Hockey Opens 2012 at No. 15 Michigan State
1/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Jan. 4, 2012
THE GAME
After an up-and-down first half of the season, Miami (9-9-2, 5-7-2-1 CCHA) begins 2012 on the road as the RedHawks return to the ice after a 26-day layoff. Miami travels to East Lansing, Mich. for a two-game CCHA series with No. 15/15 Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena. Both games are set for 7:05 p.m.
The RedHawks, who sit in ninth place in the CCHA, last played Dec. 9-10 in a home-and-home series with then-No. 4/4 Ohio State. Miami snapped the Buckeyes' nine-game winning streak in Columbus Dec. 9 with a 5-3 victory as the 'Hawks earned the 600th win in program history. Five different RedHawks scored goals, including three freshmen for the first time all season (Austin Czarnik, Blake Coleman and Jimmy Mullin). Mullin also added an assist while junior Reilly Smith dished out two helpers and sophomore Bryon Paulazzo had a goal and an assist. On Dec. 10 in Oxford, Smith put Miami ahead in the third period but OSU tied it and won in overtime, 3-2, handing the 'Hawks their third overtime loss. Smith paces Miami with 12 goals (second in the CCHA) and 17 points while Czarnik has 16 points and is tied with senior Alden Hirschfeld for the team lead with nine assists.
Michigan State (11-7-2, 6-5-1-1 CCHA), tied for sixth in the CCHA, two points ahead of Miami, returns to CCHA action after a runner-up showing at the Great Lakes Invitational Dec. 29-30 in Detroit, Mich. The Spartans topped Michigan Tech, 3-1, in the first game but fell to in-state rival Michigan, 3-2, in overtime in the title game. Senior goalie Drew Palmisano made 45 saves in each game, as he, along with Brett Perlini and Torey Krug were named All-Tournament. Palmisano also earned CCHA Goalie of the Week. MSU is 6-1-2 at home this year but just 1-2-1 in its last four games as the Spartans lost and tied the Wolverines Dec. 9-10 in a home-and-home series. MSU has the top penalty kill in league play (90.2 percent) and is second offensively in CCHA action (3.17 gpg). Lee Reimer leads the charge with eight goals, 15 assists and 23 points. Mike Merrifield also has eight goals to tie for the team lead.
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 271-178-48 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.
Tom Anastos (Michigan State '87) is in his first season at the helm of Michigan State, leading his alma mater to an 11-7-2 mark. Prior to taking over at MSU, he served as commissioner of the CCHA for 13 years, overseeing the conference in which he now coaches. He previously coached the Spartans as an assistant for two years from 1990-92, helping them reach the 1992 Frozen Four. Anastos played for MSU from 1981-85, helping guide them to CCHA Tournament titles each year.
THE SERIES
The Spartans hold a 68-27-5 lead in the all-time series with Miami, including 36-15-2 in East Lansing. The 'Hawks have won eight of the last 12 however going back to 2007, including five of the last six at MSU. The teams have split the last three regular-season series, including last year in East Lansing -- a 7-4 MSU win and a 4-0 Miami win. Miami head coach Enrico Blasi is 15-20-0 against the Spartans.
QUICK HITS
- Michigan State is the sixth ranked team Miami has faced this year. The RedHawks are 3-5-1 against ranked teams this season but 3-1-1 against top-10 teams with the other four losses coming at the hands of No. 14 Ferris State and No. 18 Lake Superior. Miami's wins are against No. 4/5 Michigan Nov. 11, No. 9/10 Denver Nov. 26 and No. 4/4 Ohio State Dec. 9.
- Freshman forward Austin Czarnik will rejoin the RedHawks this weekend after representing the U.S. at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta, Canada over the last two weeks. While playing for Team USA, he totaled two goals and had a pair of assists in six games.
- Two of Miami's top three goal-scorers are freshmen in Austin Czarnik (seven) and Blake Coleman (six). In all, freshmen have accounted for 38.2 percent (21 of 55) of Miami's goals and 31.5 percent (45 of 143) of Miami's points.
- Miami has scored first in 13 of its 20 games and is 8-4-1 in those contests. The 'Hawks are just 1-5-1 when scored on first with the lone win coming at No. 9/10 Denver Nov. 26. Of Miami's 20 games, 17 have been decided by two goals or less with the 'Hawks going 7-8-2 in those games.
UP NEXT
Miami remains on the road next weekend as it continues CCHA play at No. 18 Lake Superior State Jan. 13-14 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Friday's game begins at 7:35 p.m. ET while Saturday's contest is set for 7:05 p.m. ET. LSSU swept the 'Hawks in Oxford Oct. 27-28 with 3-2 (OT) and 5-3 wins.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Neither game this weekend will be televised. Friday's game will be aired on WKBV-AM (1490) out of Richmond, Ind. Both games this weekend will have live audio available on MURedHawks.com through the All-Access subscription package with Greg Waddell on the call.
FROM RED AND WHITE TO RED, WHITE & BLUE: Freshman forward Austin Czarnik was one of 22 players named to the U.S. National Junior Team for the World Junior Championship, which took place from Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 4, 2012 in Alberta, Canada. While playing for Team USA, he tallied two goals and two assists in six games and was named one of the top three players of the tournament for Team USA.
DISTINGUISHED DEFENSEMEN: Junior defenseman Steven Spinell was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week for the week of Dec. 5-11 after helping Miami's penalty kill go 10-for-11 in a split with No. 4/4 Ohio State while assisting on Miami's game-winning goal. He was also +4 in Miami's win over OSU Dec. 9 and blocked five shots on the weekend to earn his first CCHA honor. Senior defenseman Chris Wideman also earned CCHA Defenseman of the Week for the week of Nov. 14-20. He dished out three assists in a win and a tie against Bowling Green. He also helped Miami pitch its first shutout of the year Nov. 18. Wideman posted a +4 rating on the weekend, as well. It was his third career CCHA Defenseman of the Week award but first this year.
FANTASTIC FROSH: Miami's freshman forwards have been contributing greatly on offense this year, as three different freshmen scored in a win vs. Ohio State Dec. 9 -- the first time that's happened this year. They've also been winning awards as Austin Czarnik was named CCHA Rookie of the Week twice in November becoming the first CCHA freshman to win it twice this year, while also claiming CCHA Rookie of the Month for November. He first won it Nov. 14 after notching a career-high three points Nov. 12 in a 3-3 tie with No. 4/5 Michigan and again Nov. 28 after a four-point weekend at the Denver Cup Classic. He was the second straight RedHawk to win the award Nov. 14 as Tyler Biggs was CCHA Rookie of the Week Nov. 7 after dishing out two assists at Alaska Nov. 4-5. Czarnik is second on the team with 16 points and seven goals and ties for the team lead with nine assists. The 16 points tie for first in the CCHA among freshmen and 17th among all CCHA players. Biggs, Blake Coleman and Jimmy Mullin are all tied for 13th among rookies with eight points. Czarnik is also 12th nationally among freshmen with 0.84 points per game while Biggs had a five-game point streak (10/27 to 11/11), the longest by a RedHawk this year. Biggs, Czarnik, Coleman, Mullin and Alex Wideman have combined for 21 goals on the year, 38.2 percent of Miami's scoring, and 45 points, which is 31.5 percent of Miami's points.
SHORT-HANDY: Miami has five short-handed goals on the year, which is fifth in the country, trailing only Boston University (8 SHG), Colgate and Minnesota State (7 SHG) and Providence (6 SHG). Senior Matt Tomassoni has two of Miami's shorties despite scoring just three goals all year. His latest came Dec. 9 in a win at Ohio State while he also scored the game-winning goal Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State short-handed in the third period. He is tied for the CCHA lead and fourth nationally in scoring short-handed. 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 current junior Reilly Smith each scored a man down. Freshman Austin Czarnik added another shorty Dec. 3 at Northern Michigan as he and Tomassoni gave Miami short-handed goals in back-to-back games.
OVERTIME ODDS 'N ENDS: After tying all six overtime contests last year, Miami is 0-3-2 in its five 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. The 'Hawks lost their other shootout Nov. 19 after a 4-4 tie with Bowling Green. 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 and Ohio State Dec. 10, both by 3-2 scores at home in overtime. The OT goals by Colgate and LSSU both came on the power play while OSU's was right after a power play ended.
MIAMI REACHES 600: With a 5-3 win at Ohio State Dec. 9, Miami earned its 600th win in program history and sits at 600-592-102 all-time. With a 4-1 win over Maine Dec. 29, 2010, Miami moved its all-time record over .500 for the first time since Nov. 9, 1984 when Miami was 110-109-9. The RedHawks improved to 579-578-97 with the victory. Miami hockey became a varsity sport for the 1978-79 season.
CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN: Junior forward Reilly Smith became Miami's third captain in 2011-12, being given the "C" on Dec. 5. He joins senior forward Alden Hirschfeld and senior defenseman Will Weber, who were named co-captains for Miami at the start of the 2011-12 season. Both Hirschfeld and Weber were assistant captains on the 2010-11 squad. Hirschfeld has now played in 113 career games, with his 100th game as a RedHawk coming Oct. 27 against Lake Superior State, while Weber has suited up for 134 career contests, as each has played in all 20 games this season. Smith has appeared in exactly 100 career games after playing Ohio State Dec. 10.
A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER: The month of November was very good to the RedHawks as Miami went 6-0-2 during the month while the RedHawks swept all three CCHA monthly awards. Junior forward Reilly Smith was named CCHA RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month, his first such award, as he had a league-best seven goals in the month and totaled nine points. He averaged 1.12 points per game with two multi-goal games, three multi-point contests and a +4 rating. Freshman forward Austin Czarnik claimed CCHA Gongshow© Rookie of the Month after leading all CCHA players with 10 points in seven games in November. He averaged 1.43 points per game with three goals and seven assists. Czarnik posted four multi-point games, had a +5 rating and was twice named CCHA Rookie of the Week in November. Senior goalie Cody Reichard won CCHA Gongshow© Goaltender of the Month, going 5-0-2 with a 1.68 GAA, a .932 save percentage and one shutout in November. Miami had players claim CCHA Player and Rookie of the Month in the same month for the first time since October 2007 when Justin Mercier was Player of the Month and Carter Camper was Rookie of the Month. This is the first year the CCHA has awarded a Goaltender of the Month.
REILLY RAKING IN THE HARDWARE: After earning several postseason awards last year, junior forward Reilly Smith continues to pick up honors this season. In addition to his CCHA Player of the Month for November, he was named CCHA Player of the Week for the second time this year Nov. 28 after scoring three goals and earning MVP at the Denver Cup Classic. It was his fourth career CCHA weekly honor, as he became the first player this year to win CCHA Player of the Week twice. He tallied his second career hat trick Oct. 14 at Colgate in his first game of the season to lead Miami to the win, which earned him his first CCHA Player of the Week honor Oct. 17. 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. He also scored two goals Nov. 12 vs. Michigan and two goals Nov. 26 at Denver, giving him 12 multi-goal games for his career, which leads active RedHawks. Smith, who is second in the CCHA with 12 goals and is tied for 10th nationally averaging 0.67 goals per game, was 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 was also second among returning point-scorers after totaling 54 points a year ago, which tied for seventh in the country en route to earning First-Team All-CCHA and All-America honors from College Hockey News (Second Team) and Inside College Hockey (Third Team).
CLOSE CONTESTS: Of Miami's 20 games this year, 17 have been decided by two goals or less, including each of the first 12 as Miami has never opened a season with 12 straight games decided by such a small margin. The lone games not decided by two goals or less were a 4-0 win over Bowling Green Nov. 18, a 6-2 win vs. Providence Nov. 25 and a 5-1 loss at Northern Michigan Dec. 3. The RedHawks are 5-4 in one-goal games in 2011-12 but are just 2-4 in two-goal games, two of which include an empty-net goal late, while Miami also has two ties. Miami won both games at Alaska (Nov. 4-5) and beat Michigan Nov. 11 by scoring just two goals (all 2-1), 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.
SCORING EARLY AND OFTEN: Miami has scored first in 13 of its 20 games this year, going 8-4-1 in those contests with Miami's only win when it didn't score first coming Nov. 26 at Denver but the 'Hawks still tied the game within the first five minutes. Miami has outscored its opponent 18-14 in the first period this year, scoring within the first 10 minutes of the game 10 times this year and five times within the first five minutes.
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. With a whitewash Nov. 18 vs. Bowling Green, Reichard now has 11 career shutouts, one shy of tying David Burleigh ('03) for Miami's career whitewashes record of 12. Reichard's 50 career wins rank third, as he needs five more to tie for second in Miami history and 11 victories to become Miami's all-time winningest goalie, surpassing Burleigh (60). With a win Dec. 9, Knapp moved into a tie for sixth in Miami history with 34 wins with Trevor Prior (1995-98). Reichard sits ninth on Miami's career saves list with 1,798. Reichard and Knapp currently rank second and fourth, respectively, in career save percentage (.913, .910) and second and third in career GAA (2.09, 2.10).
--MURedHawks.com--
