Ohio State goalie Ray Aho grew up in a world of maize and blue, cheering for the Michigan Wolverines.Aho’s 5-foot-6 frame drew more critics than recruiters, despite being named an all-league member for his Detroit Compuware team.However a CCHA team came calling–his favorite team’s arch-rival, OSU.Since earning a starting position with the Buckeyes, Aho has earned accolades usually reserved for upperclassmen. The CCHA has awarded him the Defensive Player of the Week for two weeks in a row.On Thursday Aho will get the chance to defend the goal against the team he once cheered. He and the Buckeyes will face off with the Wolverines at 7 p.m. at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.Aho’s latest award was based on his performance this weekend turning away 34 Spartan shots in Friday’s 3-0 loss and topped that on Saturday by making another 44 saves to help the Buckeyes earn the split, 3-2.For the weekend Aho made 78 of 83 shots for a save percentage of .940.’Ray is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and he is not one to be unrealistic,’ Ohio State coach John Markell said. ‘He knows he has to do that every night.’Confidence has not always been easy to come by for Aho, especially this season.’No one was knocking on his door last June so there was a little bit of a cloud in the back of his mind,’ Buckeye goalie coach Bill McKenzie said. ‘The confidence started to come as he started to get in there and play.’And play he has, playing in seven of the Buckeyes last eight games.In the span, Aho has allowed 3.57 goals, lowering his goals against average to 4.46 while improving his record to 3-12.When asked about growing up a Michigan fan, the Allen Park Mich., native smiled and said ‘I’m a Buckeye now.’