Tanner Fritz

Classroom

As a sport industry major with a legal foundations minor, Fritz is a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, two-time Academic All-Big Ten choice and has made the Dean’s List twice. He is on schedule to graduate on time in Spring 2015.

Character

Hailing from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Fritz is in his second year as a full-time captain for the Buckeyes. After wearing the A for three series as a sophomore and serving as an alternate captain as a junior in 2013-14, he was voted by his teammates to wear the C this year, with a vote on each of his teammates’ ballots. As his coach says, “Tanner leads by example, both on and off the ice, and does things the right way. He isn’t a ‘rah rah’ guy, but when he speaks up, his teammates listen. It says a lot about a player when every teammate voted for him to be captain.” Fritz was the recipient of the Big Ten’s Sportsmanship Award for the Buckeye hockey program in 2014 and has just 15 penalties in his first 110 games. Despite being the first person in his immediate family to not only attend college, but to graduate high school, Fritz has had an outstanding academic career and is an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete on track to graduate in four years.

Community

Fritz has spent time reading to elementary school children through the Second and Seven Foundation, visiting children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, along with working with youth hockey players.

Competition

Fritz, the leading returning scorer in the Big Ten after averaging 1.0 points per game as a junior, was a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch. He has already picked up Big Ten player of the week honors after a four-point game in the Buckeyes’ upset of No. 3 Providence on Oct. 10 and is in the top 10 nationally in points through the first few weeks of the season (2g, 4a). He scored eight goals and added 24 assists for 32 points on the 2014 Buckeye squad that reached the Big Ten Tournament championship game. Fritz was an All-CCHA Second Team pick after winning the CCHA scoring title as a sophomore with 32 points in league play (including a league-best 24 assists) and had 37 points overall (11 goals, 26 assists). He earned the Buckeyes’ Most Improved Player award as a freshman and had 14 points as a rookie. Fritz has played in 110 games as a Buckeye and has 89 points, with 27 goals and 62 assists.