Re: Ohio State Buckeyes 2019-2020: Muzzling All Detractors
Final Score From Saturday, February 22nd
Ohio State 6
St. Cloud State 3
Senior Moments Can Be Good Things.
Saturday's game was filled with meaningful senior moments. No, not the occasional scatterbrained choice that goes with old age. Fitting commemorations of 4 college hockey careers well played.
Also, in the joyous pre-game ceremony, we paid tribute to 4 strong academic careers. Excellent GPAs were earned by each member of the class.
The game itself opened with a brilliant odd man rush by the Schepers/Skaggs/Maltais Line. Shattuck Who? We know that SSM stands for Schepers/Skaggs/Maltais.
Anyhow, the rush culminated with a tap-in goal for
Tatum Skaggs. The 3 Juniors got the Buckeyes off the launching pad very nicely, and sent the enthusiastic Senior Day Crowd into orbit.
But bigger picture, the day belonged to the Senior Class. In this case the Stars aligned very nicely; I have an individual Star available for each of the 4 Seniors.
Three Stars Of The Game: Decidedly Unofficial & Just For Fun
St. Cloud Honorable Mention: Olivia Cvar
It has to be a little irritating to be the Visiting team on a Senior Day. Sure you're an invited guest, but you're the bad guy trying to spoil the party. And a party it was, as the Buckeyes tweaked the line-up to feature the Seniors. Some teams might have felt disrespected and gotten a little chippy. Other teams might have gotten discouraged and quit after falling behind.
But not the Huskies. They kept playing with intensity and honor. As time was winding down, the Buckeyes got just a little too distracted, and the lethal Cvar buried two goals in 19 seconds. Did the late surge affect the outcome? Nope. But this was a statement by a Huskie Freshman that, unlike the Seniors, she'll be back. Gotta respect that.
Ohio State Honorable Mention: Olivia Soares
#19 didn't earn a scoring point, but she came pretty close. Olivia got quality minutes today, including some time on the Power Play. She made good use of the time, putting 4 fine shots on goal.
We thank Captain Soares for 4 seasons of solid leadership.
#3 Star: Rebecca Freiburger, Ohio State
Rebecca marked her Senior Day with a classic Freiburger Assist. Creating a turnover on the forecheck, she immediately fed linemate
Brooke Bink with a pass in the slot. The puck was in the net before the Huskies knew what hit them.
Also in the Hard Work Department: Rebecca paid one last visit to the Home Penalty Box, if only for old time's sake. Two Minutes for Roughing. Too bad she didn't bag a goal. (There were some near misses) It would have been a Women's Hockey answer to the Gordie Howe Hat Trick!
#2 Star: Jincy Dunne, Ohio State
Jincy's time at Ohio State is almost Dunne, and that's certainly bittersweet. Jincy's play has meant so much to this team. Let me count the ways. She's smooth as silk. Sharp as a tack. Immensely talented. A stabilizing force on defense. An unselfish contributor on offense who deals out assist after assist. The teammate that makes everyone she plays with better. Always a celestial presence; a Star that's impossible to ignore.
Thank you, Captain Dunne.
#1 Star: Elise Riemenschneider, Ohio State
Elise scored her
First Goal as a Buckeye on her Senior Day. I can't recall that happening before, and I doubt it will ever happen again. What an awesome moment.
The special goal came on a Power Play. Working the perimeter, Jincy Dunne sent the puck to Emma Maltais. Next, Emma sent a medium speed shot toward the St. Cloud net. But the shot had a larger purpose. It was tantalizingly tippable, and perfectly placed to give Riemenschneider that opportunity.
Elise delivered. Coming off her stick, the puck changed directions. Not enough to score, but enough to handcuff the St. Cloud goalie and create a high quality rebound. Second effort got the job done. Riemenschneider popped the puck into the net, and the celebration was on.
I know Elise will be happy to share her moment with her teammates. For Jincy, yet another Senior Assist. For Emma, this was the point that gave her the Single Season Scoring Record at Ohio State.
You just can't make up this kind of story. Sometimes truth really is better than fiction. Years from now, there will countless conversations that go something like this: Do you remember when Elise Riemenschneider scored her first goal on Senior Day? Now
that was great!
Up Next: 2020 WCHA Playoffs Open With Game #1 vs. Minnesota State. As You'd Expect, Face-Off Is Friday @ 6:07PM.
