RedHawks Welcome Falcons on Hockey's Alumni Weekend
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Nov. 17, 2011
THE GAME
Riding a season-long four-game unbeaten streak, Miami (5-6-1, 3-4-1-1 CCHA) hosts Bowling Green for a two-game series Friday and Saturday at Steve Cady Arena on Miami Hockey's Alumni Weekend. Puck drop Friday is at 7:35 p.m. while Saturday is at 7:05 p.m. After dropping their first four CCHA games, the RedHawks have gone 3-0-1 in their last four games, sweeping Alaska and earning a win and tie with No. 4/5 Michigan while winning the shootout to climb into seventh place in the CCHA.
Miami topped the Wolverines Friday, 2-1, its third straight 2-1 win, which was the `Hawks first win over a ranked team this season and their first three-game win streak. Freshman forward Jimmy Mullin scored Miami's fastest goal of the year, just 1:41 into the game, while fellow freshman forward Tyler Biggs notched his first career game-winning goal to secure the win. Saturday, junior forward Reilly Smith tallied two goals and added an assist while freshman forward Austin Czarnik had a goal and two helpers, earning him CCHA Rookie of the Week, as the duo had a hand in all three goals in the 3-3 tie. Sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo then won the shootout in the fourth round. Smith leads Miami's offense, which averages 2.33 goals per game, with seven goals and nine points. Senior goalie Cody Reichard has started four straight in net, allowing just six goals during that span.
Bowling Green (6-5-1, 1-5-0-0 CCHA) comes into the weekend after sweeping Canisius, 4-1 and 3-1, in non-league action at home. The Falcons have played the last three weekends at home, last playing on the road Oct. 21-22 when they split with Lake Superior State. Despite being 5-0-1 in non-conference play, BGSU is riding a five-game CCHA losing streak after being swept by Notre Dame and Ferris State. The Falcons average 2.17 goals per game, led by 13 points from sophomore Camden Wojtala, but give up just 2.25 goals per game, which ranks 11th nationally. Freshman Ryan Carpenter and sophomore Bryce Williamson lead the team with five goals each while junior goalie Andrew Hammond has played every game and has a 2.14 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.
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 267-175-47 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.
Chris Bergeron (Miami `93) is in his second season in charge of Bowling Green, where he has compiled a career record of 16-32-5. He led BGSU to the second round of the CCHA Playoffs in his first year. Prior to taking over at BGSU, Bergeron was an assistant coach at Miami under Enrico Blasi for 10 years and also played with Blasi at Miami for three years. He was a two-time captain at Miami and helped lead the Redskins to the program's first ever CCHA regular-season championship as a player.
THE SERIES
Miami has won 11 straight over the Falcons, including all four times last year, and 18 of the last 19 meetings. Despite Miami's recent success, BGSU still controls the all-time series 58-42-7 going back to 1978. In Oxford, Miami leads 26-24-2, with the `Hawks having won 12 in a row at home. Head coach Enrico Blasi is 26-8-2 against BGSU behind the bench at his alma mater.
QUICK HITS
- Freshman Austin Czarnik scored a goal and added two assists for a career-high three points in Saturday's tie with No. 4/5 Michigan, earning him CCHA Rookie of the Week, the first such award of his career. It was his second career multi-point contest and first multi-assist game.
- With a win and a tie last weekend, Miami extended its unbeaten streak to a season-long four games, the first three of which were wins, all by a score of 2-1. The one goal allowed in each of the wins ties Miami's season low while the RedHawks improved to 5-2 in one-goal games with last Friday's win. The `Hawks did not win a game last year when scoring two goals or less.
- Miami was 6-for-6 on the penalty kill last weekend. The RedHawks have now killed 22 straight penalties dating back to Oct. 28, a stretch of five games. Prior to the five-game stretch, the `Hawks had allowed two power play goals in each of the previous five games.
- Bowling Green is coached by former Miami captain Chris Bergeron (`93), who was also an assistant at Miami under head coach Enrico Blasi for 10 years and played with Blasi for three years. BGSU assistant coach Barry Schutte (`97) is also a Miami graduate and former captain.
UP NEXT
The RedHawks step out of CCHA play and travel to Denver for the Denver Cup. Miami faces Providence Friday at 6:37 p.m. ET (4:37 p.m. local) before taking on No. 11/11 Denver Saturday at 9:07 p.m. ET (7:07 p.m. local).
MEDIA COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be televised on the Ohio News Network (ONN) with Dave Allen handling play-by-play and Neil Sika providing color commentary. Both contests will also be broadcast on radio on WKBV-AM 1490 (Richmond, Ind.) with Greg Waddell calling the action. As always, live streaming and audio of the games are available on MURedHawks.com through the All-Access subscription package.
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Tickets are still available for this weekend's series with Bowling Green, including both standing room only and reserved seats. Click here to purchase tickets.
MIAMI MEN: This weekend is Miami Hockey Alumni Weekend and appropriately enough, both head coaches this weekend played for and graduated from Miami. BGSU second-year head coach Chris Bergeron (`93) played from 1989-93, including three years with Miami head coach Enrico Blasi (`94), and served as an assistant coach under Blasi for 10 years prior to taking over the Falcons. Bergeron was a two-time captain for Miami from 1991-93, as was Blasi from 1992-94. Each team also has a second-year assistant coach who is a Miami alum as RedHawk assistant Nick Petraglia (`04) and BGSU assistant Barry Schutte (`97), who was the director of the Goggin Ice Center before coaching the Falcons, both played for Miami as well. Schutte was a captain in 1996-97.
REUNITED: The coaches on both teams aren't the only people being reunited this weekend, as senior forward Patrick Tiesling, who transferred from Bowling Green after the 2008-09 season, will face his old team this weekend. In his first year with the `Hawks he scored his first career goal against the Falcons on Jan. 14, 2011. He played in 64 games for BGSU but did not register his first tally until facing his old team. He has since played in 39 games for Miami and has three goals, including his first one against BGSU.
FANTASTIC FROSH: Miami's freshman forwards have been contributing greatly on offense, especially as of late. Austin Czarnik was named CCHA Rookie of the Week Nov. 14 after notching a career-high three points Nov. 12 in a 3-3 tie with No. 4/5 Michigan. He was the second straight RedHawk to win the award as Tyler Biggs was CCHA Rookie of the Week Nov. 7 after dishing out two assists at Alaska Nov. 4-5. Czarnik, who is tied for the team lead with five assists, is second on the team with eight points, which ties for fourth in the CCHA among freshmen while Biggs is tied for eighth with six points (2g, 4a). Biggs is also tied for second among rookies with five points in CCHA play, notching a point in five straight games with the five-game point streak (10/27 to 11/11) the longest by a RedHawk this year. His six points on the year are fourth on the team. Freshmen Biggs, Czarnik, Blake Coleman, Jimmy Mullin and Alex Wideman have combined for nine goals on the year, 32.1 percent of Miami's scoring, and 23 points, which is 31.5 percent of Miami's points.
CLOSE CONTESTS: All 12 of Miami's games this year have been decided by two goals or less -- Miami has never opened a season with 12 straight games decided by such a small margin. The RedHawks are 5-2 in one-goal games in 2011-12 but are 0-4 in two-goal games, two of which include an empty-net goal late. A key to the one-goal wins has been scoring first, something the `Hawks have done eight times this year, including all five wins. Miami won both games at Alaska (Nov. 4-5) and beat Michigan Nov. 11 by scoring just two goals, something it hadn't done since March 27, 2010, a 2-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville in the NCAA Tournament, as the `Hawks were 0-5-4 when scoring two goals or less last year.
OVERTIME ODDS `N ENDS: After tying all six overtime contests last year, Miami is 0-2-1 in its three extra-session games in 2011-12, including a 3-3 tie with No. 4/5 Michigan Nov. 12, which the RedHawks went on to earn the extra point as sophomore Bryon Paulazzo scored the game-winning goal in the shootout's fourth round, giving the `Hawks their first shootout win since Jan. 28, 2011 at Notre Dame. 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. The RedHawks then fell to Lake Superior Oct. 27, 3-2, in overtime.
STRONG SCHEDULE: Miami faces a tough schedule in 2011-12, including nine teams currently ranked in the USCHO.com Poll. The RedHawks earned their first win over a ranked team this year Nov. 11, beating then-No. 4/5 Michigan, 2-1, before tying 3-3 the next night. Miami also already split with Colgate, now No. 17, Oct. 14-15 and fell to then-No. 14 Ferris State (now No. 6) Oct. 21-22 and to then-No. 18 Lake Superior (now No. 12) Oct. 27-28 and still plays at No. 11 Denver Nov. 26. A total of seven CCHA teams are ranked, as the `Hawks play No. 7 Michigan again in February and No. 14 Ohio State and No. 20 Northern Michigan four times each. The `Hawks also face No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 10 Western Michigan twice each while also playing at LSSU later this year. Among teams Miami has already played, its opponents combined record is 37-26-8 (.577).
SHORT-HANDY: Not only has Miami been playing strong defense on the penalty kill lately, the RedHawks have been able to generate offense while a man down, as well. Miami has three short-handed goals on the year, which ties for third in the country, trailing only Boston University (5 SHG) and Providence (4 SHG). Senior Matt Tomassoni scored the game-winning goal Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State short-handed in the third period. Then on Oct. 28 against Lake Superior, Miami scored two shorties in the second period as senior Alden Hirschfeld and freshman Tyler Biggs each found the net a man short, with Biggs' the first goal of his career. It marked the first time the `Hawks scored two short-handed goals in the same game since Jan. 14, 2011 against Bowling Green when Hirschfeld and junior Reilly Smith each scored a man down.
HIRSCHFELD'S HELPERS: Senior forward and co-captain Alden Hirschfeld tallied an assist in each of Miami's first four games this year. He also added an assist Oct. 27 against Lake Superior and scored a goal in his next two games. He has a point in seven of 12 games this year with his five assists tying for the team lead. By being held pointless Oct. 21 at Ferris State, his career-long seven-game point streak dating back to last season was snapped but he has points streaks of four games and three games this season.
FIRST TIME FOR FRESHMEN: In Miami's game against Lake Superior Oct. 28, two RedHawks scored their first career goal as Tyler Biggs (short-handed) and Blake Coleman (unassisted) each found the net for the first time. At Colgate Oct. 14, 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. The next night, Czarnik and 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. Mullin tallied his first career assist Nov. 5 on the game-winning goal at Alaska.
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 then scored two goals and had three points Nov. 12 vs. Michigan and now has 11 multi-goal games for his career, which leads active RedHawks. Smith, who is tied for third in the CCHA with seven goals and is 17th nationally averaging 0.70 goals per game, 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).
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 48 career wins rank third, as he needs seven more to tie for second in Miami history and 13 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, and sits 10th on Miami's career saves list with 1,672. Reichard and Knapp currently rank second and fourth, respectively, in career save percentage (.915, .910) and second and third in career GAA (2.04, 2.10).
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.
INTERMISSION ENTERTAINMENT: Exhibiting Friday evening is the Miami University Varsity Junior Synchronized Skating Team. This team is made up of mostly first year students and three sophomores hailing from eleven different states. They will be making their competitive debut at the Dr. Richard Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich. Dec. 2-4, 2011. They will be skating their competitive short program to the music of Jennifer Lopez and the Pussycat Dolls.
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