Quote:
Originally Posted by ORD_Buckeye
Ditto! 
Oh well, Gene Smith has assured us that all is well, for we have a highly rated recruiting class coming in. We have never, ever had a highly rated recruiting class before so that obviously will be the difference.  |
According an O-zone article:
Markell met with director of athletics Gene Smith this week and several sources said the coach has been assured he and his staff will be back next season.
The Buckeyes have had three straight losing seasons after making the NCAA Tournament the previous three years.
Working in Markell?s favor is an improving young team loaded with freshmen that has gone 10-13-3 after a 2-10-1 start and
a recruiting class of seven for next season that is ranked second in the nation behind Minnesota?s.
http://www.the-ozone.net/hockey/07-0...rn/gamer_3.htm
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Here is a Rivals article on the 7 hockey recruits coming in this fall:
OSU Icers Ink Seven For 2008-2009
Less than a week after their basketball counterparts signed four players to National Letters of Intent for 2008, the Ohio State men's hockey team welcomed a new class of its own.
After signing a record class a year ago, coach
John Markell brought in just seven players for the 2008-09 season, including four forwards and three defensemen. All but two of the recruits come to
OSU from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) ? including three teammates from the Penticton Vees ?with one player coming from the U.S. National Team Development Program and another from the United State Hockey League (USHL).
Entire article:
BuckeyeGrove.com - OSU icers ink seven for 2008-09
Also. per article (above):
This class comes on the heels of Markell's largest freshman class a year ago. The 2007 recruiting class consisted of 15 players, including nine forwards, five defensemen and goalie
Dustin Carlson of Forest Lake, Minn.
The prize of the class was New York defenseman
Shane Sims, who was a big get for the Buckeyes out of the USHL.
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A #2 recruiting class may be the best class that we've ever had. Ohio State hockey may be "looking up" next year.
I did find some past recruiting history:
The 2006-07 Rankings: Ohio State's class #11
Keep an eye on: The Buckeyes welcome three of the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League?s finest ? goalie Nick Filion was the circuit?s 2006 rookie of the year and wing Mathieu Picard scored 84 points in 49 games.
The 2005-06 Rankings: Ohio State not in top 15
The 2004-05 Rankings: Ohio State's class #11
Don't let the size of their recruiting class fool you: even though the Buckeyes have 11 freshmen, the quantity contains plenty of quality led by forward Tom Fritsche and defenseman Johann Kroll.
Impact players: Tom Fritsche, Johann Kroll, Kyle Hood
The 2003-04 Rankings: Ohio State's class was not in top 12
Inside College Hockey | Recruiting Trail