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After a grueling weekend series with last years Frozen Four participant, the Vermont Catamounts, the DU hockey team is set to head out on the road.

The Pioneers will have their first road series when they travel to Ohio to play the Buckeyes on Thursday and Friday.

The teams will play in Value City Arena on Thursday and Nationwide Arena, home to the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

The Buckeyes were voted No. 4 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in both the coaches and media polls.

After last weekend’s games, Ohio State comes into this weekend with an 0-2 record.

They struggled in both games against non-conference rival Quinnipiac. Leading at some point in both games, the Buckeyes were unable to hold on against the un-ranked opponent.

Defenseman Shane Sims leads the team in points after the first weekend of play getting one goal and one assist.

These losses will undoubtedly drop the formerly No. 17 ranked Buckeyes out of the top 20.

Leading the Buckeyes at forward is NHL bound and second-team all CCHA John Albert.

Albert, a junior, is the closest thing the Buckeyes have to an experienced leader. The team is extremely young containing only one senior on the final roster.

Other standout junior forwards include C.J Severyn, Peter Boyd, Sergio Somma, and Kyle Reed.

The Buckeyes do posses a trio of stout defensemen. Juniors Chris Reed and Shane Sims lead the front line. Sophomore Matt Bartkowski provides depth.

Sims and Bartkowski are both NHL bound.

Sims has his draft rights owned by the New York Islands, the same team that has DU’s Rhett Rakhshani’s draft rights.

The Buckeyes have a pair of sophomore NHL-bound forwards in Taylor Stefishen and Zac Dalpe.

Last year’s starting goalie, junior Dustin Carlson is back, which bolsters the Buckeye defense.

Although extremely young and a loss in the preseason to Western Ontario the Buckeyes are still a hard opponent, especially on the road.

DU has seven new faces that have yet to endure a collegiate road trip, not to mention a trip to one of the biggest university’s in the nation.

These players may be inexperienced, but their veterans are confident they can adjust.

“I think it will be great for us,” said Joe Colborne. “We’ll really come together [on the road] and by hanging out together.”

It certainly will be an experience, a much-needed one at that as the Pioneers stay on the road next weekend against conference rival No. 9 ranked University of Minnesota.