Depth essential for Ohio hockey

by Tom Valentino
Staff Writer

Some teams might rely on standout players to carry them. The Ohio club hockey team is relying on a total team effort.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Bobcats are building momentum by getting productivity from all four of their lines, Ohio coach Dan Morris said.

“On paper, other teams may look better,” Morris said. “But our 26 are better than your 20. You may have 12 key players, but we have 16.”

Ohio (15-9-2 overall, 10-6-1 CSCHL) will try to use its depth this weekend to top visiting Central States Collegiate Hockey League rival Kent State. The Bobcats enter the weekend on a wave of momentum, having swept a pair of games from first-place Eastern Michigan. Kent State (15-8-2, 8-6-2) is on a hot streak, having dominated Michigan-Dearborn twice last weekend.

Ohio and Kent State split a pair of games earlier in the season. The Golden Flashes won 3-2 on Nov. 30. The Bobcats rallied to take a 4-3 decision the following night.

“Since we’re a younger team, beating a team like Eastern gives us confidence,” defenseman Shane Print said. “The big thing we have to be careful of is a letdown. Kent State is not the team to have a letdown against. They’re coming out of a big weekend too.”

Defenseman Brad Krolak said Kent State utilizes a slow, physical style of hockey. The Bobcats play an up-tempo style. Krolak said Morris has changed the pace of practice to simulate the clash of styles with the Golden Flashes.

“Kent’s been known to slow things down,” Krolak said. “This week, we’ve had a high-tempo practice, but then Coach (Morris) will slow things down. Then he brings things up with a high-intensity drill where we have to think quickly.”

Morris said Ohio’s best chance for success rests on the team’s ability to keep the game moving and avoiding Kent’s more deliberate style.

“The biggest key for us is keeping the tempo high and staying out of the box,” Morris said. “We want to wear them down and force them to play four lines and make them feel tired and lazy.”

Ohio plays Kent State at 7:30 tonight and Saturday at Bird Arena.