Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
USANTDP (Exhibition)
RedHawks Win Thriller Over USANTDP
10/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
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PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Two-goal outings from Grant Hutton and Gordie Green paced the Miami hockey team in an entertaining 7-5 win over the USA National Team Development Program in exhibition play on Friday night.
Six RedHawks posted multi-point games in the exhibition victory.
"I thought we played well in certain areas," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "That's a good team with a lot of skill. We took another step forward tonight."
The first 10 minutes of the frame zoomed by with only a couple whistles in the early going. Chase Munroe made a big point blank save on Jake Goldowski about four minutes in. Miami had a good rush as Phil Knies was fed for a shot in the slot that Jon Mor stopped, along with a follow up save on Alec Mahalak.
A loose puck found its way to the back door where Jack DeBoer put USA on the board with 9:18 gone by. Miami countered by getting a power play shortly thereafter. With the man advantage, Josh Melnick was fed down low at the right wing and threaded a backdoor feed to Grant Hutton, who blasted one in to tie it up with 8:34 left in the opening frame.
A @Tha_MelMan feed leads to a @granthutton5 goal!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/mkCUaR1bB5
- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 13, 2017
Miami used that goal to start to establish a strong possession game as it ultimately outshot USA 13-4 in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Red and White also got another power play, but were unable to grab a lead with it. It appeared that the score would remain tied going into the locker room all even, but Hutton flung a shot through traffic that found the net with 1.1 seconds left to make it 2-1 at the break on the back of his second tally of the period.
Scoring is so fun for @granthutton5, he did it again.#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/OIoqusDnGr
- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 13, 2017
An early Miami power play did not connect in the second period, but it kept its offense rolling all the same as Gordie Green pounced on a rebound and fired it into an open net with just 3:45 gone by in the middle stanza. Josh Melnick and Carson Meyer each drew assists on the tally.
Look what I found here! -@gordie_green (probably)#RiseUpRedHawks
Watch: https://t.co/udBzwxnIuD pic.twitter.com/1nFVm5KEy0- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 14, 2017
Ryan Siroky hustled to a loose puck at the USA blue line after a turnover and that made it a 4-1 game as he drove the net and scored. Officials did take a look to confirm that it crossed the line and the goal stood.
Drive the net and good things happen for @rsiroky24.#RiseUpRedHawks
Watch: https://t.co/udBzwxnIuD pic.twitter.com/vPkYTwSSyb- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 14, 2017
USA got goals from Jonathan Gruden at the 6:50 mark and Jake Pivonka then scored shorthanded to cut the Miami lead to 4-3 midway through the second. Another power play later came and went with the 4-3 score remaining intact.
A breakaway chance for Melnick was stopped by Mor and Team USA came right back and tied it up on a goal by Oliver Wahlstrom, leaving it a 4-4 game with 3:45 left in the middle frame. That tie lasted all of 30 seconds as Zach LaValle found a loose puck in the crease after Phil Knies threw the puck into that area to make it a 5-4 game after 40 minutes.
Jamming away, @zlav21 puts us back in front.
Watch: https://t.co/udBzwxnIuD#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/enUv3DpSeK- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 14, 2017
A rush up the ice by Miami was turned away by Mor and eventually USA went the other way and tied it up as DeBoer scored his second of the night on a backdoor feed with just 1:07 played in the frame.
Undeterred, the RedHawks bore down and regained the lead. Melnick forced a turnover at the blue line and despite losing his stick, kicked a pass to Green in the middle for a breakaway goal that made it 6-5 at the 6:04 mark of the period.
Who needs a stick when you have @Tha_MelMan? @gordie_green pots his 2nd.#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/JcL0ExqHGF
- The Brotherhood® (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 14, 2017
A penalty called on Miami shortly after the go ahead goal put the defense to the test and it was able to kill off the full two minutes. The RedHawks kept salting away time and stood tall during 6-on-5 play when Team USA pulled Mor for an extra skater. A dogged effort by Miami created a Carson Meyer empty net goal right before the horn to cap the scoring.
The RedHawks ended up with a 32-21 advantage in shots and went 1-for-6 on the power play while killing off both USA power plays. Chase Munroe made 16 saves in net for MU while Mor made 25 saves for USA. In addition to Green and Hutton's two-goal performances, Melnick (3 assists), Belpedio (2 assists), Knies (2 assists) and LaValle (1 goal, 1 assist) all finished with multiple points.
Miami continues its road stretch on Oct. 20 when it opens a two-game series at Maine. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
