Sports
Ohio Bobcats Hockey Wows Bird Arena In Impressive Blowout
By: Curtis Feder
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ohio hockey team put together an outstanding opening weekend, starting the season with two dominant victories on their home ice against the John Carroll Blue Streaks.
In their season opener Friday night, the Bobcats started their 2021-22 season campaign sizzling hot with an 8-1 victory, with five goals scored in the first period alone. Ohio set out to prove their play was not a fluke on Saturday, and the team did exactly that.
Throughout the entirety of the contest, the Bobcats were always in control, dominating possession and forcing John Carroll to spend virtually no time in their zone.
Ohio was in attack mode, constantly knocking on the door with multiple scoring opportunities. It did not take long for those chances to result in goals.
Five minutes in, the Bobcats drew first blood with senior forward Drew Magyar burying the rebound off a blocked shot to open Ohio’s scoring tally.
From that moment on, the flood gates opened, and Ohio was looking hungry to score every time they touched the puck. Their aggressive attacking style netted them two more goals in the opening period to put them up 3-0 at the first intermission.
The Bobcats picked up where they left off in the second period, as junior forward Andrew Wells had the space and time to pick his spot and send a wrist-shot past the John Carroll goaltender to increase the lead to four less than 90 seconds into the period.
The onslaught of shots from Ohio never wavered, and tensions began to rise from the Blue Streaks. What first started as minor skirmishes eventually turned into a full-scale fight mid-way through the period, resulting in two Bobcats getting ejected.
Despite being down a player in the ensuing John Carroll power play, the Bobcats still found a way to score with freshman defenseman Spencer Schons stealing the puck and finishing off a one-on-one breakaway to rub salt into the Blue Streaks’ wounds.
Ohio outshot John Carroll 19-8 in the second period, as the Bobcats headed to the locker room up 6-0.
The Bobcats cruised in the third period, scoring two more goals and holding the Blue Streaks to just two shots in the period.
Ohio played exceptionally on defense throughout the game, providing physicality near the crease, blocking passing lanes and constantly intercepting the puck. It got to a point where an average John Carroll possession would last less than five seconds.
Ohio put out a near perfect performance, scoring eight goals with six different scorers while limiting the Blue Streaks to just 17 total shots and keeping a shutout. First-year head coach Lionel Mauron described his team’s early success.
“Having that many different scorers means that we have a lot of talent,” said coach Mauron. “We play an offensive, fun system. Everyone is enjoying it.”
The people at the game enjoyed their playing style too, as the team got to compete with fans in the stands at Bird Arena this weekend for the first time in over a year. The experience of fans cheering loudly, the dinosaur mascot consistently banging on John Carroll’s window to annoy their bench, and all of the in between was a sight for sore eyes to the players.
“It’s a different feeling being in here with the fans. Last year, you could tell there was something missing every time you stepped on the ice,” said Drew Magyar, who scored twice in Saturday’s blowout victory. “We love the Bobcat fans, and we’re happy that they’re back.”
Ohio begins the year playing 14 of their first 15 games at home to start the season. They will look to build on their 2-0 start when they host the University of Pittsburgh Friday at 7 p.m.