Monthly Archives: October 2011
2011-12 Season Preview: Ferris State
The Ferris State Bulldogs were a team of veterans in 2010-11. Much of that leadership is gone for the new season, and the ‘Dogs will hope for a fast recovery.
Last year, Ferris State won the first game in the CCHA Quarterfinal Round to arch-rival Western Michigan, but lost games 2 and 3 in Kalamazoo and did not make the NCAA tournament. Gone are Senior Goaltender Pat Nagle – netminder for 37 of FSU’s 41 games, and 3 of the top 4 scorers from a year ago in Zach Redmond, Mike Fillinger and Mike Embach. However, Travis Ouellette does return as the Bulldog’s top scorer, and will
Head Coach Bob Daniels (Michigan State class of 1982) will be celebrating his 20th year in Big Rapids. Daniels holds a 308-350-74 record in his 19 years, is 215-262-62 in CCHA play, and has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament just once.
Ferris State hosted the University Toronto in their season-opening exhibition and gave the Varsity Blues, well… the varsity blues, and whooped them 5-0. This past weekend, they traveled to St. Lawrence University where they beat the Saints 5-1 on Friday night and 4-2 on Saturday. In addition, Kyle Bonis was tabbed as the first week’s CCHA Offensive player of the week, with a 3-1–4 line on the weekend.
Picked to finish T-7th by the CCHA Media and 9th by the Coaches, this year’s Bulldogs team will make the long journey to Fairbanks, Alaska for a series against the Nanooks. Because of that, they get the “bonus games” and will have 4 out of conference series this year. They’ve already swept St. Lawrence, will host RPI and Colgate in Big Rapids, and will travel to the Catamount Cup where they will take on RIT and host Vermont on their holiday tournament trip.
Ferris State will join Northern Michigan, Alaska, Bowling Green and Lake Superior State in the reformed WCHA in a couple years, but for this year, will be fighting for a first round bye in the CCHA tournament with 7 freshmen on the roster.
Season Prediction:
If you’re planning on a trip to Big Rapids this year, make sure to stop in to Schuberg’s Bar and Grill – the home of the Pabst-Mosa (yes, you read that right) and the Schuburger (Green olives on your burger? Yes, please!). You can thank me later.
Cieling: 6th
Floor: 10th
Additional Coverage:
In Ferris State’s “Countdown to Faceoff” video series: Forwards, Defense, Goalies and Freshmen are featured.
Miami 5th in Latest USCHO Poll
After this weekend’s split with Bemidji State, Miami finds itself 5th in this week’s USCHO.com poll. Considering the number of freshmen on this team, and what we lost from last year, this feels like a much better spot for the RedHawks than the lofty preseason #1 or #2 that was bestowed in most polls.
This weekend, Miami travels to Hamilton, N.Y. to take on #21 Colgate, the freshly minted champions of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede who defeated Robert Morris and host Nebraska-Omaha over the weekend at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
Redskin Warriors will have a preview of the series available later in the week.
From the Archives
In order to understand where you’re at, you need to understand where you came from. In this instance, Roger Voisinet, a three-year Miami captain from 1968-1970 (well before the program reached varsity status, mind you) has provided some great photos and documents from “The Brotherhood’s” infancy. Check out a sample of these rare photos; really neat stuff for those who have followed the program for any length of time.
We hope to have an interview with Roger in the near future to hear his thoughts on his playing days and how he feels about the program’s success over the last decade. Enjoy, and thanks, Roger!
RedHawks Receive Rings and a Declaration
If you hadn’t seen, here are a few pictures of the freshly minted bling for the RedHawks for you. Last year’s CCHA Tournament Championship victory keeps paying dividends for the boys in red. The first two are of Brian Paulazzo’s ring, and the third is Pat Cannone’s, and each posted the pictures on their twitter feeds.
In addition, State Representative Tim Derickson is currently serving his second term with the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 53rd House District, which includes Oxford where he resides, and Representative Derickson earned a bachelor’s degree in administration and management from Miami. Representative Derickson’s office and the Ohio House of Representatives had some noble words about the CCHA Champions:
Honoring the Miami University hockey team as the 2011 CCHA Tournament Champion.
WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 129th General Assembly of Ohio are pleased to extend special recognition to the Miami University hockey team on winning the 2011 Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament Championship
Click this link for the full Declaration. Thanks to ADYonka for the link!
2011-12 Season Preview: Miami RedHawks Forwards
Over the next few days, we’ll preview the 2011-12 Miami RedHawks for you. We start with the Forwards today. Enjoy!
Returning stars (with Twitter handle, NHL Rights)
- Reilly Smith (@muckbro18, DAL) led the team in goals last year with 28, to go along with 26 assists. If it weren’t for 2 super-seniors, this guy is your MVP of the 2010-11 RedHawks. Reilly was a unanimous pick to the preseason First-Team All CCHA (9/27) after an outstanding sophomore campaign in which he led the CCHA in +/- rating at +27. He finished the year with several honors including First team all-CCHA, CCHA all-Tournament Team, College Hockey News Second-Team All-America and INCH Third-Team All-America. We are all hoping that Reilly’s scoring wasn’t inflated by Andy Miele’s presence last year and that he will carry over last year’s success into this year.
- Senior Co-Captain Alden Hirschfeld’s (@aldenhirschfeld, undrafted) 12 goals-14 assists — 26 total points line last year didn’t show much of the story. The kid scores big goals. Alden scored the game-winning goal in double overtime against Michigan in the Midwest Regional Final in 2010, and 1 each in NCAA tournament games against Denver (round of 16) and Bemidji State (Frozen Four) in 2009. Point totals have been 6, 14 and 26 in his first three years in Oxford. He netted two goals in Miami’s exhibition win over Windsor on Sunday.
- Trent Vogelhuber (@tvogelhuber, CBJ) and Curtis McKenzie (@muckbro16, DAL) will be counted on to mentor the 6 incoming Freshmen forwards.
2011-12 Rookies (Twitter handle, NHL Rights)
These guys are easily Miami’s best recruiting class ever. Scoring. Size. Speed. Scoring. Two-way ability. Toughness. Filthy hands. Did I mention scoring ability?
- Tyler Biggs (@Tyler_Biggs, TOR) Listed at 6’3″, 210 pounds, Tyler should make a great replacement for Justin Vaive and provide a much higher scoring punch. In the words of our friend, Miami Women’s Club Hockey Head Coach Scott Hicks: “He’s not as big as weber. He just provides a completely different dynamic than vaive. He is more of a playmaker with a scoring touch than just a goal scorer.” High praise for this youngster.
- Cody Murphy (n/a, undrafted) – Played for the Tri-City Storm last year, where he served as assistant captain, and recorded 25 points on 11 goals and 14 assists in 60 games.
- Jimmy Mullin (n/a, TB) – registered 3 shots in the exhibition. In his one season in the USHL, Jimmy played for the Fargo Force, scoring 60 points on 23 goals and 37 assists in 52 games as he was named first team All-USHL.
- Blake Coleman (@BColes25, NJD)- 13 shots on goal in the exhibition (6 in the first, 7 in the third). Blake will get on the scoring sheet, and should do so often. Blake played 59 games for the Indiana Ice last season, and had an incredible 92 points on 34 goals and 58 assists in being named the USHL’s Player of the Year.
- Austin Czarnik (n/a, undrafted) Considered a steal for the RedHawks, as he was originally committed to Michigan State, de-committed and came to Oxford. Let’s hope he stays a few years. His speed and determination will be gamechangers for Miami as we battle east coast squads and move into the NCHC over the coming years.
- Alex Wideman (@awides10, undrafted) Under-sized, but according to some, has possibly the most upside of all the incoming forwards. His speed and savvy will be an asset as he could have the best overall career of any of this freshman class.
Key Losses
- Pat Cannone. Third leading scorer at 14-23–37 in 2010-11, and someone who scored 30 or more points EACH of his 4 years in Oxford totaling 133 career points. Sure the next two guys are hard to swallow, but this one is equally as hard.
- Some other guy named Carter Camper. 19-38–57 in 2010-11, 4o+ points per season (41, 42, 43, 57). Captain. ‘Nuff said.
- Oh yeah… I think I forgot someone… Hobey Baker Award Winner Andy Miele… 24 Goals, 47 Assists. 71 total points last season and 170 career points as a ‘Hawk. Gone. Poof.
Total scoring lost: 5 seniors (Cannone, Camper, Miele, Justin Vaive 9-7–16, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde 2-7–9), 70-122–192. 48% of goals scored last year. A total of 523 total points out of 4 guys over 4 seasons. Makes you think back to the amazing times we’ve enjoyed in the Goggin since 2007.
Predictions
Well, let’s not get too excited, but I don’t think the RedHawks will lose much production on offense. These guys are more than capable of picking up the slack where the 4 departing seniors left things after last year. The Media and Coaches seem to think the same, picking Miami #2 in the CCHA preseason polls and #1/2 in the National Polls, and you can’t do that unless you’re expected to reload.
The gun’s loaded and cocked. Let’s see how things shake down on Friday night!!! 3 days left until Regular Season HOCKEY!!!
CCHA 2011-12 Preseason Poll
The CCHA media and coaches have spoken, and we agree with them. Notre Dame is our unanimous pick to win the CCHA regular season title with Miami extending its run of never finishing outside the top 4 in the current playoff format (hear: earning a first round bye) in the runner up position. In fact, Miami is the only school to have never played a first round match-up under the current tournament format.
Here are the results of our 2011-12 CCHA Poll (last season’s finish in parenthesis).
1. Notre Dame (2)
2. Miami (3) – Defending Mason Cup (tournament) Champions
3. Michigan (1)
4. Western Michigan (4)
5. Alaska (7)
6. Michigan State (10)
7. Ferris State (5)
8. Lake Superior (8)
9. Ohio State (9)
10. Northern Michigan (6)
11. Bowling Green (11)
Miami tops Windsor 4-1
In their only exhibition tune-up before the puck drops for real next weekend, the Miami RedHawks got two goals from “Awesome” Alden Hirschfeld and defeated the Windsor Lancers 4-1 at Steve Cady Arena.
Hirschfeld got his final season in a Miami uniform off to a fast start, and along with classmate Matt Tomassoni and junior Curtis McKenzie, provided all the offense senior goaltenders Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp would need as the RedHawks outshot Windsor 51-13.
Miami went 2 for 5 on the powerplay and surrendered one goal in six shorthanded situations as the game featured 21 penalties for 48 minutes. One night earlier, the Lancers skated to a 6-5 loss in Columbus as their game with the Buckeyes was also a chippy affair for the visitors from Canada who play their hockey in the Ontario University Athletics Conference.
The RedHawks skated without top returning goal scorer, Reilly Smith, but were able to overcome his absence in dominating lesser competition. If Smith is out for an extended period, Hirschfeld and the other upperclassmen will have to shoulder the load until his return.
Next weekend, Miami skates for real against Bemidji State of the WCHA in the first two regular season games of the year. We’ll have a season preview for the RedHawks as well as a weekend preview posted later in the week.
MURedHawks.com has a game recap HERE.
Notre Dame Announcement Expected Wednesday
As we first reported last week, Notre Dame will make an official announcement Wednesday, October 5 on its future conference affiliation, widely expected to be Hockey East. The South Bend Tribune is reporting along with the NCHC’s announcement today the 2013-14 season will be played with eight schools (Miami, North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado College, Western Michigan, St. Cloud State, Denver and Nebraska-Omaha), Notre Dame’s destination appears set.
The only other loose end is whether RPI is invited as the 12th member of Hockey East as our source close to the situation indicated last week.
We’ll continue to update the story as we learn more.
Michigan’s Merrill Suspended
USCHO is reporting Michigan sophomore defenseman Jon Merrill has been suspended 12 games including exhibition contests for violating team rules.
Merrill was expected to contribute at a high level and carry the Wolverines on the blueline as they work to replace the potent scoring they lost with the departures of seniors Carl “That Miele Guy” Hagelin and Louis Caporusso.
The suspension must have been for something grave because 12 games is roughly a third of the regular season and Merrill is expected to have a big sophomore campaign. He’s already been named to the CCHA preseason team and a leader on head coach Red Berenson’s 2011-12 squad.
Merrill will be eligible to return from his suspension on Friday, November 11 against, wait for it, Miami in Oxford. Figures.
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