2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey season

College ice hockey team season
2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes
men's ice hockey season
Conference3rd Big Ten
Home iceValue City Arena
Rankings
USCHO#16
USA TodayNR
Record
Overall22–13–2
Conference13–9–2
Home14–8–0
Road8–5–2
Coaches and captains
Head coachSteve Rohlik
Assistant coachesSteve Miller
J. B. Bittner
Dustin Carlson
Captain(s)Will Riedell
Gustaf Westlund
Alternate captain(s)Jaedon Leslie
Quinn Preston
Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey seasons
« 2020–21 2022–23 »

The 2021–22 Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey season was the 59th season of play for the program. They represented the Ohio State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. This season marked the ninth season in the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Steve Rohlik, in his ninth season, and played their home games at Value City Arena.

Season

Entering the season, Ohio State was picked to finish last in the Big Ten.[1] The Buckeyes, however, began the season well, winning three of their first four games. While the victories helped, the first few weeks also settled the goaltending competition when freshman Jakub Dobeš established himself as the starter over Ryan Snowden. Ohio State was able to use stellar performances from the Czech goalie to dramatically exceed expectations for the year.

After beginning their conference schedule, OSU swept Penn State and then earned splits with Michigan, Minnesota and Notre Dame, all ranked teams. While their record wasn't particularly outstanding by the end of December, Ohio State had played well enough to rise up to 17th in the ranking, putting them in a prime position to make the NCAA Tournament. In the first half of the year, Ohio State's offense was clicking along at more than three goals per game and was performing very consistently, being held under 3 goals on just five occasions.

The Buckeyes played even better after the Winter Break, losing just once in twelve games. While their opponents weren't particularly strong, OSU was able to get up to 8th in the polls and, more importantly, they were in the top 10 of the PairWise rankings. All the Buckeyes needed to guarantee themselves a spot in the tournament was a win or two in the final few weeks of the season but, just as they were ready to make postseason plans, the wheels came off.

Ohio State's final two opponents were top two teams in the conference, Minnesota and Michigan. Both were playing at a very high level while the Buckeyes were seemingly coasting into the conference tournament. The OSU offense, a strength all season, failed. The team scored just 6 goals in 4 games. Worse, Dobeš didn't play particularly well as the team allowed 8 goals against in both weekends and were swept by both teams. The four consecutive losses could not have come at a worse time, dropping Ohio State down the rankings, but the team's postseason hopes were still alive due to the strength of their conquerors.

Ohio State sat 13th in the PairWise as they began the Big Ten Tournament. While the top 10 were automatically qualified for the NCAA tournament, the next 6 could receive bids based on postseason results. As long as Ohio State got out of the conference quarterfinals, they would likely receive an at-large bid. Their opponent, Penn State, had had a dreadful conference season; despite being just one place behind the Buckeyes, PSU was 22 points lower in the standings. The first game went to script for OSU as the offense seemed to get back on track but it was the defense that looked to be a problem. While they won 4–3, Ohio State allowed 52 shots against and that trend continued over the next two games. Penn State carried the bulk of the play, outshooting the Buckeyes by at least 10 in each of the three games. While Ohio State was able to score in the first match, they faltered in games 2 and 3, allowing the Nittany Lions to win both and potting themselves on the postseason bubble.

After losing the series, Ohio State was dropped down to 15 in the PairWise. Because none of the Atlantic Hockey teams were in the top 16, that was the lowest possible position that could make the tournament. Ohio State could only wait and hope that there were no upsets for any of the five other conference championships. The next week the team got a slight boost when both the Big Ten and NCHC all advanced teams that were guaranteed bids to their respective championships but they had to hold their breath as spoilers from the CCHA, ECAC and Hockey East continued. On the final day of conference play, Ohio State needed each of those three championship games to go a specific way but they could only get two. When Harvard won the ECAC championship, Ohio State was knocked out and their season was over.[2]

Departures

PlayerPositionNationalityCause
Layton AhacDefenseman CanadaSigned professional contract (Vegas Golden Knights)
Ryan DickinsonDefenseman United StatesTransferred to Oswego State
Eugene FadyeyevForward UkraineGraduation (signed with Fayetteville Marksmen)
Matthew JenningsForward United StatesTransferred to St. Thomas
Evan MoyseGoaltender United StatesGraduation (signed with Birmingham Bulls)
Tommy NappierGoaltender United StatesGraduation (signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
Collin PetersForward United StatesGraduation (retired)
Austin PooleyForward CanadaGraduation (retired)

Recruiting

PlayerPositionNationalityAgeNotes
Eric CooleyForward United States23Pittsburgh, PA; graduate transfer from Niagara
Jakub DobešGoaltender Czech Republic20Havířov, CZE; selected 136th overall in 2020
Reilly HerbstGoaltender United States21Niwot, CO
Mason LohreiDefenseman United States20Baton Rouge, LA; selected 58th overall in 2020
Cole McWardDefenseman United States20Fenton, MO
Georgii MerkulovForward Russia20Ryazan, RUS
Will RiedellDefenseman United States24Greensboro, NC; graduate transfer from Lake Superior State
Camden ThiesingForward United States20Franklin, TN
Jake WiseForward United States21Reading, MA; transfer from Boston University; selected 69th overall in 2018

Roster

As of August 23, 2021.[3]

No.PlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
2James MarooneyJuniorD5' 9" (1.75 m)165 lb (75 kg)1999-08-16Chaska, MinnesotaWaterloo (USHL)
3Cole McWardFreshmanD6' 1" (1.85 m)192 lb (87 kg)2001-06-09Fenton, MissouriTri-City (USHL)
4Mason LohreiFreshmanD6' 4" (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg)2001-01-07Madison, WisconsinGreen Bay (USHL)BOS, 58th overall 2020
7Evan McIntyreSophomoreD5' 10" (1.78 m)174 lb (79 kg)2000-10-17Oakville, OntarioPenticton (BCHL)
9Dominic VidoliJuniorD6' 0" (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)1999-06-23Wake Forest, North CarolinaSioux City (USHL)
10Georgii MerkulovFreshmanF5' 11" (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg)2000-10-10Ryazan, RussiaYoungstown (USHL)
11Kamil SadlochaJuniorF5' 11" (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-04-12Carpentersville, IllinoisMadison (USHL)
13Tate SingletonJuniorF5' 9" (1.75 m)177 lb (80 kg)1998-09-05West Lebanon, New HampshireCentral Illinois (USHL)
14Dalton MessinaJuniorF5' 11" (1.8 m)195 lb (88 kg)1998-03-29Macomb, MichiganYoungstown (USHL)
15Cam ThiesingFreshmanF6' 0" (1.83 m)184 lb (83 kg)2001-03-26Nashville, TennesseeGreen Bay (USHL)
16Quinn Preston (A)SeniorF5' 11" (1.8 m)182 lb (83 kg)1997-10-21Trenton, MichiganDubuque (USHL)
17Mark CheremetaJuniorF5' 11" (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-07-12Parkland, FloridaDubuque (USHL)
18Michael GildonSophomoreF6' 2" (1.88 m)196 lb (89 kg)2001-06-21Plano, TexasUSNTDP (USHL)
20Matt CassidyJuniorF6' 0" (1.83 m)187 lb (85 kg)1999-07-31Medford, New JerseyYoungstown (USHL)
21Joe DunlapSophomoreF6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-11-30Windham, New HampshireFargo (USHL)
24Ryan O'ConnellSeniorD6' 1" (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-04-25Manotick, OntarioPenticton (BCHL)TOR, 203rd overall 2017
26Jaedon Leslie (A)JuniorF6' 1" (1.85 m)187 lb (85 kg)1998-08-04St. Albert, AlbertaFort McMurray (AJHL)
27Eric CooleyGraduateF5' 9" (1.75 m)185 lb (84 kg)1998-05-05Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaNiagara (AHA)
28Jake WiseSeniorF5' 10" (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-02-28Reading, MassachusettsBoston University (HEA)CHI, 69th overall 2018
29Gustaf Westlund (C)SeniorF6' 0" (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg)1997-12-12Stockholm, SwedenLincoln (USHL)
30Ryan SnowdenJuniorG6' 3" (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)1998-03-06Lincoln University, PennsylvaniaCentral Illinois (USHL)
33Will Riedell (C)GraduateD6' 1" (1.85 m)205 lb (93 kg)1996-10-09Greensboro, North CarolinaLake Superior State (WCHA)
34Reilly HerbstFreshmanG6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-02-17Niwot, ColoradoOmaha (USHL)
44Jakub DobešFreshmanG6' 4" (1.93 m)198 lb (90 kg)2001-05-27Ostrava, Czech RepublicOmaha (USHL)MTL, 136th overall 2020
61Grant GabrieleSeniorD6' 2" (1.88 m)197 lb (89 kg)1997-04-17Brighton, MichiganWaterloo (USHL)
65C. J. RegulaJuniorD6' 3" (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)1998-05-29Bloomfield Hills, MichiganShreveport (NAHL)
71Patrick GuzzoSophomoreF6' 3" (1.91 m)198 lb (90 kg)2001-11-27Marysville, MichiganWaterloo (USHL)
94Travis TreloarSophomoreF5' 11" (1.8 m)177 lb (80 kg)2001-05-12Kalmar, SwedenLincoln (USHL)

Standings

Conference recordOverall record
GPWLTOTWOTL3/SWPTSGFGAGPWLTGFGA
#5 Minnesota241860120559050392613013891
#2 Michigan *241680030519159423110116794
#9 Notre Dame241770510477455402812012275
#16 Ohio State241392111427659372213212587
Penn State2461711112063923817201117122
Wisconsin246171120205396371024376132
Michigan State246180100175187361223176119
Championship: March 19, 2022
† indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated April 7, 2022

Schedule and results

DateTimeOpponent#Rank#SiteTVDecisionResultAttendanceRecord
Exhibition
October 24:00 PMWestern Michigan*Value City ArenaColumbus, OH  L 1–3   
Regular Season
October 87:05 PMat Bentley*Bentley ArenaWaltham, MA SnowdenL 1–2 1,5850–1–0
October 96:05 PMat Bentley*Bentley Arena • Waltham, MA DobešW 7–1 1,3591–1–0
October 157:05 PMConnecticut*Value City ArenaColumbus, OH SnowdenW 4–3 OT2,7752–1–0
October 163:05 PMConnecticut*Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 3–0 2,4463–1–0
October 296:00 PMMichigan StateValue City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešL 1–2 3,3243–2–0 (0–1–0)
October 302:00 PMMichigan StateValue City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 5–1 2,8264–2–0 (1–1–0)
November 57:00 PM#16 Penn StateValue City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 5–2 4,3765–2–0 (2–1–0)
November 65:00 PM#16 Penn StateValue City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 4–1 3,9416–2–0 (3–1–0)
November 127:30 PMat #6 Minnesota#183M Arena at MariucciMinneapolis, MNBSNDobešW 4–3 7,5117–2–0 (4–1–0)
November 136:00 PMat #6 Minnesota#183M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MNBSNDobešL 0–2 7,2947–3–0 (4–2–0)
November 265:00 PMMercyhurst*#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešL 4–5 3,2777–4–0
November 275:00 PMMercyhurst*#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 3–2 2,5548–4–0
December 37:30 PMat #8 Notre Dame#18Compton Family Ice ArenaNotre Dame, INNBCSNDobešW 4–2 4,3439–4–0 (5–2–0)
December 46:00 PMat #8 Notre Dame#18Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, INNBCRNDobešL 1–5 5,1179–5–0 (5–3–0)
December 107:00 PM#3 Michigan#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešL 2–5 7,3249–6–0 (5–4–0)
December 118:00 PM#3 Michigan#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešW 6–1 6,92810–6–0 (6–4–0)
December 167:00 PMBowling Green*#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešW 4–3 OT5,23211–6–0
December 177:07 PMat Bowling Green*#17Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, OH DobešW 3–2 5,00012–6–0
December 317:05 PMLong Island*#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 6–0 2,95813–6–0
January 17:05 PMLong Island*#17Value City Arena • Columbus, OH SnowdenW 7–2 2,62114–6–0
January 86:00 PMat Wisconsin#17Kohl CenterMadison, WIBSW+DobešW 5–3 10,65315–6–0 (7–4–0)
January 93:00 PMat Wisconsin#17Kohl Center • Madison, WIBSWDobešT 2–2 SOW7,83715–6–1 (7–4–1)
January 147:00 PM#13 Notre Dame#16Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešL 2–3 OT8,35015–7–1 (7–5–1)
January 158:00 PM#13 Notre Dame#16Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešW 4–1 6,11416–7–1 (8–5–1)
January 217:00 PMat Michigan State#15Munn Ice ArenaEast Lansing, MI DobešW 4–1 4,72817–7–1 (9–5–1)
January 226:00 PMat Michigan State#15Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, MI DobešW 3–2 6,20318–7–1 (10–5–1)
January 287:00 PMat Penn State#12Pegula Ice ArenaUniversity Park, PA DobešT 2–2 SOL6,05918–7–2 (10–5–2)
January 297:00 PMat Penn State#12Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA DobešW 6–0 6,22919–7–2 (11–5–2)
February 47:00 PMWisconsin#9Value City Arena • Columbus, OH DobešW 4–3 OT4,74320–7–2 (12–5–2)
February 58:00 PMWisconsin#9Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešW 6–2 4,59221–7–2 (13–5–2)
February 116:30 PM#7 Minnesota#8Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešL 2–3 6,00821–8–2 (13–6–2)
February 126:00 PM#7 Minnesota#8Value City Arena • Columbus, OHBTNDobešL 1–5 6,20821–9–2 (13–7–2)
February 187:30 PMat #2 Michigan#11Yost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, MI DobešL 3–5 5,80021–10–2 (13–8–2)
February 198:30 PMat #2 Michigan#11Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, MIBTNDobešL 0–3 5,80021–11–2 (13–9–2)
Big Ten Tournament
March 47:00 PMPenn State*#12Value City ArenaColumbus, Ohio (Quarterfinal game 1) DobešW 4–3 2,03922–11–2
March 57:00 PMPenn State*#12Value City ArenaColumbus, Ohio (Quarterfinal game 2) DobešL 2–3 2,19822–12–2
March 68:00 PMPenn State*#12Value City ArenaColumbus, Ohio (Quarterfinal game 3) DobešL 1–2 1,18822–13–2
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[4]

Scoring statistics

NamePositionGamesGoalsAssistsPointsPIM
Georgi MerkulovF3620143410
Mason LohreiD314252920
Jake WiseC351018282
Cam ThiesingC378172553
Grant GabrieleD375152012
Quinn PrestonF317121955
Gustaf WestlundC37881638
Kamil SadlochaC37791625
Cole McWardD36412162
Tate SingletonF371051528
Travis TreloarC3677144
Joseph DunlapF32761328
Mark CheremetaLW3358138
Patrick GuzzoC/LW31661216
Eric CooleyRW3555104
Will RiedellD33371031
Ryan O'ConnellD300101010
James MarooneyD3118933
Michael GildonLW163586
Dominic VidoliD192466
Jaedon LeslieF283258
Matthew CassidyRW1204421
Dalton MessinaF30220
Jakub DobešG350222
C. J. RegulaD70116
Evan McIntyreD30002
Ryan SnowdenG60000
Bench-----14
Total125212337444

[5]

Goaltending statistics

NameGamesMinutesWinsLossesTiesGoals AgainstSavesShut OutsSV %GAA
Jakub Dobeš352043211227710863.9342.26
Ryan Snowden61811107780.9182.31
Empty Net-15---3----
Total372240221328711643.9302.33

Rankings

PollWeek
Pre12345678910111213141516171819202122232425 (Final)
USCHO.comNRNRNRNRNRNR1817171817171716151298111212151616-16
USA TodayNRNRNRNRNRNR14NRNRNRNRNRNR1515118712121215NRNRNRNR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.[6]

Awards and honors

PlayerAwardRef
Jakub DobešBig Ten Goaltender of the Year[7]
Jakub DobešBig Ten Freshman of the Year[7]
Jakub DobešBig Ten First Team[7]
Georgii Merkulov
Jakub DobešBig Ten Rookie Team[7]
Mason Lohrei
Georgii Merkulov

Players drafted into the NHL

RoundPickPlayerNHL team
4104Stephen HallidayOttawa Senators

† incoming freshman[8]

References

  1. ^ "Minnesota chosen as team to beat in 2021-22 Big Ten preseason coaches poll". USCHO. September 25, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Final Bracketology: Our pick for the 2022 NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament". USCHO. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "2020–21 Roster". Ohio State Buckeyes. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Ohio State 2021-22 Team Schedule". College Hockey Inc. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Ohio State Univ. 2021-2022 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2022 NHL Draft". USCHO.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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