Ohio State then-sophomore goalie Amanda Zeglen (31) defends the goal in the women’s hockey game against Minnesota on Jan 26. Ohio State lost 7-1. Credit: Cori Wade | For The Lantern
Having each won national titles as former members of Minnesota women’s hockey teams, the Ohio State coaching staff helped build the Golden Gophers into a perennial powerhouse on the ice.
But that peek behind the curtain won’t make it any easier for No. 9 Ohio State (4-2-2, 2-2-2 WCHA) to knock off an undefeated No. 2 Minnesota (8-0-0, 4-0-0) team that narrowly lost the Frozen Four this past season.
Buckeyes head coach Nadine Muzerall and assistant coaches Milica McMillen and Emily West all played for the Gophers. Muzerall graduated from Minnesota in 2001 and still holds the record for most career goals in program history with 139.
In her junior year, Muzerall led the Gophers to their first national championship. After graduation, she was an assistant coach on the team for five years. During that time, she coached McMillen and West, and together they won four more championships for Minnesota.
The Minnesota coaching staff is still almost the same now as it was back then.
“[Head coach Brad Frost] and [associate head coach Joel Johnson] had coached me during my career at the University of Minnesota, and ironically, [assistant coach] Bethany Brausen and I were teammates,” West said. “They’re going to be coming in and giving us a battle, and to be able to stand on this side of it and give it right back, we’re excited about it.”
In addition to the Buckeye coaches having strong ties to Minnesota, eight Ohio State players are also natives of the state.
“A lot of kids on the team have family in Minnesota, and to play the University of Minnesota when you grew up in Minnesota is kind of the golden tier,” West said. “There’s no need to get the team fired up. I know they already are, and everyone in that locker room is ready to go.”
Ohio State may need that added motivation, though, after the recent difficulties it has faced on the ice.
The Buckeyes were swept at home by No. 1 Wisconsin on Oct. 11-12. Last weekend, they tied Minnesota State in two games in which they were favored to win.
And the challenges aren’t getting any easier. The Buckeyes will be going up against a Minnesota team that is still undefeated this season.
On Minnesota’s offensive line, Ohio State will have to look out for sophomore forward Taylor Heise and senior forward Alex Woken, who lead the Gophers in goals, each with six.
“Minnesota is always a very talented team, especially offensively. They have a lot of playmakers and they can put the puck in the back of the net,” senior forward Rebecca Freiburger said. “We just have to play our game, just staying on them all the time. Taking away time and space is going to be basically one of the most important things we do this weekend.”
Last season the Buckeyes went 1-3 against the Gophers. They split the first series of the year before Minnesota outscored them 14-3 in their second series matchup of to get the sweep.
The puck drops at 6:07 p.m. Friday and 3:07 p.m. Saturday for Ohio State and Minnesota at the Ohio State Ice Rink.
