Jincy Dunne Set to Make NCAA Debut with Ohio State

Ohio State released their weekly game notes for their season-opening series against RPI this weekend, and while the series will be notable as the head coaching debut for recently-hired head coach Nadine Muzerall, it also contained this bit of a good news:

In addition to them, the Buckeyes will welcome two familiar faces back to the ice this weekend after not appearing in any games last season. 2014-15 WCHA All-Rookie team honoree Kassidy Sauve returns from injury and Jincy Dunne will make her collegiate debut after redshirting last season.

Sauve’s return to the line-up was expected, but confirmation that Dunne will be skating for the Buckeyes is exciting news.

A year ago, Dunne, a defenseman from St. Louis, was one of top recruits in the country. As a 16 year old, she was one of the final cuts from the US women’s Olympic team, and helped lead the US to the 2015 U18 championship with a dramatic overtime goal to defeat Canada.

But Dunne missed the entirety of what should have been her freshmen season last year, with what was rumored to be lingering concussion symptoms, and did not skate in national camps over the summer.

If Dunne is recovered and is able to play at close to the same level she did prior to missing last season, that’s a huge boost not only for Ohio State, who is trying to bring stability to a program now on their third head coach is as many years, but also for the future of USA Hockey at the international level.