Ohio Hockey News Roundup: 2/21/2014

Here at the Union and Blue, we are committed to covering the Columbus Blue Jackets and bringing you the latest news and opinions about the team. The Blue Jackets are not the only hockey team in Ohio and in the Ohio Hockey News Roundup we will provide a quick overview of the latest news in Ohio hockey. The primary focus will be NCAA men’s hockey, the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

Image Courtesy of Jessica Corson

Lake Erie Monsters

The Monsters had two games at the Oklahoma City Barons last weekend (always strange to see the Monsters play a team named the Barons, due to the history that name has in Cleveland).

They entered last Thursdays game riding a two game losing streak into the AHL All-Star break, and were tied 1-1 with the Barons with a minute left in regulation. Unfortunately for the Monsters, Oklahoma City scored the go ahead goal with 19 seconds left on the clock to win 2-1. Lake Erie bounced back the following night with 5-4 shootout win to snap the three game losing streak. The Monsters are back in action tonight at the Q against the Iowa Wild.

• This week in Monsters Hockey [ Lake Erie Monsters ]

NCAA

• The Ohio State Buckeyes extended their points streak to six games with a 2-1 win over Wisconsin last Friday. However, Wisconsin struck back Saturday and ended the streak with a 4-2 win. Ohio State men’s hockey is now ranked 23rd overall and has been a big surprise in the new Big 10 Conference.

• SB Nation College Hockey took a look at what an Amateur U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey team would have looked like at Sochi this year, had the NHL decided not to participate. Riley Barber (Miami of Ohio), Ryan Dzingel (Ohio State), and Austin Czarnik (Miami of Ohio) make up the Ohio college members on the list.

ECHL

Toledo Walleye

The Toledo Walleye had a busy week of games. Things started off with a a lonely Valentines Day for the Walleye, who lost 5-2 to the Kalamazoo Wings. They then met up with the Cincinnati Cyclones for the third time in the last two weeks. The Cyclones handed the Walleye another 5-2 loss. The bad fortunes continued for Toledo, who got blown out 6-1 by the Greenville Road Warriors on Monday, their 5th loss in a row. Despite a 6th loss in a row to the South Carolina Stingrays, the Walleye did get one point in the shootout.

Toledo will have a chance to right the ship this weekend with two games against the Orlando Solar Bears.

Cincinnati Cyclones

As has been the case all season, things went much better for Ohio’s other ECHL franchise, the Cincinnati Cyclones. Cinci started things off with a 3-2 shootout win over the Fort Wayne Komets on Valentines Day. As was already mentioned above, the Cyclones demolished the Walleye 5-2 the following night. The Kalamazoo Wings ended the two game winning streak, with a 4-3 win on President’s Day. This past Wednesday, Cincinnati got things back on the right track with a 2-0 shutout win over the Evansville IceMen. Cincinnati is back in action tonight against the South Carolina Stingrays.