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There have been plenty of rumors swirling in recent weeks about players committed to Ohio State possibly looking elsewhere in the wake of their coaching turmoil that saw head coach Mark Osiecki fired, and ultimately replaced by his top assistant, Steve Rohlik.
The first among to decommit from the Buckeyes is USHL defenseman Nolan Valleau, a 6-0 160 lbs. late '92 birthdate that split time between the Des Moines Buccaneers and Chicago Steel this past season. In 64 USHL games this season, Valleau had scored 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points, with half of those points coming via the power play. Valleau committed to Ohio State this past December after a strong start to his USHL career. Last year, he played for Port Huron of the NAHL, helping lead the Fighting Falcons to a divisional championship. The coaching switch was the primary reason for Valleau's decision.