As Columbus continues to grow as a hotbed for hockey in the Midwest, the Blue Jackets are making a big push for the Stanley Cup.
After acquiring superstar pivot Matt Duchene from the Ottawa Senators, the Jackets struck again by acquiring former Buckeye Captain Ryan Dzingel.
Dzingel is in the midst of a breakout year with 22 goals and 22 assists in 57 games played. With the acquisition of him and Duchene, Columbus has some nice new pieces to play with as they prepare for what they hope is a deep run in the playoffs.
Ohio State just locked up their first regular season conference title since 1972. It’s also their first title as a member of the Big Ten Hockey conference. They’re essentially a lock for the NCAA tournament and they should be one of the favorites to earn a spot in the Frozen Four, something they accomplished for the first time in program history last year.
Adding Dzingel creates a lot of buzz in a city that should be pretty excited about their hockey teams as we approach the most important time of the season. He figures to be a part of the long-term blue print in Columbus and his history with Ohio State is a big plus for him and the Blue Jackets organization.
Another Buckeye in the Blue Jackets organization is junior forward Carson Meyer. After an impressive freshman season with Miami University, Meyer was stricken by a horrific tapeworm that severely hindered his ability to play hockey.
Meyer has had a splendid season for Ohio State and it is a strong possibility he signs his pro contract after his senior season. Hometown kids being successful is always a plus for any team.
The Red Wings have had success with local players. Justin Abdelkader, Danny DeKeyser and Dylan Larkin are all from Michigan. They also played their college hockey in the state of Michigan (Abdelkader, MSU; DeKeyser, WMU; Larkin, UM). Fans love when local guys come in and have success with their hometown team. This could be a good trend for Columbus as hockey continues to grow in the Buckeye State.