Dispatch
OHIO STATE HOCKEY
Pelletier hones skills but still delivers big hits
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
JAMES D . DECAMP DISPATCH Because of his size, Zach Pelletier doesn?t hold back when the opportunity comes to deliver a big hit.
At 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, Zach Pelletier is the biggest forward on the Ohio State hockey team and its biggest hitter. It is a familiar role.
"Growing up, when I was in sports where you couldn?t hit, I would always have the puck and kind of run through people," he said with a smile. "I would always get big-man penalties."
Upon arriving at Ohio State two years ago, Pelletier earned a reputation as a bull in a china closet. He was an eager bodychecker but less skilled with the puck than his teammates, and as a result he dressed for only three of his first 56 college games.
Injuries to Domenic Maiani, Mathieu Beaudoin and Cory Elkins forced Pelletier into the lineup for 23 of the final 25 games last season, and he took advantage. Coach John Markell praised him as one of the team?s most improved players this fall, and he has dressed for nine of 10 games, frequently playing in place of Sam Campbell and Dave Barton, who were regulars last season.
"I?ve gotten a lot more patient with the puck, and I?ve got my systems down pat," Pelletier said. "I?m just trying to do everything to a T, like Coach says."
He made too many mental mistakes during his first two seasons, so he studied the team?s systems in the offseason to make sure he was in the proper position on the ice. And he spent hours with a tennis ball and a hockey stick, trying to improve his puck control.
But his biggest contribution is the same as it was during his pee-wee days: Pelletier thrives on contact, and his teammates seem to thrive off the adrenaline his hits create.
"He?s great for that," linemate Matt McIlvane said. "Guys really feed off his energy."
Never more so than last month against Minnesota. The Gophers skated circles around the Buckeyes the first night and pulled ahead the second night, before Pelletier leveled Minnesota defenseman Derek Peltier. It was like an adrenaline shot for the OSU bench: For the rest of the night, the Buckeyes played the Gophers even. They skated harder and began winning battles for the puck.
It carried into the following weekend, when the Buckeyes went on the road for the first time and split two games at Northern Michigan. They were the more physical team, particularly the second night.
It is no coincidence that the Buckeyes as a group seem to hit harder when Pelletier delivers a few, and they play better when they hit harder.
"That?s what we want to be known as," Markell said. "You talk about tradition for Ohio State hockey, it?s always been a tough brand of hockey. I don?t care how big you are, you have to be mentally tough and physically tough going into corners and into puck-possession battles."
Pelletier takes pride in setting that tone.
"It?s funny: When all the guys tell me to go out and get a big hit, I never get it," he said. "Whenever I go looking for it, it never happens. But when the chance does come, I definitely take advantage of it. I don?t hold back at all."
OHIO STATE HOCKEY
Pelletier hones skills but still delivers big hits
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
At 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, Zach Pelletier is the biggest forward on the Ohio State hockey team and its biggest hitter. It is a familiar role.
"Growing up, when I was in sports where you couldn?t hit, I would always have the puck and kind of run through people," he said with a smile. "I would always get big-man penalties."
Upon arriving at Ohio State two years ago, Pelletier earned a reputation as a bull in a china closet. He was an eager bodychecker but less skilled with the puck than his teammates, and as a result he dressed for only three of his first 56 college games.
Injuries to Domenic Maiani, Mathieu Beaudoin and Cory Elkins forced Pelletier into the lineup for 23 of the final 25 games last season, and he took advantage. Coach John Markell praised him as one of the team?s most improved players this fall, and he has dressed for nine of 10 games, frequently playing in place of Sam Campbell and Dave Barton, who were regulars last season.
"I?ve gotten a lot more patient with the puck, and I?ve got my systems down pat," Pelletier said. "I?m just trying to do everything to a T, like Coach says."
He made too many mental mistakes during his first two seasons, so he studied the team?s systems in the offseason to make sure he was in the proper position on the ice. And he spent hours with a tennis ball and a hockey stick, trying to improve his puck control.
But his biggest contribution is the same as it was during his pee-wee days: Pelletier thrives on contact, and his teammates seem to thrive off the adrenaline his hits create.
"He?s great for that," linemate Matt McIlvane said. "Guys really feed off his energy."
Never more so than last month against Minnesota. The Gophers skated circles around the Buckeyes the first night and pulled ahead the second night, before Pelletier leveled Minnesota defenseman Derek Peltier. It was like an adrenaline shot for the OSU bench: For the rest of the night, the Buckeyes played the Gophers even. They skated harder and began winning battles for the puck.
It carried into the following weekend, when the Buckeyes went on the road for the first time and split two games at Northern Michigan. They were the more physical team, particularly the second night.
It is no coincidence that the Buckeyes as a group seem to hit harder when Pelletier delivers a few, and they play better when they hit harder.
"That?s what we want to be known as," Markell said. "You talk about tradition for Ohio State hockey, it?s always been a tough brand of hockey. I don?t care how big you are, you have to be mentally tough and physically tough going into corners and into puck-possession battles."
Pelletier takes pride in setting that tone.
"It?s funny: When all the guys tell me to go out and get a big hit, I never get it," he said. "Whenever I go looking for it, it never happens. But when the chance does come, I definitely take advantage of it. I don?t hold back at all."
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