# Faceoff on the Lake

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 | No scoring | No scoring | No scoring | No scoring |
| 2nd | OSU | Cole McWard (4) | Joe Dunlap (8), Matt Cassidy (11) | 14:21 | 1–0 OSU |
| 2nd | OSU | Jake Wise (11) (PP) | Travis Treloar (11), Stephen Halliday (25) | 17:11 | 2–0 OSU |
| 2nd | MICH | Gavin Brindley (9) | Adam Fantilli (30) | 18:25 | 2–1 OSU |
| 2nd | 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 |
| 3rd | 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 |
| 1st | OSU | Tyler Duke | Holding | 8:37 | 2:00 |
| 1st | MICH | Steven Holtz | Hitting from behind | 11:33 | 2:00 |
| 1st | MICH | Jackson Hallum | Tripping | 14:05 | 2:00 |
| 1st | OSU | Joe Dunlap | Roughing | 16:43 | 2:00 |
| 1st | MICH | Erik Portillo | Tripping | 17:47 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | OSU | Jaedon Leslie | Slashing | 4:53 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | MICH | Gavin Brindley | Slashing | 10:50 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | MICH | Mackie Samoskevich | Cross-checking | 16:37 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | OSU | Mason Lohrei | Holding | 18:55 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | OSU | Cole McWard | Tripping | 1:10 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | MICH | Nolan Moyle | Interference | 9:06 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | 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 | LW |
| Head 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 | C |
| Head 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.