How Ohio State women’s hockey has fared so far this season

With Ohio State’s football seeing only lasting through January 19th at the latest, many people are going to be looking for other forms of entertainment once Buckeye football is in the books. While basketball has been a popular option, the men’s team has been frustrating to watch since it has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years. The women’s basketball squad has had some talented teams, but the program hasn’t lived up to expectations, with most of its NCAA Tournament runs ending earlier than expected.

The most consistent program during the winter months in the Ohio State athletics department over the last decade has been the women’s hockey program. Nadine Muzerall is now in her 10th season as head coach of the Buckeyes, posting a 239-84-22 record. Not only has Ohio State produced during the regular season under Muzerall, but they are often ready to handle the pressure of postseason play. The Buckeyes have made the last four national championship games, winning it all in 2022 and 2024.

Ohio State is looking like a serious contender to win its third national title this year, opening up the season 15-3. While there is a bad taste in the team’s mouth after suffering two losses to Wisconsin just before the holiday break began, the Buckeyes had won 10 straight games prior to the setbacks against the Badgers. Also, two losses to Wisconsin aren’t anything to be ashamed about since the Badgers also have one of the top programs in the country. Ohio State and Wisconsin have met in the last three NCAA title games, with the Badgers winning two of the three.

This year’s Buckeye women’s hockey team is led by a number of veterans who have been impactful on and off the ice for Ohio State over the last few years. The team’s leading goal scorer so far this year is Joy Dunne. The junior has found the back of the net 17 times so far this season, with four of those goals coming in a game against St. Thomas in early November. Dunne is coming off a 2024-25 season where she scored 32 goals and dished out 45 assists. She is the third Dunne to play for the Buckeyes, as her sisters Jessica and Jincy preceded her in Columbus.

Joining Dunne as a top offensive threat for the Buckeyes is fellow junior forward Jocelyn Amos. After a 2024-25 season that saw her score 42 goals, so far this season, Amos has been pretty quiet, scoring just six goals. What makes Amos so dangerous is that she can score goals in bunches, as evidenced by the two hat tricks she recorded last season. As the season moves along and the pressure rises, expect Amos to start playing her best hockey since she thrives under those conditions.

Complimenting the veteran experience on offense for the Buckeyes are a couple of freshmen from Europe. Hilda Svensson is leading Ohio State with 33 points this year, posting 12 goals and 21 assists. Svensson already has experience on some big stages, winning a silver medal on Sweden’s U18 team in 2023, and playing at the 2024 World Championships.

Along with Svensson, Sanni Vanhanen also has some major international experience. The forward won a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics with Finland and was the Finnish Naisten Liiga Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Playoff Player in 2023. So far this season, Vanhanen has 10 goals, ranking third on the team. Playing in major tournaments prior to arriving in Columbus will be massive for Svensson and Vanhanen as the season moves along.

The Ohio State defense has a trio of seniors leading the way. Emma Peschel and Sara Swiderski are the most experienced skaters of the group, while Hailey MacLeod is now the team’s top goaltender. Peschel is approaching 140 games in her Ohio State career and has already scored at least five goals in each of her four seasons as a Buckeye. Swiderski is now in her second season at Ohio State after appearing in 78 games for Clarkson.

Much like Swiderski, MacLeod also started her college career elsewhere. After leading the WCHA in save percentage during the 2023-24 season with Minnesota-Duluth, MacLeod transferred to Ohio State, where she appeared in 12 games last season, registering three shutouts. MacLeod is 9-2 with two shutouts in 11 games this season, posting a 1.90 goals against average and .a 900 save percentage. Backing up MacLeod are Genny Klein and Taylor Kressin, who each have a shutout so far this year.

After nearly a month off, Ohio State returns to the ice this coming weekend, hosting Penn State on Friday and Saturday. The two games the Buckeyes certainly have circled on their remaining schedule are two early February dates in Madison against Wisconsin, which will likely go a long way in determining the seeding for the WCHA Conference Tournament, which will kick off at the end of February. Not only should Ohio State be a contender to make the WCHA Final Faceoff, but they’ll also be in the mix to earn another trip to the NCAA Frozen Four.