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The Ohio State mens hockey team didn’t have a number eleven on their roster until today as they move up four spots in the USCHO.com poll and three spots in the USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine poll to No. 11 in the nation in both. The 5-0-2 Buckeyes are the only team in the country with a zero in the loss column yet currently still lag behind other teams with multiple losses but more preseason hype.
OSU remained undefeated last weekend with a sweep of Niagara where they outscored the home team 16-4 over the two game series. Matt Tomkins has exceed hopes in goal while taking over for the injured Christian Frey while freshmen Tanner Laczynski and Ronnie Hein have helped one of last season’s best offenses rise to even greater heights.
This is the highest the Buckeyes have been ranked in the USCHO.com poll since 2008-09, when they rose to No. 11 for a week. Not coincidentally, that was OSU’s last 20 win season as well. The Bucks look well on their way to hitting that mark at the very least this week, and remain a popular pick to upset titans like Minnesota and take the Big Ten hockey title.
Great call by @Buccigross on @OhioState_MHKY. #Buckeyes were my preseason pick to win @B1GHockey reg season. So skilled in offensive zone https://t.co/UUAOnl5Ddn
— Rick Pizzo (@BTNRickPizzo) October 31, 2016
Keep in mind in this early start that Ohio State has only played one home game so far, a 6-1 obliteration of Bowling Green, so things could get even better.
OSU’s offensive skill and surprising goaltending will take on unranked Robert Morris this weekend in a home and home series, with Ohio State hosting the first game, Friday, in Columbus.