Jackson Chilberg sat in his dorm room all day Saturday, just anticipating. He couldn’t wait to get to Bird Arena.
He was waiting to make his first start as a goalie for Ohio. When he stood on the ice just minutes before the game, while the national anthem blared over the speakers, he may have gotten a few butterflies.
Those didn’t show, however, as Chilberg got through the first period with no goals allowed. He only gave up one in Ohio’s 8-1 win over Eastern Michigan.
“I just focused on it. I got through the game,“ Chilberg said
Chilberg saved tough shot after tough shot, as it seemed the chances the Eagles were taking were finding their way toward the net. The puck found its way off his pad, into his gloves, deflecting off his stick. With every save Chiberg recorded the crowd got more behind him, cheering louder each time.
Even though the Bobcats only gave up the one goal, they knew it could’ve been prevented, and some of the skaters take the blame.
“That was our fault that one went in,” said Cody Black, Ohio’s captain. “Hopefully we can learn from that mistake, watching film.”
Saturday was Chilberg’s first start; it didn’t seem like it. The sophomore who walked onto the team last year seemed at home in the crease. He played just over eight minutes in his first season as a Bobcat, saving all five shots he faced. Against Eastern Michigan, he racked up 14 saves on 15 shots.
Even though Chilberg saw some action last season as a freshman, this was his first extended time in between the pipes for Ohio. He’s been sitting behind one of the nation’s best goalies, Jimmy Thomas.
“Jimmy said to me, ‘Get past the first three minutes and it’s smooth sailing,’” Chilberg said of Thomas’ advice to him.
He even looked comfortable when Eastern Michigan pressed in on him. The Eagles started pressing closer toward the goal, with multiple plays ending with a lot of bodies toward the crease. Chilberg held his own when the bodies started shoving, even though he took a roughing penalty in the second period when the game started to get chippy with eight minor penalties called, along with disqualifications for fighting from both teams.
“He was so positive going into net; he was very calm, which you don’t see often from a first start,“ Black said. “He knew that it was his net.”
Chilberg’s performance gives coach Sean Hogan another player to give last season’s American Collegiate Hockey Association leader in minutes played, Thomas, a rest.
All three of Ohio’s goalies have now played a full game. They all know that it is important to be able to come in and spring Thomas when needed, especially as Central States Collegiate Hockey League play starts Friday against Iowa State.
“Jackson gave me a lot more confidence in him, now that he’s seen some game action,” Hogan said.
