Eric Boggs
The No. 15 Ohio State men’s hockey team showcased its defensive excellence and timely scoring to sweep Notre Dame in a weekend series, closing out the first half of the season with a 3-1 victory on Saturday at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes, who have now won four straight games, head into the winter break with an impressive 13-4-1 record (6-2-0 Big Ten).
Ohio State’s defense was the key to their success, limiting the Irish to just 15 shots on goal in the second game of the series. Head coach Steve Rohlik praised his team’s effort, calling it “a great way to finish the first half. We were really good defensively. It was an outstanding team effort.”
The Buckeyes opened the scoring late in the first period when Brent Johnson buried a backhand shot with just 29 seconds remaining, capitalizing on a faceoff win by Ryan Gordon and an assist from James Hong. Despite outshooting Notre Dame 16-2 in the period, Ohio State couldn’t extend its lead. Early in the second, Notre Dame responded as Danny Nelson scored off a rebound to tie the game. Ohio State reclaimed the lead at 16:02 of the second period when Patrick Guzzo followed up his own shot to beat Notre Dame goaltender Owen Say, with assists going to Joe Dunlap and Jake Rozzi.
In the final period, the Buckeyes weathered a late push from the Irish, including a six-on-five attack when Notre Dame pulled its goalie. Davis Burnside drew a penalty during a footrace for the puck, setting up a decisive power play. Gunnarwolfe Fontaine delivered the insurance goal at 18:50, finishing a pass from Aiden Hansen-Bukata, with Burnside adding a secondary assist. Goaltender Kristoffer Eberly made 14 saves to secure the win, while Ohio State outshot the Irish 37-15.
The series opener on Friday was a tighter contest, with the Buckeyes edging Notre Dame 2-1 in overtime. After falling behind in the first period, Ohio State tied the game midway through the third on a power-play goal from Burnside. In the extra frame, Johnson notched the game-winner, capping off a play set up by Fontaine. The Buckeyes outshot Notre Dame 43-19 in the first game and held the Irish scoreless on two power-play opportunities.
Ohio State’s strong performance over the weekend was fueled by standout efforts from key players. Brent Johnson scored in both games, including the Friday overtime winner, and now has seven points this season. Fontaine extended his scoring streak to four games and leads the team with 18 points, continuing to be a critical offensive catalyst. Eberly, who improved to 9-1-0, boasts a 1.35 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage, anchoring the Buckeyes in net. Hansen-Bukata, who played his 150th collegiate game on Saturday, leads Ohio State with 16 assists and has been a consistent playmaker. Burnside has also been instrumental, contributing points in both games and tying for second on the team with seven goals.
The Buckeyes, now carrying momentum from their four-game win streak, will return to action on Jan. 3 in an outdoor matchup against Michigan at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The rivalry continues with a road game in Ann Arbor on Jan. 5, followed by a two-game home series against Minnesota on Jan. 10-11. With their recent surge, the Buckeyes have solidified their status as Big Ten contenders and are well-positioned for a strong push in the second half of the season.
