Well, we Cornell fans thought that the Big Red was devastated by losses to last
year's personell.  Well, imagine having just as many, if not more, key losses
but having a coach with only half the intelligence and recruiting ability of
Brian McCutcheon.  (Half may even be a bit too much credit.)  That is the
situation the OSU Buckeyes face on the ice next season.
 
The big news for the Buckeyes as of the end of the season was that junior
goaltender Mike Bales was going pro.  Only offense and goaltending kept this
team in any games as the defense allowed about 6 goals per contest.  (The only
positive is that they were very young on defense last year and hopefully have
learned a lot, but with the teaching abilities of Jerry Welsh, I wouldn't count
on it.)  With Bales leaving and with the graduation of backup Jim Slazyk and
with the graduation of three of the top five scorers, the only positives seemed
to be a defense returning with lots of varsity experience and the return of
last year's second leading scorer and CCHA rookie of the year, Brian Loney.
 
The problem is, Loney is no longer at OSU and will not play college hockey
again in all liklihood.  According to a source here at OSU's sports info
department, Loney was "not doing so well in school" and will return to Canada
to play junior A and to test the waters for a pro contract.  What I was told
was that they could have made it possible for him to stay (this isn't exactly
the most challenging undergrad place in the world depending on what you
major--look at the football team) but he did not feel it was in his best
interests to remain.  Thus, OSU is left with a defense that was the weakest I
have ever seen take the ice on a Div. I level, only one goaltender who has a
total of 34:33 of varsity experience with 3 goals allowed on 15 shots, and an
offense that has lost 4 of its top 5 scorers  (only Ron White, Jr., returns).
 
The person I talked to here did not seem enthused about the recruiting class.
I asked him if he felt the freshman could pick up the slack, and his response
was, "Well, we have some big kids coming in."  He just smiled and wouldn't say
any more.  A total of 11 players have been lost from last year's 8th place
team.  Maybe I'll get tickets for some U of M games and go to Ann Arbor for
the winter....
 
Of course, with Dave Smith, Brian Loney, and Mike Bales gone, who, besides
Welsh, are the fans at Yost going to find to hate.  It just won't be the same
rivalry without those three on the ice for the Bucks.
 
PS. Credit an assist to John Hausseler on the Loney story as he contacted me a
few weeks ago saying he had heard an unconfirmed rumor about Loney's departure.
 
 
 
--
Dave [log in to unmask]
Cornell '91 OSU Med '95
Far above Cayuga's waters.....
The OSU-Cornell matchup may look more like the NCAA suddenly reinstituted
freshman hockey.  Looks like a long season for my two teams.  Sigh.