Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Guys, put away all the sharp objects and take a deep breath. Yeah, our guys mailed it in on Saturday against Arizona State, but don't forget they went to Union and held the Dutchmen to a 2-0 empty-net goal win on Friday and beat RIT before 10,000 of their rabid fans. BTW, after that win the RIT thread read just like this one.

I'm admittedly biased, but maybe it's time for everyone to admit the Nittany Lions have some talent right now and will be even better next season with the recruiting class coming in the fall.

We have talent as well, so I don't think we are wrong to be steamed at our performance yesterday (or lack thereof). You may not be aware of our history but we did get to the Frozen Four in 1998 and have been to several NCAA Tournaments since (last NCAA appearance was 2008-09), so I think it is reasonable for us to have some expectations. Coach Osiecki has been a winner everywhere he has been and this is his third year here at Ohio State. Unfortunately for us OSU fans, the process of getting our program back to the NCAA Tournament/Frozen Four contender level looks like it might take longer than we want it to. Having said all that, nice win for your program. Maybe we should have played Hjelle in goal, but we have to find a way to get him some rest every once in a while. I don't really buy into the lack of respect thing. I think you will discover when you start playing in the Big Ten Hockey Conference that your coach may do the same thing, which is to give your starting goalie a break in non-league games and/or holiday tournaments. Who knows, maybe our head coach, who is currently in Russia coaching our National Team at the World Junior Championships, may have wanted to go for a win and start Hjelle both games.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

OK, who was there at the game to tell us if Olson was just substandard in his game or did our defense leave him out to dry?

 

[MGoBlueHockey]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

That 2 game series with PSU heading out to state next month just got more interesting.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

That 2 game series with PSU heading out to state next month just got more interesting.

We swept MSU at Munn last month so if the Penn State fans believe they have a better team than we do, which it sounds like they do based on the posts here and on their thread, then they should be able to go up to Munn and sweep, too. One guy even posted something along the lines of "I know it was only Ohio State," regarding the win. They must not be aware that we're setting in 4th place in the CCHA and 24th in the PairWise. I can appreciate their passion for their team, but I have to sort of laugh at their lack of knowledge when it comes to other programs.

Another thing that has been brought up is some posters believe Coach Osiecki should be here righting the ship (we're currently on an 0-4-2 streak) instead of over in Russia coaching juniors. I had said if him coaching the national team helps us get better players, I don't have a problem with it. If it is not getting us in on more talented players, then I agree with the others that he should be here coaching our team. What are your thoughts on that? I would be interested in reading an outsider's perspective on that.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

OK, who was there at the game to tell us if Olson was just substandard in his game or did our defense leave him out to dry?

From what I have read, it sounds like it was a little bit of both. I think we had some turnovers in our own end, and it probably wasn't Olson's best performance. It just seemed like our guys didn't want to be there, and played like it. Hard to believe a 1-0 loss the night before to the #5 team in the country deflated us that much, but that appears to have been the case. Who knows. I just hope this 0-4-2 streak isn't the start of another second half meltdown. I don't care whose fault it is, whether it's coaching or the players not doing the right things. Whatever it is, they all need to figure it out and move forward. We have too much talent for these meltdowns.

 

[Sportsfan1]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

We swept MSU at Munn last month so if the Penn State fans believe they have a better team than we do, which it sounds like they do based on the posts here and on their thread, then they should be able to go up to Munn and sweep, too. One guy even posted something along the lines of "I know it was only Ohio State," regarding the win. They must not be aware that we're setting in 4th place in the CCHA and 24th in the PairWise. I can appreciate their passion for their team, but I have to sort of laugh at their lack of knowledge when it comes to other programs.

Another thing that has been brought up is some posters believe Coach Osiecki should be here righting the ship (we're currently on an 0-4-2 streak) instead of over in Russia coaching juniors. I had said if him coaching the national team helps us get better players, I don't have a problem with it. If it is not getting us in on more talented players, then I agree with the others that he should be here coaching our team. What are your thoughts on that? I would be interested in reading an outsider's perspective on that.

I'll start here's my persective. Who exactly does he plan to recruit? Every USA/Canadian player there is either in the CHL or NCAA already. If he is planning on spreading the word on OSU he need not look further than his OSU's current and past record. Recruits and their parents usually do their home work and look at the record of the University hockey program first then see what the HC has to offer. Just because he is one of 4 ***'t coaches on team USA that does necessarily prove OSU is the place to go. Producing a top notch NCAA hockey program would do more for recruiting top players than a tick on his resume saying he was an ***'t coach on team USA... Stay home and work with your own program it needs a lot of work right now.....

 

[SteveP]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

OK, who was there at the game to tell us if Olson was just substandard in his game or did our defense leave him out to dry?

I agree with OSUalum on his assessment that Olson was good at times but did give up some rebounds. He also got left on an island by the D, especially on Casey Bailey's first goal.

That 2 game series with PSU heading out to state next month just got more interesting.

I hope that alum doesn't think I'm saying our guys can sweep the Spartans, because I'm not. However, I do think it could be a more competitive weekend than most people imagined when the schedule was released.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I hope that alum doesn't think I'm saying our guys can sweep the Spartans, because I'm not. However, I do think it could be a more competitive weekend than most people imagined when the schedule was released.

I have no idea what will happen when Penn State goes to Munn, I just found it laughable that one of the posters on your thread said something along the lines of "it was only Ohio State," implying that our program is somehow inferior to Penn State's.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I'll start here's my persective. Who exactly does he plan to recruit? Every USA/Canadian player there is either in the CHL or NCAA already. If he is planning on spreading the word on OSU he need not look further than his OSU's current and past record. Recruits and their parents usually do their home work and look at the record of the University hockey program first then see what the HC has to offer. Just because he is one of 4 ***'t coaches on team USA that does necessarily prove OSU is the place to go. Producing a top notch NCAA hockey program would do more for recruiting top players than a tick on his resume saying he was an ***'t coach on team USA... Stay home and work with your own program it needs a lot of work right now.....

When you put it that way, I tend to agree with you that maybe it would serve the program better if Oz was here righting the ship instead of coaching juniors. I sincerely hope we get things going in the second half of the season.

 

[SteveP]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I have no idea what will happen when Penn State goes to Munn, I just found it laughable that one of the posters on your thread said something along the lines of "it was only Ohio State," implying that our program is somehow inferior to Penn State's.

Not sure who SSB is, and I can't assume what he was thinking/not thinking when he posted that.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

It could also be entirely possible that being a non conference weekend that decisions were made to get certain personel in certain positions or playing time to see if any tweeks worked going into conference play this weekend. Only making a wild guess here as I didn't see the games. Did anyone notice any differences in the lines being used or anything unlike earlier games?

 

[Blackhawk56]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I assume Krough is hurt again? Wasn't dressed either game and Friday night even with Cristofoli dressed seemed to be only rolling 5 D. Also thought it was odd to sit Crane on Saturday.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I assume Krough is hurt again? Wasn't dressed either game and Friday night even with Cristofoli dressed seemed to be only rolling 5 D. Also thought it was odd to sit Crane on Saturday.

Krogh is out. Jardine is still out. I think Oddo and Greco are still out, too. Hope we are able to get healthy soon. Hope Oz comes home from Russia with some ideas on how to get this ship righted. Thankfully what happened last week had no bearing on the CCHA standings and we are still sitting at 24th in the PairWise. If we start playing some decent hockey and go on a win streak, the PairWise will take care of itself.

 

[Draighlicht]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I assume Krough is hurt again? Wasn't dressed either game and Friday night even with Cristofoli dressed seemed to be only rolling 5 D. Also thought it was odd to sit Crane on Saturday.

Krogh had his appendix removed over Christmas break.

 

[Puck Buck]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Another thing that has been brought up is some posters believe Coach Osiecki should be here righting the ship (we're currently on an 0-4-2 streak) instead of over in Russia coaching juniors. I had said if him coaching the national team helps us get better players, I don't have a problem with it. If it is not getting us in on more talented players, then I agree with the others that he should be here coaching our team. What are your thoughts on that? I would be interested in reading an outsider's perspective on that.

At the risk of having a few posters head explode (including at least one I have a great deal of respect for) I see little downside and much upside.

This isnt about recruiting players on this years teams, this is about future players. Having the link back to USA Hockey, having the respect of those in the USA Hockey decision making and coaching fraternity to trust you with this important role speaks to what outsiders believe about Oz. I think it generally speaking makes tOSU a more attractive destination point for players - it credentials him in a way that not alot of other things can.

And for every successful college coach that can be named that didnt leave to coach in this tournament, there are others that have (Blais, Eaves, Leaman, Jackson, Parker, Sandelin, etc.). There is more than one way to skin a cat. I would argue that in todays game things like this are more important to differentiate yourself than it would have been a decade or more ago, but that is probably another discussion.

Most importantly - without having any insight into USA Hockey's decision making process - it would appear that Osiecki and perhaps Leaman given their multiple assistant coach appearances in recent years would be candidates to be the Head Coach next year, or the year after or...

That would make for an interesting thread.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Krogh had his appendix removed over Christmas break.

That is what I thought, but I wasn't 100% sure, so I did not get specific. Is Curtis Gedig out? Seems to me he is hurt, too. We've had so many injuries this first half of the season that I cannot keep up with all of them!

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Krogh had his appendix removed over Christmas break.

I heard he was learning to cook. Probably ate his own cooking. lol!

 

[Draighlicht]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

At the risk of having a few posters head explode (including at least one I have a great deal of respect for) I see little downside and much upside.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

That is what I thought, but I wasn't 100% sure, so I did not get specific. Is Curtis Gedig out? Seems to me he is hurt, too. We've had so many injuries this first half of the season that I cannot keep up with all of them!

Of course don't forget that when an injured player returns they are usually not close to 100% healed, just simply "cleared" to play. Also if it was a long layoff getting back into peak condition and rhythm will take additional time once they can lace up again.

 

[SteveP]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

That is what I thought, but I wasn't 100% sure, so I did not get specific. Is Curtis Gedig out? Seems to me he is hurt, too. We've had so many injuries this first half of the season that I cannot keep up with all of them!

Gedig played on Saturday and looked pretty healthy to me.