Eric Boggs
The Ohio State women’s hockey team is gearing up for the 2024 season, with the target squarely on their backs after winning two of the last three NCAA Championships. Head coach Nadine Muzerall has built a powerhouse program, and as the Buckeyes prepare to face Minnesota Duluth this weekend, a team that boasts five national titles of its own, they know the road ahead won’t be easy.
“We’re excited for the season,” Muzerall said, her voice a little hoarse from the grind of preseason preparation and the demands of being both a coach and mother. “To defend a title is difficult, but we’re up for the challenge.”
Returning Stars and New Faces
One key returner for the Buckeyes is goaltender Amanda Thiele, whose experience and steady presence in the net will be crucial as Ohio State pursues another national title. Thiele is entering her fifth year in the program and, as Muzerall explained, brings a calming influence to the team.
“We recruit from the backup out, and when you have someone who’s been here for five years, it’s nice to have that stability,” Muzerall said. “She’s steady, mentally calm, and very reliable.”
Thiele will face competition in the form of transfer Skylar McLeod, who ironically comes from Minnesota Duluth. Muzerall is excited about the internal competition, noting, “It’ll push Teelee every day in practice, which is exactly what we want.”
On the offensive side, Ohio State has no shortage of talent. Muzerall highlighted the importance of sophomore forward Jenna Buglioni, the program’s first-ever National Rookie of the Year. Muzerall is expecting big things from Buglioni, even hinting at the Olympics as a future goal for the dynamic young player.
“She’s got the size, the power, and the potential to break more records than her sister, who was an Olympian herself,” Muzerall said. “I just want her to play a little more like Tarzan and less like Jane—she has it in her.”
A Leaner, Stronger Squad
This year’s team might not have the same depth as last year’s squad, but that doesn’t concern Muzerall. Instead, she sees it as an opportunity to focus on quality over quantity.
“We don’t have as much quantity on the team, our bench is smaller, but the quality is still very good,” she said. “It’s going to require some coaching, especially with a couple of transfers who played a different style, but we’ve got offensive talent, and it’s just about finding the right spots for them.”
The Buckeyes, according to Muzerall, are known for their relentless, aggressive style of play, and that’s something the new players will need to adjust to. “It’s very sexy to come to Ohio State—national championships, the brand, all of it—but it’s hard as hell once you’re here,” Muzerall explained. “They’re starting to understand what it takes to win.”
Motivation from a Silver Trophy
The pain of coming up short two years ago is still fresh in the minds of the Buckeyes, and Muzerall is using that to fuel their drive this season. She shared a story about how, after finishing as national runners-up in 2023, she put the silver trophy at center ice during their first practice.
“I asked them, ‘Do you like this color?’ and we skated some laps around it,” Muzerall recalled with a smirk. “Last year, we won the gold, but I wanted them to remember what silver looks like—and to make sure they don’t like it.”
Her team responded by winning another national title in 2024, and the motivation to maintain their place atop the college hockey world remains strong. Muzerall likened it to a NASCAR race, where being the lead driver is always the toughest spot.
“When you’re number one, you’ve got a target on your back. It’s harder to stay in the front, but that’s where we are, and we’ve got to keep up.”
Championship Culture and the Future
What has been the key to Ohio State’s success under Muzerall? In her words, it’s the relentless training and blue-collar mentality that she has instilled in her players. The program wasn’t always a powerhouse—when she arrived, the team had been stuck in mediocrity for nearly two decades.
“We were a .500 team for 18 years, and what brought us to this point was that relentless FU mentality of going after teams and not backing down,” Muzerall said. “We want to keep that blue-collar attitude even as we bring in more talent. If we can have both, we become a very dangerous team.”
As for the future of the program, Muzerall is keeping an eye on the construction of a new hockey arena, a facility she believes the team has more than earned.
“We want one, and the girls deserve one,” Muzerall said. “I think it would grow hockey here in Ohio, and it’s something this program has earned with our success.”
For now, the focus remains on the ice, where the Buckeyes are ready to begin their quest for another championship. With a mix of veteran leadership, emerging stars, and that signature relentless mentality, Ohio State looks poised to defend their title and continue their reign as one of the elite programs in women’s college hockey.
“We’ve reloaded,” Muzerall said. “And we’re ready for the challenge.”
