Monthly Archives: October 2008
>Buckeyes Stifle RedHawks in First CCHA Shootout
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Well sports fans, we knew we’d be in for a bumpy ride the first few weeks…months, maybe of this 2008-2009 season, and tonight, was bumpy. BUT…no cause for concern just yet…it’s only game one.
After falling down 0-2 at the end of the first period, the RedHawks were off to a slow start, but gained more momentum as the night went on. In a very exciting hockey game…Miami simply kept fighting.
“It was a really good hockey game,” said Miami head-man Enrico Blasi. “Ohio State has much better speed up front and (Joseph) Palmer played great tonight. I think we got better as the game went on and were fortunate to get that five-on-three and a goal out of it. All night the five-on-five hockey game was exciting.”
Miami would tie the game in the second and then again in the third, forcing a 5 minute overtime period. Neither team could bury the puck post-regulation, so the stalemate continued and the CCHA would see it’s first ever shootout take place from Value City Arena…a shootout the Buckeyes won 3-1.
“It doesn’t feel like a loss because we got a point,” Blasi said. “We just need to keep getting contribution from our older guys while the younger guys get more experience.”
Happy about his team’s win, OSU Head Coach John Markell certainly didn’t expect to see a shootout so soon.
“The shootout was exciting for the fans. I didn’t expect it this early in the season. The win in the shootout was important for us because last year we lost to them in a shootout situation. I was excited for the young guys to get some payback.”
OSU received solid play from junior goaltender Joseph Palmer all evening…and after the game he offered his take on the post-OT action…as well as his thoughts on beating Miami.
“It is a great way to start off the season, said Palmer. “You’re nervous about how the shootout is going to affect you during the season and fortunately for us we got the win tonight.” It (the win) feels good. Miami is always going to play hard no matter when or where. Games against Miami are always fun.”
Not a bad showing from the RedHawks for game one, but certainly not their best. Nine penalties on the night…three alone on Andy Miele. Need to stay out of the box fellas. Could have been worse though, I suppose. Ohio State was tagged for twelve calls. Game two of the match-up tomorrow night in Oxford. The game will be broadcast on ONN…faceoff, set for 7:05pm.
Breaking it Down:
Miami Goals:
– Carter Camper (Jarod Palmer, Chris Wideman)
– Justin Vaive (Brian Kaufman, Alex Lacombe)
– Jarod Palmer (Chris Wideman, Carter Camper)
Between the Pipes:
Cody Reichard
26 Saves, 3 Goals Against
(Quotes courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com)
>On This Date In Miami Hockey History…
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October 10, 2003
Miami tallies five goals in the third period as it soundly defeats number two Michigan, 8-3. This is the largest margin of victory in school history against U of M. Derek Edwardson recorded his second career hat-trick in the contest.
>TIME CHANGE: Miami vs. RPI
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Word is beginning to spread that the game time for Miami/RPI on 12/14/2008 has been changed to accommodate the game’s broadcast on ESPNU. It will now begin at 4:05pm.
Once again, the Miami/RPI game scheduled for December 14 will now begin one hour earlier, at 4:05pm.
>USCHO Ranks Miami…Yes, 4th.
>Paula C. Weston and the folks over at USCHO have published their CCHA Season Preview late Thursday night. In it, Miami is ranked fourth in the CCHA. In addition to the usual suspects at the top, Weston has this to say about the RedHawks:
2008-09 predicted ceiling/basement: first/fourth
Necessary repetition: “We feel real good about our team,” says Enrico Blasi, the CCHA’s new master of understatement. Sure, the RedHawks parted ways with highlight-reel players, but the gents who remain are very photogenic.
And just for kicks…I had to include this too.
While the two-ref system and the new shootouts will undoubtedly impact the 2008-09 CCHA season in yet unpredictable ways, there’s one thing that everyone can count on: Northern Michigan will be playing for a national championship!
Um, that is, if Miami doesn’t head to the title game.
You see, the Wildcats were picked fourth in the CCHA preseason coaches poll, while the RedHawks were tabbed for fourth place by the media. Given the last two NCAA tournaments, one of these teams will be playing Boston College for the national championship in April.
Miami in the National Championship? I’d go for that. But Northern Michigan? Oh Paula…yet another offseason hath not changed your idiosyncratic ways.
>CBC Features Ryan Jones
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CBC.ca has published a great article on Ryan Jones’ journey to the NHL. In it, he discusses what inspired him to continue hockey, his shoulder surgery over the summer, and many other topics.
It’s one of the best articles I’ve read in a long time. They do, however, mention that Jones is a cousin of New York Islanders great John Tonelli. In actuality, Jones is the nephew of Tonelli.
You can find it at this link.
>Spinell "Intimidating…Physical"
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Elite Prospects Hockey has a great article on Steve Spinell, coming to the RedHawks hockey program in 2009.
Check it out here.
>Reading Between the Lines
>This article, from the Dayton Daily News, has some interesting qyotes from Miami players and coaching staff. I’ll provide the lines…head on over to the DDN web site to read the rest of the article:
“I can tell you one thing, we’ll probably be a lot better in January than we are right now.”
“It’s a work in progress, but we feel we have a very talented group.
– Rico
“It’s going to be a tough year, I can feel it. We’re going to have a bit of a learning curve. We may get off on a bumpy road, but we have an exceptional coaching staff.”
– Jarod Palmer
Discuss: Is anyone worried/concerned about our inexperience this season? I especially like the line from Rico about “being better in January than we are now,” as I think this team still has a lot of “gelling” to do. Let’s just hope we play well enough in the fall, to play well enough in March and April.
>Ganzak Released By B-Sens
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“Sharp on the Sens”, the official Binghamton Senators blog, is reporting that the team has released defenseman Mitch Ganzak.
Check it out here.
>Wednesday Tidbits
>- Today’s Miami Memory is a Goggin classic. Alec Martinez’ OT goal against the Western Michigan Broncos to send the RedHawks to Detroit and close out Goggin Ice Arena. You can view it at this link. Listening to Dave Allen’s call of the final goal gives me the chills…boy, do I miss that place.
– Justin Mercier has been named to the Inside College Hockey preseason All-American third team. No other RedHawks were listed on either the first, second, third or rookie team. Yikes.
– Former RedHawk Joe Cooper, signed with the Toronto Marlies, has been assigned to the Reading Royals of the ECHL.
– CollegeHockeyNews has released their CCHA season preview. The CHN staffers have the RedHawks finishing in third place.
With two unproven netminders and a young and inexperienced defense, Miami will have a hard time closing out games in a grueling conference.
– Ohio State has some “pre-Miami” audio/video on prepping for the RedHawks this weekend. Here, they have an interview with Defenseman Shane Simms, Captain Zach Pelletier, and Head Coach John Markell. Check it out to see the Bucks’ take on playing one of their in-state rivals. Pelletier sounds pretty confident that OSU can handle the ‘Hawks come this weekend.
– The Buckeyes have also released their game notes for the weekend series. Those can be found at this link and a game preview from the Columbus Dispatch, can be found here.
– AND…one final note. Photos from the Have Fun Play Hockey clinic from Tuesday night have been posted. Check them out here.
>Zatkoff to Play for Ontario Reign
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The Manchester Monarchs have assigned former RedHawk standout goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.
I must say I’m surprised to see this move, as I thought Jonathan Bernier would have been playing with the Kings in net this season, but with Bernier’s assignment to the AHL, and Jonathan Quick also in Manchester, Zatkoff wouldn’t have gotten much playing time in all probability.
Is this the right move for the Kings and Zatkoff’s development? Is Zats too good for the ECHL? What do you think?
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