Kirk perfect at OSU

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This article was published 23/11/2023 (1030 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Raygan Kirk and the Ohio State Buckeyes are in a familiar spot.

The Buckeyes, who have played in the last two national championship games (winning once), are back on top of the NCAA Division I women’s hockey polls after Kirk’s 19-save shutout victory over the previously unbeaten Wisconsin Badgers last weekend.

The 3-0 win, which earned her Western Collegiate Hockey Assocation goaltender of the week honours, came against a Wisconsin team that entered the weekend No. 1 in the polls while averaging more than six goals per game.

The 22-year-old, a fifth-year senior from Ste. Anne, Man., is enjoying the best statistical season of her NCAA career. So far, she’s 6-0-0 with a .936 save percentage with a 1.39 goals-against average while sharing the crease with fourth-year senior Amanda Thiele.

The Buckeyes host the sixth-ranked St. Lawrence Saints on Friday and Saturday. Kirk and Thiele are expected to alternate starts as they have previously this season.

“The mindset is always to get that win, especially with teams out east just to prove that in the WCHA we’ve got the upper hand but also when you’re ranked No. 1 now, like we are, (head coach Nadine Muzerall) says there’s not a lot of room at the top of the mountain and everybody’s trying to try to push you off. So, we just have to perform every weekend,” said Kirk, by phone from Columbus, Ohio, earlier this week.

Thiele, who was the club’s No. 1 goaltender for the second half of the 2022-23 season and lost 1-0 to Wisconsin in last spring’s championship game, is currently 5-1-0 with a .899 save percentage and 1.99 average.

“You want to get the No. 1 spot and be playing every weekend but I think as a team having two goalies that win both games… that’s huge and it keeps you fresh as well,” said Kirk. “That’s just kind of how we’ve been rolling for the past three years. If that’s what works, that’s what works. And then once it goes closer to playoffs and after Christmas, that’s kind of where you have your No. 1 and you roll with them, whoever’s kind of hot in the moment and has earned their spot. But it’s been working great and we both really supportive of each other.”

Playing time at OSU has been at a premium for Kirk, who was the undisputed No. 1 netminder at Robert Morris University to begin her NCAA career.

She transferred to the talent-laden Buckeyes when RMU cut its women’s hockey program following the 2020-21 season.

“At RMU it was a different environment and it’s a different goalie squad and team,” said Kirk. “So, you just have to adapt. It doesn’t change my preparation and plan throughout the week. Your mindset is always hoping to earn that first game on Friday and if not Saturday, I just try and work my hardest to take care of the things I can control like attitude and work ethic in practice. And we’ve been having a really great start so far.”

Despite a large turnover due to graduation and the addition of four freshmen and six transfers, including forward Hannah Bilka and blue-liner Cayla Barnes, the Buckeyes haven’t skipped a beat.

Kirk can’t help but speculate about her future in the game with Professional Women’s Hockey League training camps currently underway and the league’s inaugural season slated to begin in January,

“I’m definitely trying to focus on this year and the mindset is always on (playing) Friday and even the national championship, that’s so far away, but sure it’s been back my head with the (new) pro league,” said Kirk.

“I’m so excited for the girls that I know that graduated here and are going there and just seeing how that all develops. It’s so new for them and I’m hoping after this year things will be a little more settled. It’s very different season because they’re starting in January… it’s definitely my goal to get drafted and then if not, just work out from there.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca