WHKY: Ohio State Announces 2011-12 Women’s Hockey Schedule 

Buckeyes play nine series at the OSU Ice Rink 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team, under first-year head coach Nate Handrahan, released its 2011-12 schedule Friday. The Buckeyes will face four teams ranked among the Top 10 in the final U.S. College Hockey Online poll, including national champion Wisconsin.

 

After an exhibition game Sept. 23 against Wilfrid Laurier at the OSU Ice Rink, Ohio State kicks off the regular season hosting Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival Bemidji State, Oct. 7-8. The Buckeyes follow with another conference series at home against St. Cloud State (Oct. 14-15) before hitting the road for the first time, traveling to North Dakota (Oct. 21-22) and Minnesota State (Oct. 28-29).

 

The Buckeyes hosts defending NCAA champion Wisconsin at the OSU Ice Rink, Nov. 4-5. The next weekend, the squad breaks from league action to travel to Syracuse, who finished third in the College Hockey America conference last season. Ohio State returns home to host a pair of two-game series against Minnesota Duluth (Nov. 25-26) and the CHA’s Niagara (Dec. 2-3).

 

The Buckeyes concludes the first half of their season with a WCHA series on the road at Minnesota, Dec. 10-11.

 

Following a three-week break, the Buckeyes open the second part of the schedule at the OSU Ice Rink with a two-game match up against ECAC opponent Princeton, Dec. 30-31. The team then hits the road for back-to-back series against St. Cloud State and Bemidji State before returning to home ice to play Minnesota State, Jan. 21-27. Ohio State closes the month at home against North Dakota, Jan. 27-28.

 

Two of the final three regular-season series will be on the road, beginning with a trip to Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 3-4). The Buckeyes close out their home schedule, Feb. 10-11, against Minnesota before finishing the season at Wisconsin, Feb. 17-18.

 

Postseason play begins Feb. 24-26 with the WCHA First Round Playoffs, a best-of-three series with the top four team’s hosting.  Minnesota Duluth hosts the WCHA Final Faceoff, March 2-3, at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth. NCAA Regionals will be held at various sites, March 9-10, with the final four teams returning to AMSOIL Arena for the NCAA Frozen Four, March 16 and 18.