Ohio State hockey claims top spot in national polls

ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 22: Head coach Steve Rohlik of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the first period of the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers on March 22, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 22: Head coach Steve Rohlik of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the first period of the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers on March 22, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Sports
By
Oct 9, 2018
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Ohio State hockey hasn’t played a game yet this season, but the Buckeyes have already made history.

The USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls both have Ohio State on top, marking the first time the program has been No. 1 in either.

With 21 players returning from a team that went 26-10-5, Ohio State is the preseason favorite in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes begin the season Friday night at Arizona State.

Coach Steve Rohlik’s Buckeyes are hoping to make a repeat appearance in the Frozen Four. They advanced to the national semifinals last year before losing to eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth 2-1.

The 2019 Frozen Four is set for April 11 and 13 in Buffalo.

Could there be a rematch? The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the USCHO.com poll.

Additionally, the women’s programs at both schools are in the top five with OSU ranked fifth and UMD No. 4.

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Marcus Hartman has been a digital sports columnist and reporter at Cox's Ohio newspapers the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News since 2016.