LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) — United States hockey legend Mike Eruzione once said, “Hockey is a metaphor for life. You have to be willing to get knocked down and get back up.”  

Well, on an April Sunday at the Chiller North Rink in Lewis Center, the Ohio State women’s hockey team did a lot of getting back up as they faced the Columbus Blades sled hockey team in a scrimmage.  

“Sorry, sorry, sorry if I hit you!” Ohio State team captain Jenna Buglioni yelled as she scooted her way around the ice and then eventually toppled over.  

Yes, the Buckeyes spent lots of time physically getting back up on their sled’s blades. 

“Honestly, tipping over and getting back up is the hardest part,” junior defender Emma Peschel said. “I mean, it’s all hard, but I think the hardest thing is just balancing. I remember last year I would tip over and not know how to get back up.” 

And while the Buckeyes were regaining their edges all over the ice, they were also regaining an edge within themselves emotionally after a gut-wrenching finish to their season. For the fourth year in a row, Ohio State played in the Frozen Four final, looking to repeat as national champions.  

After leading most of the game, Wisconsin rallied, pushing the game to overtime; and in the extra period, the Badgers scored the golden goal and won the championship.  

Weeks later on this April day, the Buckeyes were getting back up emotionally as well.  

“The end of the season left a little bitter taste in the mouth, but kind of having some time to reflect, like, these things are what it’s all about,” Buglioni said. “Growing hockey and all types and forms of hockey in Columbus are super important for us.” 

“They were up the entire game,” Columbus Blades player Hunter Hysell, who went to Minneapolis to cheer for the Buckeyes in person, said. “It’s basically like putting that behind them.” 

Hysell is the connection the Buckeyes have to the Blades. He’s become an Ohio State women’s hockey super fan, and the team sends the love right back to him, showing up for an occasional practice and trying to get to at least one of the Blades’ games during the season. Last year, for the first time, the Buckeyes got out on the ice in sleds to scrimmage the Blades and now, in its second year, it’s becoming a tradition.  

“It’s so cool seeing them in the stands, getting to know them, getting to know the families, and then being able to come and do their sport and be with them and, like, engage in opportunities with them,” Peschel said. “[It] makes everyone’s day.” 

“Just to come out here and relax and see them on sleds and falling, it’s funny,” Hysell said with a big smile.  

The Buckeyes got fitted into their sleds, strapped in with the help of the Blades’ coaching staff and some parents, then they took off – and immediately were playing catch up.  

The Blades showed no mercy, going up by multiple goals and showing Ohio State the talents and technique that has the Columbus sled hockey team headed to the USA Hockey Sled National Championships.  

The Buckeyes, competitive no matter who they are facing on the ice, kept sharing tidbits with each other and advice, hoping to get back into the game.  

“We’re a resilient team, relentless,” Peschel said with a laugh. “We’ve been working hard and I’m hoping that that the goals come in the next four minutes.” 

A few goals did come for Ohio State, but not enough as the Blades beat the Bucks 7-3. 
 
Kiera Cheatham, 12, had multiple goals in the game after only playing sled hockey for about a year.  

“It’s really amazing,” she said afterwards with a big smile. “I just love playing with them and I think I think it’s so cool that we can just do that.” 

“They usually end up kicking our butts, but we are so excited,” Buglioni said. “You just kind of take for granted how you’d normally move in your store versus how they move in. I mean, it’s super humbling and it’s an awesome experience for our girls to try.” 

And an experience Buglioni and the rest of the seniors hope continues through the next generation of Buckeyes. Freshman goaltender Genny Klein, playing in her first Blades-Buckeyes match up, said this is something she aims to keep going in the program.  

“I want to take on what they have done so far, and I feel like it’s so important to show up, support everyone because they show so much love and support for us,” she said.