2009-10 Season Outlook

"If The future comes one day at a time."
- Dean Acheson As the Ohio State women's hockey program enters its second decade, the Buckeyes are only doing one thing - looking forward. With 14 players in their freshman or sophomore seasons, there is growing excitement around the team and they are ready to hit the ice and show what Buckeye hockey is all about.

"It's a very young team, but one that's going to play with a lot of energy and have a strong work ethic," head coach Jackie Barto said. "When you look at the whole of the team we have a lot of potential within all four classes."

Last year, the seven-member freshman class began their careers by stepping into big shoes and grew into them while as the season went on. This season, the rookie class is the same size and will be in a similar position. But as Buckeye fans saw last year, those newcomers are eager and anxious to show they can compete.

"This year we are going to take it one day and one game at a time. With such a young team, you want to reach for the top and play in the WCHA championship and the Frozen Four, but it's important to take it one day at a time and try to get better every day. The players will gain experience and get better with every practice and game."

IT STARTS AT THE TOP

There are only three of them, but they are leading the way. The three seniors - Rachel Davis, Raelyn LaRocque and Michele Tonnessen - have seen it all, and as natural leaders, are prepared to show what hard work is all about. The class may be small, but it has earned respect from their teammates and coaches through their dedication and undying work ethic.

"They are true Buckeyes," Barto said. "Even though they're small in number, they will be outstanding leaders, both on and off the ice."

Their efforts didn't go unnoticed last season. Davis anchored the young defense and earned the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player award. For the second season in a row, LaRocque received Ohio State's Seventh Player award for her great attitude, work ethic and team contributions. And off the ice, Tonnessen was recognized for her training and strength and conditioning with the Buckeye Power Club award.

Last spring, Davis and LaRocque were voted co-captains of the 2009-10 season. Tonnessen, the lone Ohio native on the team, walked on to her hometown squad as a freshman. All three set the tone on and off the ice and they want to end their college careers on a positive note.

FORWARDS: Returning: 8. Lost: 3. Incoming: 6.

Competition is what will drive the Buckeye forwards this season. The coaching staff wanted to create a tougher, faster and more creative group, and with limited slots only the hardest working will be rewarded. There is depth on the offense and those looking for a spot will have to earn it.

With a year experience under their belts, Ohio State returns two of its top offensive weapons last season in Laura McIntosh and Natalie Spooner.

McIntosh led the Buckeyes in points with 39 (11g, 28a) while Spooner's 21 goals were the team-high. The pair quickly worked its way onto the top two lines, as well as both special team units, but Barto sees their roles and production growing even more during their sophomore seasons.

"Mac and Spooner are two difference makers on the ice," Barto said. "We'll see them with a more well-rounded game this year. They will be key in generating our offense. They matured as the season went on last year, they handled the position we put them in very well, but there's still a lot for them to achieve here at Ohio State and within the WCHA Conference."

The sophomore forwards also include Melissa Feste (3g, 3a) and Kim Theut (4g, 8a), who each had strong performances during the second half of last season. Coming in with experience as well are seniors LaRocque (5g, 9a) and Tonnessen (1g, 2a) as well as juniors Christina Mancuso (2g, 1a) and Jenna Kilpatrick (1a).

In the mix for the four lines are six freshmen forwards, including four from the U.S., one from Canada and one from Finland. They are: Amanda Boskovich (LaGrange, Ill.), Tina Hollowell (Clinton Township, Mich.), Hokey Langan (Chatham, Ontario), Liz Rizzo (Glens Falls, N.Y.), Paige Semenza (Pittston, Pa.), and Minttu Tuominen (Espoo, Finland).

The rookies are a combination of skill, scoring and hard work. They will battle in the corners and in front of the net as well as for some of the top spots.

"I think the balance in that class will be similar to last year," Barto said. "They are going to be called upon right away to fill some critical roles. They will contribute immediately and learn on the job."

DEFENSEMEN: Returning: 6. Lost: 1. Incoming: 0.

This year, consistency will be the name of the game for the Ohio State defensemen. It was a young corps last season, but each member gained valuable experience and ice time. The Buckeyes again have just one senior defenseman, but this season she is supported by three juniors and two sophomores. It may sound logical, but Barto wants the defensemen to focus on defense first. With so much competition at forward, the blueliners have only one offense to concern themselves with - the opponent's.

"For our team to be successful this year, we need our defensemen to be responsible," Barto said. "That is the No. 1 priority; defense is first. We need to be solid defensively and do a great job of taking away the opponent's time and space. We need to have a great presence in the defensive zone."

Leading the unit will be senior co-captain Davis, but there are two assistant captains as well in juniors Teal Bishop and Shannon Reilly. Both have logged significant minutes the last two years and have grown in the defensive aspect of their games. Rounding out the defensemen are Sandy Nelson, who saw increased ice time by then end of last season, and the sophomore duo of Brittany Carlson and Kelly Wild, who bounced back by the end of last season after missing significant time with an injury.

"We are returning the bulk of our defensive corps, and there was a lot of experience gained last year, especially with the two freshmen," Barto said. "The key to this group will be their ability to work together, be strong on the defensive end and take care of the puck. If we can do those things well, this group will be successful."

GOALTENDERS: Returning: 2. Lost: 1. Incoming: 1.

Just who will control the Buckeye net is the biggest question heading into the 2009-10 season with three goalies eager to battle for the wide-open position. For the first time in years, the starting goalie job for Ohio State is completely up in the air and the competition will begin immediately between junior Deidre Facklis, sophomore Barbara Bilko and freshman Chelsea Knapp.

"Right from day one there's going to be a battle for this position," Barto said. "Through hard work and success in practice we'll see someone emerge as the leader for this position. It will be a battle. All three are hard working and they all want to be successful and do well. It will be exciting to see this position emerge."

While this is Facklis' third season, she has not had consistent appearances in net during her first two years. Bilko played in two games and started one as a freshman. Knapp, who comes to Ohio State from Lawrence Academy, is only a freshman but may have it in her genes. Her brother Connor started for NCAA runner-up Miami University last year in his freshman season.

SCHEDULE

This is the season to not only see the future of the Buckeyes, but the future of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Several of top players from the conference will be away this year in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. There is an opportunity for teams to emerge and make a statement, and parity could make this season more challenging than the usual tough competition faced in the only league to ever win NCAA championships.

Along with facing fellow WCHA members - Bemidji State, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin - in both home and road series, Ohio State faces three nonconference teams this season. The Buckeyes open the season at Boston University of the Hockey East Conference, host the ECAC's St. Lawrence the week before Thanksgiving and open the New Year at home vs. Robert Morris of the CHA.

"As the season winds down, we're home four of our last five series so it's important to use that towards the end of the year when you're building momentum heading into the playoffs," Barto said. "It's great to be in our building, in front of our fans and in the comforts of being at home playing four huge series at the end of the season."

Postseason play begins Feb. 26-28 with the WCHA First Round Playoffs, a best-of-three series with the top four teams claiming home ice. Minnesota hosts the WCHA Final Faceoff, which includes the semifinal and championship games, March 6-7 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. NCAA Regionals will be held at various sites, March 12-13, with the final four teams returning to Ridder Arena for the NCAA Frozen Four, March 19 and 21.

A HALL OF FAMER

Last year, Emma Laaksonen was the first Buckeye women's hockey player to have her number retired. This year, she will be the first member of the program to enter the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.

The program's first All-American as a second team honoree in 2002, Laaksonen also was a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist that season and a 2004 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year. She was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District and AWHCA Scholar All-American as well as three-time WCHA All-Academic Team selection. Laaksonen is on track for her fourth Olympics with Team Finland in February and has captained the team in numerous international championships.

"With Emma, it's a great honor and well deserved that she'll be our first inductee into the Hall of Fame. When you look at the impact she had on our program and at Ohio State, it's well deserved. She's one of the best hockey players to ever wear the Buckeye jersey and as a person, you're not going to find a better, more well-rounded individual than Emma."