One of the country’s highest scoring teams inflated its offensive numbers even more Friday night as the Ohio State men’s hockey team topped UConn 7-4. The box score makes it look like a pretty fun game; David Gust netted his first career hat trick and 11 Buckeyes tallied at least a point as Ohio State outshot UConn 38-25.
But it was no easy win.
Ohio State led 2-1 after the first period before the Huskies scored three straight in the second to take a 4-2 lead. The Buckeyes roared back after falling behind by two, scoring three times in the next 2:19 to take the lead for good.
“I certainly challenged them, that’s for sure, in the second period there,” Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said. “We could’ve went one direction or the other and I think these guys just decided we’re gonna show up and we’re gonna empty the tanks and we’re gonna try to play the game the right way…we scored some goals there and got on a roll and found a way to win a hockey game.”
Watch all 7 Buckeye goals from tonight's win over UConn. https://t.co/wDqfFrUh6A #GoBucks
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 12, 2016
The win was a rebound game for Ohio State. After going unbeaten in October, the Buckeyes opened November last week with their first loss of the season and a tie against Robert Morris.
“Last week we didn’t prepare as well as we could as a team. We kind of answered the bell this week in practice, we felt great coming into the weekend,” Ohio State captain Nick Schilkey said. “We faced adversity in the game tonight too…but once again we bounced back and it just shows the depth of this team. There’s no quit, we stick together.”
Schilkey Reaching the Century Mark
For Schilkey, Friday’s game was more than a bounce-back win. It was also the contest that finally put him in the 100-point club.
“I’ve known for a couple games now (that I had 99 career points),” Schilkey said. “It’s kind of nice to, kind of, get that out of the way, for sure.”
Schilkey’s assist on Gust’s first-period goal was the 100th point of his Ohio State career. He promptly moved past the milestone in the second period, adding another assist and the game-winning goal.
“It feels great (to get my 100th point),” Schilkey said. “I’ve been blessed with plenty of opportunity here to play with great players.”
Congrats to the two Buckeyes with milestones tonight.
🚨🚨🚨 David Gust – first career hat trick
💯 Nick Schilkey – 100th career point#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/sn9xgE3RUe— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 12, 2016
A Complete Leader
Schilkey flew around the ice in the third period and narrowly missed chances to add more points to his total. The senior’s nine goals this season lead the Buckeyes, but numbers do not tell his whole story. The 100-point man is a team captain for the second straight season, and his leadership extends well beyond the scoresheet.
“I think people just see (Schilkey) as a hockey player…to me, it’s a lot deeper than that,” Rohlik said. “He’s a 4.0 student and he carries himself the right way as our captain. He’s a leader, he does things the right way, works hard.
“As a coach, those are the kind of guys you want in your program and that’s what’s called culture and he leads the way and I’m as proud of all those things as I am with the 100 points.”
When discussing his milestone, Schilkey sounds like that kind of leader.
“It feels good but, you know, coach said it in the locker room – I’d turn in all those points to finish the year on a win.”
