Freshman forward Noah Powell (15) takes control of the puck during the No. 12 Buckeyes game against Princeton on Saturday in New Jersey. The Buckeyes fell 1-3 to the Tigers. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
After completing its 2024-25 non-conference schedule last weekend, the Ohio State men’s ice hockey team will turn its attention toward the remaining conference schedule, beginning with Penn State Thursday and Friday.
Amid a four-game losing streak, the No. 17 Buckeyes (9-4-1, 2-2-0 Big Ten) are set for a pivotal two-game series against the Nittany Lions (6-7-0, 0-6-0 Big Ten) to begin their December schedule. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State has averaged 3.2 goals per game through its first 14 contests this season, but was held to just one goal in each of its two losses to Princeton Friday and Saturday.
With Penn State allowing 3.3 goals per game, Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said the Buckeyes must find their offensive groove against the Nittany Lions.
“We gotta keep getting pucks into the net and get better in the special teams area,” Rohlik said. “We just gotta keep pushing forward and working on being better on every facet — that’s what we talk about during the week.”
In addition, Ohio State forward Thomas Weis said Ohio State’s defense should create opportunities for its offense against Penn State.
“We just have to work on staying on the right side of the puck because they’re going to turn it over and take their chances,” Weis said. “When they do that, if we’re in the right spots, we’re going to be able to get those pucks back and go the other way with numbers.”
Penn State’s schedule has been extremely unforgiving thus far, as five of its seven losses have come against top-10 teams.
The Nittany Lions suffered a pair of losses to both No. 4 Minnesota and No. 6 Michigan, as well as a single loss to then-No. 8 Quinnipiac — which has since dropped to No. 18.
Sophomore forward Aiden Fink leads the Nittany Lions in goals, assists and points with eight, 13 and 21, respectively.
Fink, a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection last year, has scored six goals and dished out six assists in Penn State’s last half-dozen games.
Along with Fink’s recent success, Penn State also snapped its six-game losing streak last weekend, achieving a two-game sweep against Colgate.
The Nittany Lions utilize a three-goalie rotation with the junior trio of Arsenii Sergeev, Noah Grannan and John Seifarth. Sergeev leads the group in games played with nine, as well as wins with a record of 4-4, including one shutout.
Grannan and Seifarth have each played three games apiece. Grannan remains winless with a record of 0-3, allowing 6.5 goals per outing. On the other hand, Seifarth possesses a 2-0 record with a goal-per-game average of 2.6, picking up both of his wins against Colgate.
The Nittany Lions are coached by 12-year head coach Guy Gadowsky. In his tenure in Happy Valley, Gadowsky has led Penn State to a 196-172-28 overall record, three NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2018, 2023), a Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2017 and a Big Ten regular season title in 2020.
Rohlik said Gadowsky coaches a relentless form of hockey, which he feels familiar with from their many years as Big Ten opponents.
“First and foremost, I’ve known the guy for a long time, and I got a ton of respect for him,” Rohlik said. “He does a hell of a job, and you know exactly what you’re getting when you play Penn State; they play fast, they play downhill and they keep coming — that’s what makes him a great coach.”
With the Buckeyes scheduled to compete in 20 consecutive conference matchups to round out their regular season, Weis said winning now is as crucial as ever.
“It’s really important. I think getting back into Big Ten play is especially more important,” Weis said. “Once you get to the end of the year and playoffs approach, every point matters. So, these are the games that you want to start accumulating those points.”
