Ohio State Buckeyes 2022-2023 ... The Drive For Duluth

[pgb-ohio]

I believe last season’s home and home with Lindenwood, Colgate and Cornell are finished.

That's my belief as well. But note the pandemic factor makes this harder to sort out. We're going back to 2019-20 for the "other half" of the Cornell & Colgate packages.

Also, if you hearken all the way back to October 2018, we hosted Colgate in Columbus. As such, it wouldn't be a shock if we have a trip to Hamilton coming up. And playing Colgate is always going to be beneficial, regardless of contractual obligations.

Finally, the Buckeyes traveled to Princeton in 2019-20. Perhaps the Tigers owe us a visit to Columbus?

I would like Robert Morris and Mercyhurst, one home and one away, for the next 2 seasons. Easy drives to go to away games. Penn State is also drivable, depending on winter weather travel. If Penn State football has a home football game there is no going to Happy Valley.

All very good thoughts; and all trips that I would potentially be interested in.

I do feel compelled to say that using the non-conference games to play top ECAC teams has served us very well. I'd be opposed to using 100% of our nc games for CHA match-ups.

One of those 4 teams at 1 site to play 2 games weekends is fun. OSU has gone to Las Vegas and Washington DC under Coach Muzerall for this type of weekend.

These tournaments are a very nice reward for the players. Something different and special. It also gives us two non-conference teams to use as measuring sticks, as opposed to just one. (when playing on campus)

 

[pgb-ohio]

Yes, seven D1 men's programs in Michigan but no D1 women's programs. So much for their claim of being The State of Hockey.

Umm, I know that Detroit, MI and Warroad, MN duel over who is the real "Hockeytown, USA." But I can't say that I've ever heard Michigan claim to be the "State Of Hockey." That's Minnesota's mantra.

I wouldn't be very excited about playing Lindenwood again.

Based on the last two seasons, that contract should be complete.

 

[PSUfan]

With the WCHA 23-24 schedule now set, any thoughts on who our non conference opponents should be next season? I'd really enjoy an Ohio State - Penn State series!

I would also love to see OSU-PSU to become a regular series -- they played every year from 2013-14 to 2017-18 but not since then. The Big Ten connection plus a reasonable distance makes this seem like an obvious rivalry.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Finally, the Buckeyes traveled to Princeton in 2019-20. Perhaps the Tigers owe us a visit to Columbus?

That would be very cool!

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Umm, I know that Detroit, MI and Warroad, MN duel over who is the real "Hockeytown, USA." But I can't say that I've ever heard Michigan claim to be the "State Of Hockey." That's Minnesota's mantra.

Half of my family is in Michigan and I spent considerable time there and I've always heard the locals there refer to Michigan as The State of Hockey.
​​​​​​Maybe Michigan and Minnesota can get into a pis*ing match over it line Ohio and North Carolina over First in Flight vs Birthplace of Aviation. LOL!

 

[pgb-ohio]

Half of my family is in Michigan and I spent considerable time there and I've always heard the locals there refer to Michigan as The State of Hockey.
​​​​​​Maybe Michigan and Minnesota can get into a pis*ing match over it line Ohio and North Carolina over First in Flight vs Birthplace of Aviation. LOL!

OK, then that's their fight.

I have many more personal connections to Minnesota than to Michigan. So maybe I have a biased sample. But from my vantage point, if Michigan is making that claim, they're guilty of plagiarism!

 

[pgb-ohio]

I would also love to see OSU-PSU to become a regular series -- they played every year from 2013-14 to 2017-18 but not since then. The Big Ten connection plus a reasonable distance makes this seem like an obvious rivalry.

I absolutely agree with this. But with St. Thomas joining the WCHA, we're back to only six non-conference games to work with. So restoring an annual series would be a big investment.

Note that OSU & PSU did play at the DC Tournament in 2021-22. So it's not like we're forgetting about each other.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

OK, then that's their fight.

I have many more personal connections to Minnesota than to Michigan. So maybe I have a biased sample. But from my vantage point, if Michigan is making that claim, they're guilty of plagiarism!

Although I have family in Michigan I'm Columbus born and raised so I'm impartial but I'd say Minnesota is much more The State of Hockey than Michigan.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

You know, I could really sink my teeth into a BC or BU series!

 

[pgb-ohio]

Although I have family in Michigan I'm Columbus born and raised so I'm impartial but I'd say Minnesota is much more The State of Hockey than Michigan.

FWIW, I was born in Illinois. Not sure if that makes me impartial!

Either way, I'm wasn't comparing the quality of Men's Hockey in those two states. My understanding is simply that Minnesota created the State of Hockey slogan, and uses it extensively. When I read your post that some from Michigan were also using it, my reaction was: Wait... What?? (focusing on the slogan)

 

[pgb-ohio]

You know, I could really sink my teeth into a BC or BU series!

Much longer drive for the road series, but they'd be fun opponents for sure.

Two of the best moments in our program's history have been the NCAA wins over BC. Off the top of my head, I can't remember if the Buckeye Women have ever faced off with BU.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Much longer drive for the road series, but they'd be fun opponents for sure.

The travel would be difficult for fans but it brings me to a point I was going to make, that the cost and means of travel probably wouldn't be an issue for teams of larger well funded schools. Look at how far we go to Duluth?

 

[pgb-ohio]

The travel would be difficult for fans but it brings me to a point I was going to make, that the cost and means of travel probably wouldn't be an issue for teams of larger well funded schools. Look at how far we go to Duluth?

As we both experienced a couple of months ago!

But I believe the main point you're making is that as long as you can fly, all of the schools in Women's D-1 are reasonably accessible. Which of course should be appreciated; not taken for granted. When that's the case, you can put together the strongest possible schedule. Or follow any other scheduling philosophy you wish.

That said, I still believe that having one series that's within fairly easy driving distance is a nice addition to the schedule. For the benefit of fans, if nothing else. Though I suppose there countless different opinions as to what constitutes "fairly easy driving distance." For me, Mercyhurst, Penn State and Robert Morris would all qualify. Easy three day weekend in all cases. Or even two days if you're willing to drive back to Columbus after the Saturday game.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

You are correct Mr.PGB in your assumption of what I was trying to convey and your three choices are completely logical when it comes to travel for the fans of both teams.
But I just can't shake the feeling of how great a BC or BU series would be, I thoroughly enjoyed last season watching them play in their Beanpot!
We would hopefully have enough alumni in the Boston area to make a presence at the games if we could reach out to them to fill in for us local fans who couldn't attend.
I realize the BC fans may not be as enthusiastic as I am to play each other at this juncture as obviously it would bring them no joy to see Barnes and Bilka suited up as Buckeye playing against them but that's not our fault, we didn't poach them, they left BC for their own reasons.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

I have a question for you Mr.pgb.
We discussed in person the issue of the blue line cameras in our barn always getting knocked askew by the spectators walking past them. It seems like every game I do my best to straighten the one in front of where I sit.
Now that the rink is undergoing it's off season maintenance is anyone going to make it happen that the cameras get some kind of protective enclosure or move them to the top of the glass? Who's responsibility is it?

 

[osualum86]

You are correct Mr.PGB in your assumption of what I was trying to convey and your three choices are completely logical when it comes to travel for the fans of both teams.
But I just can't shake the feeling of how great a BC or BU series would be, I thoroughly enjoyed last season watching them play in their Beanpot!
We would hopefully have enough alumni in the Boston area to make a presence at the games if we could reach out to them to fill in for us local fans who couldn't attend.
I realize the BC fans may not be as enthusiastic as I am to play each other at this juncture as obviously it would bring them no joy to see Barnes and Bilka suited up as Buckeye playing against them but that's not our fault, we didn't poach them, they left BC for their own reasons.

If we are talking about playing someone from Boston, my vote would be to do a home and home with Northeastern. They would be a great opponent, and I would love to make a trip up there to see a game at Matthews Arena. I also wouldn't mind seeing Robert Morris or Mercyhurst on the schedule again as those are reasonable drives for us. Penn State would not be bad either, and Pegula Ice Arena is obviously a great place to see a game. Unfortunately, we only have 6 non-league games available.

 

[osualum86]

In today's system she doesn't need to fill her vacancies all with freshmen. She uses the means available with the portal and she's VERY good at it.
She signed the 4 freshmen she wanted - all top tier players!

Hockeybuckeye, you will have to excuse the trolls. Guess they expected Coach to just stick with 10 forwards (6 + the 4 recruits), 4 Ds, and 4 goalies and have NO depth whatsoever. #SMFH

They must not be aware that we lost 12 players after the 22-23 season (5 fifth year seniors, 5 players went into the transfer portal, and 2 seniors who decided not to stay for their extra year).

The fact that the trolls have to come here and denigrate Coach Muzerall every time she brings in another transfer says more about them than it does our Coach.

We lost 12 players from last year's team. She has brought in 10 new players to replace them. Apparently, that is a problem for some.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

We lost 12 players from last year's team. She has brought in 10 new players to replace them. Apparently, that is a problem for some.

The portal allowed us to reload and not rebuild with a freshman heavy roster. You live or die by the portal and we seem to live very well by it to the dismay of others.
I think it speaks well of our coach of how dynamic her personality is in getting the players that she does!

 

[robertearle]

We lost 12 players from last year's team. She has brought in 10 new players to replace them. Apparently, that is a problem for some.

The roster page for 2022-23 at the OSU web site lists 13 forwards. I count 17 for 2023-24, and that is accounting for the two transferring out. Do I have that wrong somehow?

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

The roster page for 2022-23 at the OSU web site lists 13 forwards. I count 17 for 2023-24, and that is accounting for the two transferring out. Do I have that wrong somehow?

From Osualum86's post.

They must not be aware that we lost 12 players after the 22-23 season (5 fifth year seniors, 5 players went into the transfer portal, and 2 seniors who decided not to stay for their extra year).