Abigail Miner/The LanternOhio State freshman defenseman Matt Bartkowski navigates through Michigan State players during Friday’s game against the Spartans. Bartkowski and sophomores Sergio Somma and C.J. Severyn are Pittsburgh natives and will play in their hometown tomorrow against Robert Morris.After sweeping No. 11 Michigan State, the Buckeyes are garnering some semblance of national respect.
Dustin Carlson and Zac Dalpe, recognized as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Goaltender and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for their work against the Spartans, have the Buckeyes on the verge of a national ranking.
“We’ve been talking amongst the team and people are talking about the rankings,” said OSU forward Sergio Somma. “We don’t really need to worry about that. As long as we keep winning, the rankings will take care of themselves.”
For the first time in four weeks, the Buckeyes are preparing for a match-up against an unranked opponent. Robert Morris, a team that defeated OSU in Columbus last season, poses a challenge recognized by the Buckeyes.
“In terms of practicing, our work ethic and how we’re focusing, there’s no difference,” Somma said. “We’re just going into this game, we know we need to win and we need to come up hitting on all cylinders and playing well.”
The Buckeyes and the Eagles square off Friday at 8:05 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Homecoming for Somma, Bartkowski
Though it’s just a small slice of what Ohio State sophomore Sergio Somma misses about his hometown, Somma Pizza better be prepared for a big celebration Friday night.
The Somma’s family-owned sports bar, located in a quiet suburb outside Pittsburgh, Pa., in the heart of Nittany Lion territory, will have the locals bleeding scarlet and gray for at least one night.
Somma, in his homecoming, leads the Buckeyes against Robert Morris on Friday at Mellon Arena, the home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Freshman Matt Bartkowski, fellow Pittsburgh native, has heard of Somma’s but has never been there; a fact that may change sooner than anticipated.
“It’s on the other side of town,” Bartkowski said. “I hear it’s worth the drive, I just don’t get out there too much. I’m planning on going this summer.”
While the timing of Bartkowski’s first visit to Somma’s is uncertain, his first trip home as a Buckeye will come this weekend.
“It’ll be nice to be able to play at home,” Bartkowski said. “I’ve got a lot of friends that I grew up with playing at Robert Morris.”
The Bartkowski backing contingent will make its presence felt, with no fewer than 50 friends and family planned to be in attendance.
Somma’s uncle, who has his own high school hockey roots in Pittsburgh, made the trip last season.
“He’s originally from Pittsburgh but he lives in Virginia now,” Somma said. “I didn’t know he was coming, so that was awesome to see him there.”
Coach John Markell recognizes the rare opportunity afforded his players by scheduling games in their hometowns.
“We try to get a game out there where their parents can come make a short trip for them,” Markell said. “Pittsburgh is a recruiting area for us and proximity has a lot to play in that.”
C.J. Severyn, recovering from a sprained ankle, is the third player on the roster to hail from Pittsburgh and is further evidence of the OSU program mining the city for hockey talent.
While Severyn may be unable to put on a show for the hometown crowd, Somma is more than willing to oblige, and even offer Bartkowski some advice in the process.
“Just have fun with it,” Somma said. “It’s a great experience and just enjoy it.”
Heralded freshman class debuts in full
While Matt Bartkowski and Zac Dalpe spent their first weeks of college earning Central Collegiate Hockey Association accolades, fellow freshman Taylor Stefishen toiled in the trainer’s room and in doctors offices.
Stefishen, the third member of the freshman class to be drafted in the 2008 NHL Draft, finally put his promise on display Saturday against Michigan State.
A fifth-round pick of the Nashville Predators, Stefishen battled mononucleosis early in the season.
Defenseman Steve West, previously unable to crack the team’s six-man rotation on defense, joined Stefishen in debuting Saturday.
Stefishen and West, two components of a class ranked seventh in the nation by Inside College Hockey, drew favorable reviews from coach John Markell.
“We’ve got to be able to get them in there under duress,” Markell said. “I was very pleased with how they responded. They’ve built confidence in us that they can play.”
The 3-1 victory marked the culmination of a recruiting journey that began for the four players with West’s commitment to Ohio State three years ago.
“I like the fact that they’re all playing for each other,” Markell said. “That’s a credit to them doing the right things in practice and they have to continue in order to be consistent at this level.”
James Pallitto can be reached at [email protected].
