Four RedHawks Land on Preseason All-CCHA Teams
9/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Sept. 27, 2011
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Senior goaltender Cody Reichard and junior forward Reilly Smith were both tabbed to the Preseason All-CCHA First Team while two other members of the Miami University hockey team garnered preseason second-team honors, as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced the preseason all-league teams Tuesday. Seniors Will Weber and Chris Wideman made up the defensive duo on the Preseason All-CCHA Second Team.
The four RedHawks selected to the preseason all-conference teams were the most among any school as no other team landed more than two players on either of the teams. Notre Dame placed a pair of forwards on the First Team while Michigan had one player on each team. Reichard received Preseason All-CCHA First Team honors for the second straight year while Wideman also earned preseason accolades for the second straight year. It is the first preseason selection for both Smith and Weber.
Smith (Mimico, Ont.) was one of two unanimous selections on the Preseason First Team after garnering First-Team All-CCHA honors last year. He led the CCHA and tied for fourth nationally with 28 goals in 2010-11 and is the leading returning goal scorer in the nation entering this season. Smith finished the year with 54 points, which was third on the team, while leading the league with a +27 rating. In league play, he totaled 38 points, which was third, while ranking first with 21 goals. Smith received Second-Team All-America honors from College Hockey News and Third-Team accolades from INCH in 2010-11, as well.
Reichard (Celina, Ohio), the 2010 CCHA Player of the Year and a First-Team All-CCHA honoree, earned Honorable Mention All-CCHA last year when he compiled a 15-5-2 record with a 2.05 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. His GAA ranked eighth nationally while he pitched three shutouts, all in league play, during the season. Reichard was an AHCA Second-Team West All-American in 2010 and garnered All-CCHA Tournament Team honors in 2011 after leading the RedHawks to their first Mason Cup. In league play in 2010-11, Reichard posted a 2.04 GAA and a .914 save percentage while going 9-4-2.
Weber (Gaylord, Mich.), a co-captain for the RedHawks in 2011-12, was named to the 2011 All-CCHA Tournament Team after leading Miami to its first Mason Cup. An assistant captain in 2010-11, he played in 33 games while notching 11 points on one goal and 10 assists, with the goal and six helpers coming in CCHA action. The bruising defenseman finished with a +7 rating while blocking 36 shots last year, which was second on the team.
Wideman (St. Louis, Mo.), who was a Preseason First-Team All-CCHA selection last year, ended the season receiving Second-Team All-CCHA plaudits. He was Miami's top scoring defenseman last year, tallying 23 points on three goals and 20 assists while playing in all 39 games. He finished with a +8 rating while ranking fourth on the team with 33 blocked shots. In league play, Wideman totaled 18 points on two goals and 16 assists.
Notre Dame sophomore forward T.J. Tynan was the other unanimous selection on the Preseason First Team while Irish classmate Anders Lee was the third forward on the squad. Michigan State's Torey Krug and Michigan's Jon Merrill rounded out the First Team on defense.
Miami opens the regular season at home Oct. 7-8 when it hosts Bemidji State at Steve Cady Arena. The RedHawks will first play an exhibition game against Windsor on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m.
PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Forward, Reilly Smith, JR, Miami
Forward, T.J. Tynan, SO, Notre Dame
Forward, Anders Lee, SO, Notre Dame
Defense, Torey Krug, JR, Michigan State
Defense, Jon Merrill, SO, Michigan
Goaltender, Cody Reichard, SR, Miami
PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Forward, Chase Balisy, SO, Western Michigan
Forward, Tyler Gron, SR, Northern Michigan
Forward, David Wohlberg, SR, Michigan
Defense, Chris Wideman, SR, Miami
Defense, Will Weber, SR, Miami
Goaltender, Scott Greenham, SR, Alaska
--MURedHawks.com--
