After sliding slightly off course with a three-game losing streak, Kentucky hockey (12-6-2) ended 2024 on a good note with two resounding wins over Ohio State (2-6-0) by scores of 7-2 and 4-1.

On the first night of the back-to-back, scoring came quickly for the Cats as they found the back of the net four different times in the first period alone, quickly establishing themselves and setting the tone.

The second period would see a very similar script with Jake Laube starting the score off again with his second goal of the night and, after one more goal off the stick of Kelly Thompson, Kentucky took a commanding 6-0 lead.

Ohio State would finally get on the board to cut the deficit to five before a quick retaliation by the Wildcats’ Charlie Chinian to end the period put the score further out of reach.

With such a commanding lead, the Cats only needed to protect the advantage and they did, only allowing one more goal by the Buckeyes for a final of 7-2.

The next night saw a different script with a similar result.

No goals were found by either team in what was a grinding back-and-forth defensive struggle for the first period.

Kentucky would get on the board first in the second period and went on a scoring tear, rattling off three straight unanswered goals, with the last one coming off a breakaway by winger Jack Noel with one second left on the clock.

With only one period left in regulation, the Buckeyes only managed to put one goal on the board, to which Kentucky answered with one of its own, giving the Wildcats the series sweep and securing rookie goalkeeper Kyle Hogan his first win.

The momentum that was built with these two games will have to be put on hold as the Wildcats next return to action isn’t until after the new year on Jan. 17 at the Lexington Ice Center with a midnight puck drop. Kentucky will face Dayton.