHA era, the locker rooms were deplorable.

In the current women's WCHA, the Buckeyes' home is at the bottom. The St. Thomas rink isn't big, but it isn't ancient, and a replacement is in the works.

In terms of physical plant, that's accurate. But we are not at the bottom in terms of in-game atmosphere and home ice advantage. As I've posted on numerous occasions. Some more detail below.

Your point that some of the Minnesota programs promote hockey disproportionately is valid. If tOSU was still in its prior position of trying to compete for home ice in the WCHA quarters without realistic dreams of the NCAA tourney, then what you have for a building might be acceptable. Once you join the conversation for, "Who has the top program?" then a subpar facility becomes a drag on the sport as a whole.

I'll buy that. Another example showing we mostly agree.

The Buckeyes fans have done a good job of embracing the charm of what they have, but we aren't exactly talking about Fenway Park in terms of tradition.

"Embracing the charm of what they have" is a spot-on description. Wordsmith ARM nails it again. And I also agree that the Ice Rink is not analogous to Fenway Park.

But here's the thing. Many Women's D-1 teams play in buildings that have way too much seating capacity. No matter how many bells and whistles the facility has, the result is Mausoleum Hockey. And killing the atmosphere does affect the quality of play on the ice.

I'm not going to point the finger at any specific school. But whether in person or by streaming, we've both seem lovely buildings with many thousands of seats -- and a crowd of 100 people. Inevitably it's a scrimmage atmosphere. Now both of us love the sport enough to enjoy watching a scrimmage. But the players deserve much more than that.

Mausoleum Hockey vs. The Ugly Building? In all sincerity, give me the Ugly Building.

But the real bottom line is that OSU Women's Hockey deserves an appropriately sized, fully up-to date facility. It doesn't need to be lavish; but it does need to have the amenities befitting The Ohio State Department of Athletics. A department that strives to the best in country. Furthermore, OSU has proven it can do this, and do it well. The Covelli Center has proven to be an awesome fit for Volleyball, Wrestling and others.

We need a Covelli Hockey Center. Dear Decision-Makers: Build it, please.

[Lindsay]

Nadine is doing a great job with #1 & #2. And although it's outside of my view, I suspect she's excelling at #3 as well. She's quite brilliant, you know.

agreed, and let’s certainly hope on #3.

[bodyup88]

That stinks for the track team next season. Maybe Suzy Favor can lead an effort to alleviate the situation.

[pgb-ohio]

This is true and maybe a reason why outsiders make noise instead. She’s in a tough spot on the issue.

Insightful and correct. To expand on this just a little: Coach has three distinct tasks in this regard.

1. Motivating The Team Of course this includes Jenn Gardiner, whose podcast comments have been referenced. Crafting a narrative that rallies the team is more than just OK. It's good coaching.

2. Presenting The Program in the Best Possible Light to the Outside World Some will deride this as spin; but everyone does it on some level. And it is an appropriate part of recruiting, among other things. Of course you can't overreach. If you present a case that isn't credible, your efforts will backfire. But if you state your case well, it will pay dividends.

3. Communicating Privately With High Level Decision-Makers Leaving PR partially behind, I'm now referring to Lobbying & Negotiating Skills.


Nadine is doing a great job with #1 & #2. And although it's outside of my view, I suspect she's excelling at #3 as well. She's quite brilliant, you know.

[robertearle]

As a point of reference, Wisconsin's LaBahn Arena was built for $34 million 12 years ago. Right now, the UW Athletic Dept is getting final approval to spend $285 million, most of which is for a new football PRACTICE facility.

Cue up Allen Iverson: we talkin' 'bout *practice*.

(The project tears down the old, old indoor track building, retrofits the current football practice building into a replacement track, and builds an entirely new football facility in the "footprint" of the track. You want disrespect of a program? As best I can figure, it will leave the current two-time B1G champ track team without any practice facility at all for the 2024-25 season.)

Yeah, LOTS of money goes to football. But you find enough to do both, if it matters to you.