The bar has officially been set higher for the Bobcat hockey team this weekend.
The Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament will begin on Friday in Wentzville, Mo. While most teams will be facing off on day one, Ohio has earned the privilege of waiting an extra day to take the ice.
The Bobcats clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Ohio (29-7-2) will face the highest-seeded team to win its first round game, which could be Illinois, Lindenwood or Iowa State.
Coach Jonathon Sheridan explained how every aspect of the postseason brings with it a higher level of emphasis.
“I think this is the part of the season that we look forward to,” Sheridan said. “When everything is on the line everything is a bit more meaningful. We all grew up playing in our basements or backyards for these moments.”
Here is how Ohio has fared against its potential matchups this season:
No. 5 Illinois (19-16-2)
Season series: 2-2
Lookahead: The Bobcats and the Fighting Illini split each series this season.
The first was on Nov. 1-2, when the Bobcats stormed to victory in game one, and the Illini fought back in game two and won. The second series was, in contrast, a pair of nail biters. Ohio took game one on a late goal by senior Brett Agnew, but Illinois won the second with three unanswered goals in the third period to win.
Although the Illini are not an incredibly strong team on paper, they play with grit and physicality. If the teams take the ice for the fifth time, the game would likely be decided by whichever team can maintain levelheadedness.
No. 4 Lindenwood (12-18-2)
Season series: 3-0
Lookahead: If Ohio were to play one of these three teams, Lindenwood would be the ideal matchup, as it’s endured a season of struggles.
The team’s three meetings had Ohio written all over them. The Bobcats took game one after a heroic performance by regular season goal-scoring leader Patrick Spellacy, a freshman. He tied the game with 56.6 seconds remaining to force overtime and eventually a shootout, in which Spellacy clinched the game for Ohio on a fifth-round shootout goal.
The Bobcats dominated the other two games as well, as they won by finals of 8-4 and 7-3.
Ohio controlled puck possession in the three contests, but turnovers and mistakes could prove costly.
No. 3 Iowa State (32-9-3)
Season series: 2-2
Lookahead: The Cyclones would certainly be the Bobcats’ greatest test if the matchup were to occur.
Ohio defeated the Cyclones in the CSCHL and the American Collegiate Hockey Association Tournaments last season. However, the Bobcats have seen their fair share of struggles against the Cyclones this season.
Both series resulted in a split.
Cyclones goalie Matt Cooper is among the best in the CSCHL, as he represented Team USA in the World University Games last year and added six shutouts to his resume this season.
Ohio goaltender Aaron Alkema had an impressive season of his own, ending the season with a solid 1.93 goals-against average, including a 14-4 record with three shutouts.
Cooper held the Bobcats’ offense to 10 goals, but five occurred in one game. In contrast, Alkema allowed eight goals to the Cyclones, so whichever goaltender outplays the other could determine the game.
@kelsey_surmacz4
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Up Next:
CSCHL TOURNAMENT
Friday
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Indiana, 4 p.m.
No. 4 Lindenwood vs. No. 5 Illinois, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
No. 1 Robert Morris (Ill.) vs Lowest remaining seed, 4 p.m.
No. 2 Ohio vs. Highest remaining seed, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship, 2:00 p.m.
