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Dispatch

OHIO STATE MEN?S HOCKEY
Defense-first mind-set works for Buckeyes
Friday, November 24, 2006
Craig Merz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



The Buckeyes (4-6-2) tied the Broncos 2-2 the next night and went to Bowling Green last weekend to take 9-3 and 4-1 victories. Palmer has started the past three games and was even permitted ? gasp ? to speak, after the second.
"The past couple of games we?ve been getting better with our systems," he said.
It was back to the silent treatment this week, but others echoed Palmer?s point.
"We?ve been focusing on our systems," Waddell said. "A lot of guys thought they knew the systems, but we had little breakdowns."
Indeed. The 9-3 rout of Bowling Green afforded Palmer a rare opportunity.
"The big score let him relax. I know he didn?t like giving up three goals, but it was a nice game to play in," Markell said.
Senior defenseman Sean Collins volunteered to be the mouthpiece for Palmer, who has a 4-4-2 record and a 3.11 goals-against average heading into the 4 p.m. game today against Colgate in the Rensselaer/Bank of America Holiday Tournament. Depending on the outcomes, the Buckeyes will face either Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) or Niagara on Saturday.
"I?m sure he?s feeling superexcited about it," said Collins, who hails from another Troy. "I know I?m always excited to go back to Michigan to play in front of my family and friends."

cmerz@dispatch.com

Joseph Palmer is thrilled to be (almost) home when Ohio State plays in a tournament today and Saturday in Troy, N.Y.
At least one can assume he is happy to be within 85 miles of his hometown of Utica, N.Y. He and the other freshman goaltender, Nick Filion, are off limits to the media because coach John Markell wants to deflect pressure from the pair and keep the focus on playing.
"There?ll be a time and a place for interviews," Markell said. "That?s what the seniors are for. The upperclassmen have taken on the responsibility of trying to buffer them a little bit."
The same could be said on the ice. Markell opened the season with an offensive scheme that proved to be the Buckeyes? downfall. It was one thing to rely on senior goalie Dave Caruso last season to clean up the defensive miscues and another to expect two neophytes to step into the fray and excel.
"We were hanging them out to dry a lot," senior defenseman Matt Waddell said. Ohio State allowed six or more goals four times in the first nine games, capped by an 8-5 loss at home to Western Michigan on Nov. 9. Markell had the team view the video afterward while pointing out each mistake. The skull session and a defense-first mindset worked.