The Faceoff on the Lake was an outdoor college ice hockey game played on February 18, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland between longtime rivals the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State defeated Michigan 4–2 in a rematch of the Frozen Diamond Faceoff outdoor game between the teams in 2012. The game marked the first ice hockey game ever played at FirstEnergy Stadium, and the attendance, announced at 45,523 fans, set a record for an outdoor college hockey game held at a neutral site.

Teams The game was announced by the Haslam Sports Group on August 22, 2022, as the first outdoor ice hockey game held at FirstEnergy Stadium and the first outdoor ice hockey game in Cleveland since 2012. This was the 41st outdoor college hockey game in the modern era. Michigan and Ohio State had previously played an outdoor game in Cleveland at Progressive Field on January 15, 2012, when the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes 4–1 in the Frozen Diamond Faceoff.

Michigan Wolverines The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines entered the game with a record of 20–9–2, and a 12–8–1 record in conference play. This was the Wolverines ninth outdoor game in their history, the most of any college ice hockey team.

Ohio State Buckeyes The No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes entered the game with a record of 17–11–3, and a 10–9–2 record in conference play. This was the Buckeyes fourth outdoor game in their history.

Game summary

The game was scoreless in the first period. Ohio State scored three goals in the second period, via goals by Cole McWard, a power play goal by Jake Wise and a shorthanded goal by Tyler Duke. Michigan finally got on the board late in the second via a goal by Gavin Brindley at 18:25. Michigan reduced Ohio State's lead to one goal via a goal by Eric Ciccolini at 8:46 in the third period. Ohio State responded with a goal by Stephen Halliday less than a minute later. The attendance of 45,523 was the largest in Ohio State history, surpassing the previous record of 45,021 set at the Hockey City Classic at TCF Bank Stadium on January 17, 2014.

Ohio State wore throwback jerseys featuring colors and numbers that resembled the Ohio State Buckeyes football team's jerseys of the early 1940s.

Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st No scoring 2nd OSU Cole McWard (4) Joe Dunlap (8), Matt Cassidy (11) 14:21 1–0 OSU OSU Jake Wise (11) (PP) Travis Treloar (11), Stephen Halliday (25) 17:11 2–0 OSU MICH Gavin Brindley (9) Adam Fantilli (30) 18:25 2–1 OSU OSU Tyler Duke (3) (SH) Jake Wise (16) 19:10 3–1 OSU 3rd MICH Eric Ciccolini (6) Jackson Hallum (9), Frank Nazar (1) 8:46 3–2 OSU OSU Stephen Halliday (8) (PP) Jake Wise (17), Mason Lohrei (22) 8:46 4–2 OSU Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st OSU Matt Cassidy Hitting from behind 3:39 2:00 OSU Tyler Duke Holding 8:37 2:00 MICH Steven Holtz Hitting from behind 11:33 2:00 MICH Jackson Hallum Tripping 14:05 2:00 OSU Joe Dunlap Roughing 16:43 2:00 MICH Erik Portillo Tripping 17:47 2:00 2nd OSU Jaedon Leslie Slashing 4:53 2:00 MICH Gavin Brindley Slashing 10:50 2:00 MICH Mackie Samoskevich Cross-checking 16:37 2:00 OSU Mason Lohrei Holding 18:55 2:00 3rd OSU Cole McWard Tripping 1:10 2:00 MICH Nolan Moyle Interference 9:06 2:00 OSU Michael Gildon Tripping 12:15 2:00

Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Michigan 7 10 20 37 Ohio State 14 13 7 34

Power play opportunities Team Goals/Opportunities Michigan 0/7 Ohio State 2/6

Team rosters

Michigan # Player Position 1 Erik Portillo G 2 Rutger McGroarty LW 4 Gavin Brindley RW 11 Mackie Samoskevich RW 13 T. J. Hughes C 19 Adam Fantilli C 20 Keaton Pehrson D 21 Jackson Hallum LW 22 Philippe Lapointe LW 24 Steven Holtz D 25 Dylan Duke LW 26 Seamus Casey D 27 Nolan Moyle RW 31 Noah West G 63 Luca Fantilli D 71 Nick Granowicz C 73 Ethan Edwards D 90 Jay Keranen D 91 Frank Nazar C 93 Eric Ciccolini RW 94 Mark Estapa LWHead coach: Brandon Naurato

Ohio State # Player Position 2 James Marooney D 3 Cole McWard D 5 Tyler Duke D 6 Mason Lohrei D 8 Scooter Brickey D 11 Kamil Sadlocha C 13 Tate Singleton F 14 Dalton Messina F 15 Cam Thiesing C 18 Michael Gildon LW 19 Stephen Halliday C 20 Matt Cassidy RW 21 Joe Dunlap F 23 Davis Burnside F 26 Jaedon Leslie F 28 Jake Wise C 44 Jakub Dobeš G 65 C. J. Regula D 71 Patrick Guzzo LW 94 Travis Treloar CHead coach: Steve Rohlik

West served as reserve goaltender and did not see playing time.

Scratches Michigan Wolverines: Brendan Miles, Jacob Truscott, Tyler Shea, Kienan Draper, Luke Hughes, Johnny Druskinis Ohio State Buckeyes: John Larkin, Evan McIntyre, Dominic Vidoli, Mark Cheremeta, Gustaf Westlund, Ryan Snowden, Reilly Herbst

Officials Referees — Brian Aaron, David Marcotte Linesmen — Justin Cornell, Jake Davis

Television The game was broadcast nationally by the Big Ten Network, and available online streaming via FuboTV.

See also List of outdoor ice hockey games

References