Ohio State athletics is used to being in the spotlight.

Big Ten, big stage.

But while the Buckeyes' football program is used to the fanfare, there is another squad in Columbus getting used to attention.

ON THE ZAMBONI

GAME OF THE WEEK   FERRIS STATE AT MIAMI (OHIO) Fri. and Sat., 7:35 p.m. ET This is a crucial weekend for both teams. The Bulldogs hold a slim two-point CCHA lead over Ohio State, while the RedHawks are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the conference. As always, Ferris State will rely on senior winger Chris Kunitz, who leads the conference in goals (13) and assists (18), and its penalty killing (91.9 percent). The RedHawks flat-out need a victory -- they've only won twice in 10 games. And with an 8-1-2 record at Goggin Ice Arena, there is no place like home for Miami of Ohio. PLAYER TO WATCH CORNELL'S DAVE LENEVEU With names like Ken Dryden and Brian Cropper in Cornell's annals, the sophomore from Fernie, British Columbia is continuing a long-standing goaltending tradition. After fulfilling one of his childhood dreams as a member of Canada's national junior team at the 2003 Worlds, LeNeveu returned to the Big Red lineup Jan. 17 and leads all Division I goalies with stingy 1.15 goals-against average. At 6-1, 170 pounds, he has mastered the butterfly style and has one quick glove hand. Cornell sits just four points behind Harvard for the ECAC lead, and with LeNeveu leading the defense, that gap doesn't seem insurmountable. THE HOBEY HUNT Who says you can't have your say? Nominations are now being accepted for the first phase of naming a winner for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, college hockey's version of the Heisman. And this phase is for you the fans, who can cast votes on Hobey's official site. Players receiving at least 25 nominating votes will become eligible to receive votes in the second phase, the finalist selection. Fan voting continues until March 20, when the finalists will be narrowed down to the Top 10, and another cut to the Top Three follows on April 2. Fan voting plays a part, along with the Selection Committee's vote, in the determination of the overall winner, which will be announced during Frozen Four weekend on April 11 in Buffalo. BACK IN THE DAY 1983 Wisconsin suffered a bitter loss to Minnesota in the WCHA title game, but the Badgers would have the last laugh. Wisconsin won the national championship, beating Harvard 6-2 for its second title in three years.

With a more experienced squad and a coach that understands what it takes to win in the competitive CCHA, the Ohio State men's ice hockey team is primed for a postseason ride of their own.

"Every weekend is a moving weekend," Buckeyes head coach John Markell said. "There is so much parity in the conference now, that if we have an off period, we'll lose the period. We definitely have the bull's-eye on our chest now."

Ohio State (17-4-2, 11-2-1 in CCHA) is riding a 10-game unbeaten streak, and sits just two points behind Ferris State for the conference lead. And while Markell credits the experience of his players for the team's continued success, the coach's familiarity with the CCHA has also played a bit part.

Markell played at Bowling Green from 1976-1979, and after his final season, signed a free-agent contract with the Winnipeg Jets after declining a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team. After being named the Jets' rookie of the year, Markell played professionally for 13 seasons, including NHL stints in Minnesota and St. Louis.

Markell was promoted from an assistant coach for Ohio State, replacing Jerry Welsh on May 22, 1995. Then began the turnaround. Markell led the Buckeyes to postseason competition for two consecutive seasons, including a Frozen Four berth in 1998, a program first. In his eighth season, Markell is just three games shy of his fourth-straight 20-win season with the team.

"There are a lot of situations I can help (the players) with," Markell said of his playing experience. "First and foremost, I stress the importance of getting their education. You need that to fall back on when you're done playing."

As for the changes on the ice, Markell acknowledges the players are bigger and stronger, but …

"The game has changed, but the checks still hurt and the sticks still hurt."

And those checks and sticks come with equal force in the CCHA. Now, Markell and Co. will try and end the recent postseason drought, which would take the sting out of the Buckeyes' 2-1 overtime loss to Michigan in last season's CCHA Tournament semifinals.

Juniors R.J. Umberger and Scott May have brought the experience to the offense, and are the Buckeyes' top two scorers, respectively. Umberger has 18 goals and 15 assists in 23 games, while May has added seven goals and 21 assists. Freshman Ryan Kesler has been a welcome addition to the squad, and has six goals (23 points) in 20 games for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have also been consistent in their own zone behind the goalie tandem of Mike Betz and Dave Caruso, and junior defenseman Doug Andress. Betz (12-3-2) is seventh in the nation, behind names like Dave LeNeveu (Cornell), Jim Howard (Maine) and Mike Ayers (New Hampshire), and has a 2.16 goals-against average. Caruso, a freshman, is 5-1-0 in six games with two shutouts. At the blue line, Andress played both sides of the puck. He leads the team with a plus-16 rating and has four goals and 12 assists.

"The junior and senior class were learning under the gun," Markell said. "But now, they are teaching the young guys how to win, how to respect their opponent, how to play with passion."

All three factors will be needed, and then some, if the Buckeyes want to come out of the CCHA on top. All 14 remaining games are conference matchups, including a regular-season weekend finale vs. Michigan at home.

"Our guys know how to separate when to relax and when not to relax," Markell said. "You have to be able to adapt."

And Markell and Ohio State hope their continuing adaptation leads to Buffalo.

Joy Russo is a staff editor at ESPN.com. She can be reached at joy.e.russo@espn3.com.