After finishing a season full of adversity and success, the Ohio hockey team had reasons to be optimistic heading into last weekend’s American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament.
The Bobcats (30-7-3) featured Central States College Hockey League coach of the year in first-year mentor Jonathon Sheridan and the CSCHL Rookie of the Year in forward Patrick Spellacy. They were set to face an opponent that was all too familiar in Iowa State, who the Bobcats won three of five games against in the regular season.
Unfortunately, optimism does not always translate into good fortune.
Ohio dropped its first and only game in the ACHA tournament 3-1, which shut the door on a national title and ended their otherwise impressive 2013-14 season.
“I don’t judge the season on one weekend at the national tournament,” senior forward Brett Agnew said. “We went through a lot of highs and lows this season, but I’m proud of everyone’s effort. It wasn’t the ending we all hoped for, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
One shining moment this season was when Ohio swept No. 3 Robert Morris the last weekend of January, marking the first time the Eagles lost on their home ice since the previous season. Ohio came back from two-goal deficits in both games.
The Bobcats were also notorious for outshooting their opponents and scoring at a high rate. Ohio found the back of the net 183 times, while 18 of its 30 wins came by a differential of at least three goals.
Another bright spot for Ohio was goaltender Aaron Alkema, who finished fifth overall, and second among qualified rookies, in the ACHA in goals-against average (1.85). He also posted 15 games won, which was second most by a freshman in the league.
In addition to Alkema’s stellar goaltending, Ohio defense allowed just 90 goals on the season, which helped contribute to a plus-93 goal differential.
Although junior defenseman Mike Kretz has solidified himself as one of the league’s premiere defensemen, Ohio will still lose a pair of valuable defenders after this season in J.C. Gulch and Athens native Duncan Green.
Gulch and Green, along with Agnew, are three members the graduating senior class that have left their mark on the organization. Agnew will graduate as one of the team’s all-time leading scorers, as he finishes his Bobcat career with 181 points, while Gulch and Green combined for almost 100 career points.
“It’s definitely hard to look back on it and not tear up a bit,” Gulch said. “It has been the best four years of my life and I’m glad I got to spend it with people that I am honored to call my brothers and best friends.”
However, the Bobcats are looking ahead to next season with a positive outlook.
“The team returns everyone except for myself, (Duncan) and Gulch so I think they will be in great shape in the future,” Agnew said.
In other words, the Bobcats have ambitions of being champion contenders in 2014-15.
“We’re going to be national contenders,” sophomore forward Michael Harris said. “We always have a top-5 team in the country and make runs. … It will be another successful season.”
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