Get over your New Year’s hangovers, ladies and gentlemen. IT’S HOCKEY TIME AGAIN!!!!

While the Redskin Warriors were busy feasting on some football bowl games, delicious Christmas dinners, and partying way to hard on New Years, but we’re back in the groove now, and ready to rock the second half of the RedHawks’ season.

Austin Czarnik plays in the U-18 WJC in Canada
Austin Czarnik was named Team USA’s Best Three Players of the World Junior Championship in Canada. Czarnik had 3 points in the tournament opener (1-2–3) against Denmark, and was featured by the NHL Network and CBS College Sports’ Dave Starman in a special feature before the US’ loss to Finland last week.  Sweden won the WJC in an overtime thriller over Russia last night if you didn’t catch the game, and the US was 3-3 in the tournament, but did not make the medal round.  Have no fear – Czarnik will be back in red and white (minus the blue) Friday and Saturday in East Lansing.

Tommy Wingels was called back up to the San Jose Sharks, and Andy Miele made another appearance in Phoenix. 
Wingels came from the Worcester Sharks on 1/5/12, and has a 13-8–21 line in 29 games this season.  Tommy had 4 goals, 2 assists and a +6 rating during the week ending 12/18/11, and was named AHL Player of the Week for his efforts.  Wingles likely takes the place of the Sharks injured Colin White, who is on IR.  He has recoorded 10 shots, 1 assist and 4 penalty minutes in his previous 4 games with the NHL club this season.  Tommy has since been sent back to Worcester. He played over 10 minutes against the Blue Jackets on 1/5/12, and registered just 1 shot.

Miele was called back up on December 27th. He has played 24 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL), and was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month for November (4-9–13 points in 10 games in November) and earned a spot on the AHL Eastern Conference’s All-Star Team.  In his previous stint with the big club, Miele played 5 games and collected 4 penalty minutes, but no points.  If you’re in the Providence area, Andy faces off against the Providence Bruins and former classmate Carter Camper tonight as he returns to AHL action.

Kevyn Adams to be inducted to Miami Hall of Fame on February 11
Kevyn Adams, Miami’s 4th leading scorer all time with 172 points and a lenghty NHL career, will join the Miami Hall of Fame on February 11.  Adams scored 69 goals, 103 assists and was a CCHA All-Rookie Team member, hit the 2nd Team All-CCHA squad in 94-95, and signed redhawk95’s #10 Miami jersey in a now-infamous visit to Oxford several years ago. Adams’ good looks are rivaled only by redhawk95, and for it, Kevyn bought the table a pitcher of beer.

That’s myself, some guy who was stealing our “Kevyn Adams beer” (Hi A.S.!!!), and redhawk95 from left to right.

Adams is also one of just 2 Miami Redskins/RedHawks to have his name enscribed on the Stanley Cup, having won the cup with the Carolina Hurricanes (now the Winnipeg Jets) in 2006.  The induction will take place at the Miami Men’s Basketball game on February 11 at 3:30pm, and Adams is sure to head over to the Goggin for the 7:05 puck drop against Alabama-Huntsville.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: RedHawks travel to East Lansing for 2-game set against Michigan State
Michigan State (the “consensus No. 15 team in the country” per MSUSpartans.com) starts a 6 game homestand with this weekend’s series, and they come off of a runner up finish in the Great Lakes Invitational last weekend. MSU beat Michigan Tech in the semifinals of the 4-team tournament, and allowed a game-winner 3:22 into overtime against Michigan last Friday night in the championship game.

MSU is led by former CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos, and are currently tied for 6th in the topsy-turvy CCHA standings. Michgan State is 6-5-1 in the CCHA and 11-7-2 overall.  The Spartans have at least 2 games in hand on each of the other 10 teams in the league though, and will look to climb up those standings quickly in 2012.

It’s been a long time off for the Hawks, as they have not played since losing to the second-ranked Ohio State University in overtime on December 10th.  After the month off, it will be interesting to see how the Hawks fare as they start the second half, or if the Rico Swoon will be of the season-long variety this year.  Miami finished the first half losing 3 of 4 games, and looks to make a turnaround in the second half after a disappointing start of the season.

Reilly Smith is still leading the way for the RedHawks, tallying 12 goals and 5 assists. Czarnik, who will be back from Canada in time for the game Friday night, has 7 goals and 9 assists and also leads the team with a +7 rating.  Captain Alden Hirschfeld is the only other ‘Hawk in double digits with 5 goals and 9 assists.  No other ‘Hawks were in action over the break with any international teams, so look for a slow start on Friday night and a better effort Saturday.

MSU will likely send out Drew Palmisano to keep the net clear of RedHawk shots in both contests.  Last year, Palmisano led MSU to a 7-4 victory on Friday night in East Lansing.  Miami’s head coach Enrico Blasi got medieval on the Hawks, only starting 20 skaters the next night, and the motivation worked, as Miami took a 4-0 victory Saturday night.  Look for the Reichard/Knapp rotation again for Miami, as both goalies  are healthy (as are all skaters, INCLUDING Cody Murphy, who starts Friday night!).

Fearless Predictions
MSU got a jump on the break and will rock us tonight, but we’ll come back strong Saturday night.
MSU 4-1 Friday, Miami 4-2 Saturday.

Enjoy the games, and Go RedHawks!