No. 15 Michigan tops No. 2 OSU at Progressive Field

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Associated Press 10:07 PM Sunday, January 15, 2012

CLEVELAND — There was the usual tailgating and taunting.

And when Ohio State’s tuba player bowed to dot the “i’’ and the crowd roared, it felt and looked like a football Saturday in Columbus or Ann Arbor.

Except it was January and the band member was standing directly on the blue line — outdoors — on a spot normally occupied by a second baseman.

Ohio State and Michigan took their heated rivalry to the ice Sunday, playing the first outdoor college hockey game in Ohio before 25,864 fans who downed hot chocolate and other beverages to combat plunging temperatures at Progressive Field, seasonal home of the Cleveland Indians.

Derek DeBlois and David Wohlberg scored 28 seconds apart in the second period to lead the No. 15 Wolverines to a 4-1 win over the No. 2 Buckeyes, who were the “home” team despite being a two-hour drive from campus and were outplayed for three periods by their nemesis from the north.

However, the outcome was secondary to the event, which was deemed a huge success.

“A great spectacle,” said Michigan coach Red Berensen, who has led the Wolverines to 21 straight NCAA appearances. “It was a special event.”

Especially for Michigan, which beat Ohio State 4-0 on Friday in Columbus.

While the hockey programs don’t share the same blood feud the schools have had in football since the early 1900s, there were still plenty of punishing hits and after-the-whistle roughness to serve as reminders that no matter the sport, Michigan and Ohio State don’t like each other.

Ohio State’s mascot, Brutus, had to dodge several snow balls aimed at his large head in the third period.

The ballpark was blanketed with several inches of fresh snow, which arrived just in time on Friday to finally allow the Indians to finish their second “Snow Days” promotion with some actual white stuff on the ground. Like almost everywhere, Cleveland has had an unseasonably warm winter to this point, but the weekend’s frigid weather provided the perfect backdrop for hockey.

Archie Griffin, the two-time Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, dropped the ceremonial puck. Both schools sent their bands and fans alternated chants of “Let’s Go Blue!” with “Let’s Go Bucks!”

On a rink built over the infield, there was also one baseball-esque moment when the puck sailed over the glass and Indians’ dugout into the stands, sending fans scrambling for the souvenir puck like they were going after a foul ball.

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