No. 16 RedHawks Entertain No. 18 LSSU on Homecoming
10/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Oct. 26, 2011
THE GAME
No. 16 Miami (2-4-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) returns home after a pair of road series to host No. 18 Lake Superior State in a two-game CCHA series on Homecoming Weekend, Thursday and Friday at Steve Cady Arena. Both games start at 7:35 p.m. The RedHawks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, its longest skid since a three-game drought Dec. 30, 2010 to Jan. 8, 2011, after being swept at then-No. 14 Ferris State to open league play last weekend. Miami was swept just once last year (Jan. 7-8 at Ohio State), something that has happened only four times in CCHA play since the 2007-08 season.
The RedHawks fell 4-2 to the Bulldogs on Friday as FSU broke a 2-2 deadlock in the third period and added an empty netter for the final tally. Senior Trent Vogelhuber and freshman Austin Czarnik tallied goals for Miami in the loss. Saturday, the 'Hawks were shut out for the first time this year, 2-0. Miami has been blanked just once each of the previous three years. Junior Reilly Smith leads the RedHawks with five points and four goals while senior Alden Hirschfeld has a team-high four assists.
No. 18 Lake Superior (5-1-0, 3-1-0 CCHA) comes to Oxford after splitting with Bowling Green last weekend, falling 1-0 Friday before rebounding for a 4-1 victory Saturday. LSSU started the year with sweeps at Alabama-Huntsville and over Michigan State to begin CCHA action. The Lakers are giving up just 1.83 goals per game, which ties for sixth nationally, led by sophomore goalie Kevin Kapalka's 1.84 GAA and .926 save percentage, both of which rank in the top 20 nationally. Sophomore forward Kyle Jean leads the Lakers with seven points and four goals, including five points in CCHA play.
THE COACHES
Enrico Blasi (Miami '94) is in his 13th season behind the RedHawk bench. He is a four-time CCHA Coach of the Year and was named National Coach of the Year in 2005-06. He stands 264-173-46 in 13 seasons at his alma mater, where he has led Miami to seven NCAA Tournaments, including two Frozen Four berths, a National Championship game appearance, a pair of CCHA regular-season titles and the school's first ever Mason Cup last year. Blasi is the the winningest coach in school history.
Jim Roque (Lake Superior '87) is in his seventh season at the helm of the Lakers where he has compiled a 90-109-39 record at his alma mater. He was twice previously an assistant coach at Lake Superior from 1988-91 and during the 1994-95 season before returning in 2001 as an assistant where he stayed until becoming the head coach. He led the Lakers to their first winning season in seven years in his first year in charge and helped LSSU earn a berth in the CCHA Tournament semifinals in 2006-07.
THE SERIES
Miami is just 37-54-11 all-time against Lake Superior since 1979, but are 25-18-7 against the Lakers in Oxford. Miami has also had recent success against LSSU, going 9-0-1 vs. the Lakers since the 2007-08 season. The RedHawks went 3-0-1 against LSSU last year, including a win and a tie in Oxford and a sweep at Lake Superior. Head coach Enrico Blasi is 23-8-1 against LSSU at the helm of Miami.
QUICK HITS
- Freshman Austin Czarnik scored his second career goal Friday at Ferris State. He has four points this year which leads RedHawk freshmen and ties for 10th in the CCHA among rookies.
- By being swept at Ferris State last weekend to open CCHA play, Miami was swept in its CCHA opening series for the first time since 2000-01 at the hands of Michigan. Over the past five seasons, the RedHawks have been swept in league play just four times, including last weekend.
- In six career games against LSSU, junior forward Reilly Smith has 11 points on five goals and six assists. All five goals came in four games against the Lakers last year as did five of the six helpers. He had at least one goal in all four games last year vs. Lake Superior.
- Miami's power play started the year on fire but has since slowed down. The RedHawks opened the season 5-for-15 (.333) on the man advantage in their first three games but have not found the net on their last 14 power plays, including going 0-for-13 in their last three games.
- With a 2-4-0 start to the year, Miami has four losses in its first six games for the first time since 2003-04 when the RedHawks started 1-4-1. Miami did go on to win 23 games while making the NCAA Tournament that season and finished second in the CCHA.
- The 'Hawks have held opponents to three goals or less four times this year but are just 2-2 in those contests. Last year, Miami held foes to under four goals 32 times, going 23-4-5.
UP NEXT
Miami heads back on the road, making the long trek to Alaska for a two-game CCHA series with the Alaska Nanooks Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Puck drop both nights is slated for 11:05 p.m. ET.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Thursday's game will be televised on ONN with Dave Allen and Josh Fenton handling the commentary. The game will also air on radio on WKBV-AM (1490) out of Richmond, Ind. with Greg Waddell calling the game. Friday's contest will not be on TV or radio but will be streamed live on MURedHawks.com through Miami All-Access, as will Thursday's game.
TRICKY REILLY: Junior forward Reilly Smith tallied his second career hat trick Oct. 14 at Colgate in his first game of the season to lead Miami to the win. His other hat trick came on Oct. 23, 2010 against Northern Michigan. He also had an assist Oct. 14 against the Raiders, giving him a career-best four points, and added a goal the next night earning him CCHA Offensive Player of the Week -- the third such honor of his career. He now has 10 multi-goal games for his career, which leads active RedHawks. Smith is the leading returning goal-scorer in the nation entering 2011-12 after leading Miami with 28 goals as a sophomore, which tied for fourth nationally. Smith is also second among returning point-scorers after totaling 54 points a year ago, as only Minnesota Duluth's Jack Connolly (59 points in 2010-11), had more points than Smith among returning players. Smith tied for seventh in the country last year in points en route to earning First-Team All-CCHA and All-America honors from College Hockey News (Second Team) and Inside College Hockey (Third Team).
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY: The RedHawks have four losses in their first six games for the first time since 2003-04 when Miami started 1-4-1. That team rebounded to win 23 games, make the NCAA Tournament and finish second in the CCHA. The 'Hawks were also swept to open CCHA play Oct. 21-22 at Ferris State, the first time that has happened since 2000-01 at the hands of Michigan. Over the past five seasons, including this year, the RedHawks have only been swept in league play four times. Miami was also shut out by Ferris State Oct. 22, something that has only happened once each of the past four years, including this year, and was not shut out at all during the 2007-08 campaign.
The RedHawks also lost their home opener on Oct. 7 to Bemidji State for the first time since 2001 when the RedHawks lost to Merrimack, as Miami had won nine straight home openers. That game was also Miami's season opener, last falling in the 2005-06 season opener to North Dakota prior to the loss to BSU.
HIRSCHFELD'S HELPERS: Senior forward and co-captain Alden Hirschfeld tallied an assist in each of Miami's first four games this year. His four helpers lead the team and tie for 10th in the CCHA. By being held pointless Oct. 21 at Ferris State, his career-long seven-game point streak dating back to last season was snapped. Although he has no goals during the regular season yet this year, in Miami's 4-1 exhibition win over Windsor Oct. 2, Hirschfeld tallied two goals. He has three regular-season multi-goal games in his career, including one hat trick.
FIRST TIME FOR FRESHMEN: In Miami's game at Colgate Oct. 14, freshman forward Tyler Biggs tallied his first career point on an assist in the first period. In that same game, freshman forward Austin Czarnik registered his first collegiate goal and added an assist for a career-high two points. Four RedHawks tallied their first career point Oct. 7-8 against Bemidji State. Freshmen forwards Jimmy Mullin and Alex Wideman each tallied their first career goal in Friday's season-opening game, with Wideman's coming on the power play. On Saturday, Czarnik and fellow freshman forward Blake Coleman each tallied their first career assist while Wideman also recorded his first assist as a RedHawk on the same play as Coleman, which was scored by Wideman's brother, senior defenseman Chris Wideman. Freshman defenseman Ben Paulides saw his first action Oct. 7 while freshman forward Cody Murphy suited up for the first time Oct. 8.
STRONG SCHEDULE: Miami faces a tough schedule in 2011-12, including eight teams currently ranked in the USCHO.com Poll. The RedHawks already split with Colgate, now No. 16, Oct. 14-15 and fell to then-No. 14 Ferris State (now No. 6) Oct. 21-22. Miami hosts No. 18 Lake Superior this weekend and plays at No. 2 Denver Nov. 26. A total of seven CCHA teams are ranked, as the 'Hawks will play No. 4 Michigan and No. 14 Northern Michigan four times each and No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 7 Western Michigan twice each while also playing at LSSU later this year.
PRESEASON PICKS: Four RedHawks were named to the Preseason All-CCHA Teams, while no other team had more than two players on either squad. Junior forward Reilly Smith, who was tabbed First-Team All-CCHA last year, was one of two unanimous selections. Joining Smith on the First Team was senior goalie Cody Reichard, the 2010 CCHA Player of the Year, who was a Preseason First-Team All-CCHA recipient last year as well. Miami grabbed both defensive spots on the Second Team as senior defensemen Will Weber and Chris Wideman were both tabbed Preseason Second-Team All-CCHA. Wideman was a Preseason First-Team All-CCHA honoree last year and earned Second-Team All-CCHA accolades at the end of 2010-11.
OVERTIME ODDS 'N ENDS: Miami's Oct. 15 overtime game at Colgate was its first overtime game of the season. The extra-session loss (3-2) was Miami's first overtime loss since March 13, 2010 when the 'Hawks lost to Ohio State in the second round of the CCHA Playoffs. Miami tied all six overtime contests last year.
DYNAMIC DUO: Senior goalies Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard are two of the top goalies in Miami history, despite splitting time in net during their careers. Reichard's 45 career wins rank third, as he needs 11 more to tie for second in Miami history and 17 victories to become Miami's all-time winningest goalie, surpassing David Burleigh (60). With a win Oct. 8, Knapp moved into a tie for seventh in Miami history with Alain Chevrier, Brandon Crawford-West and Charlie Effinger. Reichard also has 10 career shutouts, needing two more to tie Burleigh for Miami's career whitewashes record. Reichard and Knapp currently rank second and third, respectively, in career save percentage (.913, .912) and are tied for second in career GAA (2.05).
GOING POLLING: Miami enters the weekend ranked No. 16 (USCHO.com poll) but fell out of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine top-15 poll for the first time since Oct. 24, 2005. The RedHawks are the top team among others receiving votes, however. For the second time in three years, Miami started the season ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, marking the 21st time in the last 52 polls that the 'Hawks have held the top spot, doing so 18 times in 2009-10 and twice last year. Miami was also selected No. 1 in the College Hockey News Preseason Top 10 and the Preseason INCH Power Rankings.
BROTHERLY LOVE: The RedHawks have a pair of brothers on their team for the first time since 2005-06, as freshman forward Alex Wideman joins his brother, Chris Wideman, a senior defenseman, on the Miami roster in 2011-12. The last pair of brothers to play at Miami together was Matt and Nathan Davis when Matt was a senior and Nathan was a sophomore. In Miami's exhibition win over Windsor Oct. 2, the duo each had an assist on Miami's third goal while on Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State, Alex had an assist on Chris' game-tying power play goal.
CODY'S ALL CLASS: Senior goalie Cody Reichard was named one of 20 candidates for the 2011-12 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for ice hockey. The 10 finalists will be announced mid-season with the winner being declared on April 6 at the Frozen Four. To be considered for the prestigious award, a senior student-athlete must exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
WINNING WAYS: Miami has the best winning percentage among Division I college hockey teams over the last seven years (since 2005-06), compiling a record of 160-66-27 (.686), ahead of Boston College, who has gone 162-69-21 (.685) during that span. CCHA foe Michigan ranks third over the last six years with a record of 168-77-16 (.674). The RedHawks have had at least 20 wins in each of the last six seasons, including a school-record 33 wins in 2007-08, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament each year as well. The six straight NCAA Tournament appearances ranks fourth among active streaks behind Michigan (21), New Hampshire (10) and North Dakota (9).
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--MURedHawks.com--
