Young college athletes are often told to work hard and be patient, and their opportunity will come.
If any underclassmen find that hard to believe, all they have to do is look to one of the key players on the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s ice hockey team.
Junior forward Mallory Peckels scored 17 points her freshman year and added another 12 as a sophomore. This year, she is off to a fast start for the 2-2 Buckeyes and is tied for the team lead in points with eight – three goals and five assists.
“Mal’s playing great hockey right now,” said coach Jackie Barto. “She works extremely hard and she’s playing the best hockey of her career right now, and it’s great to see.”
Peckels said as an underclassman she looked up to the upperclassmen, and saw firsthand how all of their hard work paid off. She’s hoping to set the same example for this year’s team, and beyond.
“I just want to be an example to the underclassmen, and show them that the hard work will pay off,” she said.
Peckels learned to play hockey in Northern Wisconsin. In her high school, Lakeland Union, there was no women’s team – so she played three seasons of varsity for the men’s team.
“It challenged me every day and made me improve,” she said of the experience.
Junior forward Erin Keys, who was Peckels’ roommate their freshman year, said the team looks to Peckels as a role model.
“She has the best attitude of anyone I’ve ever met,” Keys said. “She’s always positive, and just a great leader on and off the ice.”
Despite her accomplishments so far this season, Peckels refuses to talk about her individual success. To her, it’s a group effort, and any player on the team is capable of contributing in a big way.
Last season’s two wins over Minnesota are Peckels’ best moments so far at OSU, but the overall disappointing season left a bitter taste in the entire team’s mouth.
“Coming off of last season, we’ve really took it to heart,” Peckels said. “We really want to go out there and prove ourselves to the league as a team that can play with anyone.”
Peckels and her teammates accomplished that last weekend, narrowly losing two games to No. 1 Wisconsin, but just playing close isn’t going to satisfy her.
“We need to make a presence in the WCHA and knock off the teams ranked ahead of us,” Peckels said.
If Peckels can continue to lead the way, the Buckeyes are in store for some good results the rest of the season. And with her hard work in practice and in games, there’s no reason her solid play won’t continue.
“I’d say that right now, she’s the key to our team,” Barto said. “She works hard, she sets the tone both in practice and games, and she’s consistently bringing it every day.
“I think with her work ethic and her desire to continue to improve, she’s only going to get better every day. She has unlimited potential,” she said.
