Feb. 12, 2010
Photo Gallery
Final Stats
Postgame Locker Room Celebration
Tommy Wingels Interview
Head Coach Enrico Blasi Interview
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- No. 1 Miami left nothing to chance in claiming its third Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title Friday night, holding off a pesky Bowling Green squad 3-2 at the BGSU Ice Arena.
Despite having officially clinched the title by virtue of a Ferris State loss with about four minutes left in the contest, the RedHawks (21-4-6, 18-1-4-2 CCHA) broke a 2-2 tie when Jarod Palmer scored his second goal of the night with 3:23 remaining, then the defense fought off several Falcon advances.
Miami, which extended its league unbeaten to 21 games, also won league titles in 1992-93 and 2005-06.
With the score even at 2-2, Palmer fired a shot from between the circle that BG goaltender Andrew Hammond blocked. But the puck caromed into the air and landed on Hammond back before bouncing into the goal. The 4-on-4 scoring play started with passes from Andy Miele and Cameron Schilling.
Palmer finished the night with his eighth multi-point game of the season as he started the scoring with a first-period goal and assisted on the other. Miele had two helpers while Cody Reichard made 24 saves in improving to 15-2-3 on the season. The RedHawks opened a 1-0 lead 3:59 into the contest, when Palmer redirected a Will Weber shot in front of the net. Bowling Green evened it up just 16 seconds into the second period when James Perkin tipped in his own rebound. The play was set up after the Falcons won a faceoff following an icing call on the RedHawks.
Miami regained the lead right before the second intermission. With the RedHawks on the power play, Chris Wideman sent a screaming one-timer past Hammond at the 19:02 mark, sending Miami to the locker room with a 2-1 lead. Palmer registered the first assist, while Reilly Smith was credited the second.
But Bowling Green did not go away. Kai Kantola evened the game at 6:02 of the third when he slipped the puck past Reichard from the left circle.
Following the game, CCHA Commisioner Tom Anastos presented RedHawk captain Tommy Wingels with the league trophy in the locker room.
"I am proud of the guys and the way they played tonight," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "We wanted to accomplish this all year. The regular-season championship is tough because it is given to the team that is the best over three to four months, through all kinds of adversity."
Miami will host a public celebration of its title at Goggin Ice Center following its home game vs. Nebraska-Omaha. Wingels will once again be presented with the trophy, which will be on display afterwards during "Skate with the 'Hawks".
The two teams complete the series tomorrow evening at 5:05 p.m. at the BGSU Ice Arena.
