ATHENS, Ohio –The first of the last two games between two storied collegiate ice hockey teams that currently play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association D-1 Central States Collegiate Hockey League lived up to expectations here. In a spirited, tough and hard hitting game the Penn State Nittany Lions outlasted Ohio University’s Bobcats 2-1 before a jammed packed standing room only crowd at raucous Bird Ice Arena on the Ohio University campus.
Although the majority of the roaring crowd may have been disappointed in the outcome they could not have been disappointed in the game’s intensity level. The hitting, skirmishes, end to end play, goals and net minding offered some of the best of ACHA action. The game was played with playoff level emotion.
Part of this emotion is because this weekend features the last regular season meeting between the two teams. Penn State will launch its inaugural season as a varsity program in the NCAA next season. Both schools were early catalysts twenty years ago in the formation of the ACHA which has grown beyond humble beginnings into a major player in collegiate hockey.
Usual when hockey fans think of collegiate hockey they think of the NCAA and its varsity hockey teams. Approximately 3400 players skate for NCAA sanctioned men and women’s teams. There is however a much larger segment of college hockey that has experienced phenomenal growth over the 20 years since it was first organized. The ACHA sponsors both regular season play and stages a series of playoffs and national championship tournaments in all of its classifications. The teams recruit and attract former junior and high school players who want to continue to play hockey while going to college. Over 10,000 men and women currently play on the ACHA non varsity ice hockey teams across the USA.
It was against this background that the two teams began this weekend’s battle. Tonight fans of both teams got their money’s worth. They saw Penn State’ goalie Paul Musico stop 18 of 19 shots to overcome an outstanding performance at the other end by Bobcats’ goalie Fedor Dushkin. Penn State was led on offense by forward Taylor Holstrom.
The sophomore Dushkin who came to the Bobcats from the Ukraine via Chicago was excellent in defeat. He swept aside 24 of the 26 shots he faced as the Bobcats actually led for much of the game. They got a 1-0 lead on a goal 6:56 into the game from Zach Barbis. He lofted a shot from in close through a crowd past Musico. The shot found net high on the goal tender’s blocker side. Michael Schultz and Josh Fodor picked up assists on the strike.
The Ohio University one goal lead held up for the next 38 plus minutes of play as both teams rang shots off each other’s goal posts, got stoned by goal keepers and somehow missed wide open nets on what appeared to be certain scores. Meanwhile, they also traded penalties and power play opportunities into the third period with neither team able to cash in even with two man advantages. Time and time again outstanding defensive plays and goal keeper saves had the crowd acknowledging the efforts of both teams.
Finally, the Nittany Lions broke their scoring drought at the 12:09 mark of period three. Holstrom got the first of his two goals with a low shot from the slot with a helper going Rich O’Brien. Less than four minutes later at 4:34 Holstrom broke the tie and forged the 2-1 win with time winding down.
The winning goal demonstrated the speed of the visitors. Dan Petrick hit Holstrom with a pass from his defensive zone which connected as the Holstrom was in full stride near the Bobcats’ blue line. The stretch pass put Holstrom behind the Bobcats’ defense as he walked in uncontested and beat Dushkin with a hard high backhander.
PSU then went hard on defense largely bottling up the home team as time ran out. The Bobcats mounted some game ending pressure but based on puck position were unable to get their goalie pulled for an extra attacker until just 0:30 was left in the game.
The two teams will complete their historic rivalry at Bird Arena tonight. Another expected standing room only crowd should be on hand to see the puck dropped at 7:30 PM.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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