Monthly Archives: January 2012
Wingels from Boyle
Former Miami captain Tommy Wingels scored his first NHL goal last night in his hometown of Chicago as the San Jose Sharks dropped a 4-3 decision to the Blackhawks. Wingels, who helped lead Miami to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances has 13 goals in 29 games for the Worcester Sharks this year. Last season, he netted 17 goals and 33 points for Worcester in 69 games, but in his 12th NHL game, he finally broke through off a rebound of a point blast by former Miami All-America defenseman Dan Boyle.
Congrats Tommy!
Here’s a link to the video at NHL.com
Miami to play an outdoor game?
According to an initial report by Andy Baggot and picked up by Chuck Schwartz at Bucky’s 5th Quarter, a Wisconsin sports blog, Miami could be tapped to play an outdoor game at Soldier Field as soon as next year as the University of Wisconsin is interested in going outdoors once again. The game could be part of a doubleheader with Wisconsin and Minnesota playing one half and Miami and Notre Dame the second.
Schwartz referenced the story by the Wisconsin State Journal’s hockey writer Andy Baggot that said Badgers head coach Mike Eaves was “intrigued” and that both Miami and Notre Dame had also been approached about the idea.
This would obviously be a big deal for Miami and being invited to such an outdoor “classic” would provide yet another big time recruiting tool and additional exposure for the program. Chicago is close enough to SW Ohio and has a huge Miami alumni base that we could see big numbers of RedHawk fans in the Windy City.
The reports provided the following rough details:
-The game would take place February 16, 2013.
-There could be a double header including a game that features Notre Dame and Miami. Both teams are currently in the CCHA, but Notre Dame will be moving to Hockey East after the 2013 season and Miami will be moving to the new NCHC after the 2013 season.
Both schools would be geographical fits for an outdoor game played in Chicago, especially obviously Notre Dame.
-Eaves is “absolutely” intrigued by the idea according to Baggot.
Additionally, with league series being two games each, the teams would have to play on Thursday night at the Kohl Center, with a day off before the proposed Saturday event at Soldier Field.
So, with that in mind, you would think this event would take a home game each from Notre Dame and Miami (to be fair) and would be an actual CCHA league series with one game at Wisconsin’s Kohl Center and the other outdoor at Soldier Field.
This could be very cool. I’m ready to purchase my plane ticket today!
Miami wins third straight, trips up #19 Lake Superior 2-1
Senior co-captain Alden Hirschfeld scored his 7th goal of the season and junior forward Reilly Smith notched his team-leading 14th as Miami used another strong performance in net by senior Connor Knapp to defeat the Lake Superior State Lakers 2-1 in Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The Lakers opened the scoring with an extra attacker powerplay goal late in the first period, but in a good sign, Miami was whistled for just four penalties as the penalty kill went 2-for-3 on the night. The goal was scored just after a delayed penalty was called against Miami and the Lakers converted with the extra skater as Miami could not gain control of the puck.
The RedHawks would tie the game at 1:13 of the second period as Hirschfeld found a loose puck and jammed it past Laker goaltender Kevin Kapalka and would take the lead a few minutes later when Reilly Smith scored on the powerplay at the 7:11 mark of the period.
Connor Knapp made 25 saves to collect his sixth win of the season and fourth consecutive. He has backstopped Miami’s past three games allowing just two goals and has made 79 saves (.975) lowering his goals against average to 2.04 and improving his save percentage to .922. Knapp is making a serious bid to take the reins and carry this team down the stretch.
Miami will go for their second consecutive weekend sweep tonight in the SOO. Faceoff is 7pm EST.
Notes:
– Miami outshot the Lakers 34-26 as the powerplay went 1-for-5 on the evening but could not convert on a 5-minute major when sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo was checked hard into the boards by Andrew McParland, who was awarded a game misconduct for his efforts.
– It seems head coach Enrico Blasi still has not committed to Connor Knapp over Cody Reichard though Knapp has been superb since the break. From Dayton Daily News’ writer Pete Conrad’s column yesterday,
Coach Enrico Blasi has no intention of committing to either Knapp or Cody Reichard as his starting goalie in Miami’s next game, national award or no national award.
“We’ve told both goalies the week of practice will determine who plays Friday and Friday’s game will determine who plays Saturday,” Blasi said, “and it’ll be that way for the rest of the year.”
– The official Redskin Warriors “light the lantern” after wins is picking up steam.
– Chris Wideman, Curtis McKenzie, Blake Coleman and Jimmy Mullin had the assists on Miami’s goals.
– With the win, Miami has moved into a tie for third place with Notre Dame in the CCHA standings, is 10th in KRACH and tied for 10th in the Pairwise.
– Miami now has five 2-1 wins this year and improved to 7-4 in games decided by one goal this season.
– The RedHawks have 13 regular season games remaining with nine in Oxford. At 12-9-2, Miami has a realistic shot of getting to 20 wins again this year which would be impressive given a 2-6 start.
Weekend Preview: Lake Superior State
Led by impeccable goaltending by Connor Knapp, the RedHawks swept their way to a great start to the second half of the season. This week, the ‘Hawks head further north into Michigan to take on Lake Superior State in the U.P. of Michigan. The matchup will be a great litmus test to see if LSSU is fo’ real, was last weekend’s sweep of Michigan State a fluke, and will the Rico Swoon will happen or not this season.
Miami will be without Freshman Forward Tyler Biggs this week, after Tyler was suspended for 2 games. In the 3rd period on Friday night in East Lansing, Tyler hit MSU defender Matt Grassi with a direct blow to the head. There was no penalty called on the play, but Grassi was out for the rest of the night, as well as Saturday night, and looks to be out this weekend as MSU hosts Northern Michigan. Expect Biggs to be back in the lineup next weekend in Oxford.
Miami sits 5th in the CCHA with 24 points, just 1 behind LSSU for 4th place, and only 3 points behind ND and Western Michigan who sit at 27 points and in a tie for second. With the league so closely matched, a sweep by Miami would be huge, and so would a sweep by LSSU. Miami is only 4 points ahead of 9th place Michigan State, so earning points this weekend is crucial to start gaining some separation from the bottom tier of the league, as well as to earn that first round bye in the CCHA tournament.
In addition to the usual slate of CCHA games this weekend (all teams but BGSU are in action this week, and all are in-conference games), keep an eye out for Sunday’s game between Michigan and Ohio State. This is the “Frozen Diamond Faceoff” and starts at 5:05 Eastern time. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio for those interested in seeing how ugly the jerseys can get hockey in a baseball stadium.
Lake Superior’s Andrew Perrault Suspended One Game
Well, new CCHA commissioner Fred Pletsch is certainly laying down the law.
A day after Miami freshman forward Tyler Biggs was suspended for two games for delivering an elbow to the head of Michigan State’s Matt Grassi, Lake Superior sophomore defenseman Andrew Perrault was suspended for one game (Friday’s series opener against the RedHawks) for “delivering an illegal hit to the head of a University of Michigan player.”
Now the fun starts.
So, Biggs gets two games for contact to the head, but Perrault gets just one? If the CCHA is going to be so vague, there has to be some mention of why. I’m not saying Fred Pletsch should go all Brendan Shanahan, but this is disconcerting.
Miami loses one of its most talented young players for two games for contact to the head but the Lake player gets just one?
Yet again, it is what it is I guess.
Biggs Suspended for Lake Superior Series
Today the CCHA announced that Miami freshman forward Tyler Biggs has been suspended for two games for “delivering an illegal hit directly to the head of a Michigan State player.”
Though Biggs was not penalized on the play, I can only infer from the league’s cryptic statement that it most likely was an elbow to the head of Michigan State junior defenseman Matt Grassi that knocked him out of most of the third period on Friday and all of Saturday night’s game. It’s strange, however, that very little was made of this in the postgame on Friday or the postmortem delivered by MSU head coach Tom Anastos after Saturday’s 4-0 Miami victory. From TheStateNews.com:
Grassi took an apparent elbow to the face in the third period of Friday’s game, leading to a concussion that required “8-10 stitches.” Anastos said Grassi demonstrated concussion-like symptoms and is out indefinitely until he is cleared to play.
However, Anastos was not prepared to dismiss injuries as the reason why his team struggled this weekend.
“We don’t want to have any excuses for any reason,” Anastos said. “We have to play the game. Every team has injuries. Certainly our team is not a team that’s loaded with depth, you know. But you have to play over that. Like I said before, you have injuries, and it creates opportunities for others.”
So, it is what it is, I guess, but two games feels a little harsh. It’s certainly too bad that Grassi is injured, but it’s also surprising that no penalty was called on the play.
Regardless, Biggs is out of the lineup for Miami’s big series against Lake Superior State in the SOO. Currently, Miami is just one point behind the Lakers in the CCHA standings and the RedHawks would like nothing more than to sweep them in their barn and turn the tables on the Laker sweep of the October series in Oxford. And, a Miami sweep would give them sole possession of fourth place and notch a couple more big Pairwise wins since the Lakers are currently tied for 16th in the all important rankings.
Biggs will be eligible to return to the lineup on January 20 when the RedHawks finally return home to face Western Michigan.
Connor Knapp named INCH National Player of the Week
Fresh off earning CCHA Goaltender of the week honors, Miami senior netminder Connor Knapp is the Inside College Hockey National Player of the Week.
Knapp’s stellar weekend in which he allowed just one goal on 54 shots leading Miami to a needed road sweep of then #15 Michigan State earned the distinction over several players including Daniel Bahntge (Mercyhurst), Daniel Carr (Union), Joey Diamond (Maine) and Carter Rowney (North Dakota).
Congratulations, again, Connor!
Schilling and Knapp Named CCHA Players of the Week
Cameron Schilling Connor Knapp
Senior defenseman Cameron Schilling and senior goaltender Connor Knapp were named the CCHA’s Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week, respectively for their efforts in helping Miami earn a road sweep at Michigan State.
Schilling notched two assists and four blocked shots on the weekend while Knapp stopped 53 of 54 shots including a whitewashing of the Spartans on Saturday night.
The two seniors are part of the most successful run in Miami hockey history having been part of two Frozen Four teams and a CCHA regular season and conference tournament champion.
Congratulations Cameron and Connor!
You know polls are a sham when…
The opponent you just swept over the weekend is still ranked (Michigan State is 18th) and you aren’t.
The new USCHO poll does not include Miami, yet a team Miami allowed just one goal to over the weekend, Michigan State, is still 18th. And, since it looks like the USCHO pollsters weren’t paying attention, they should know the RedHawks are tied for 12th in the current Pairwise (MSU is tied for 18th) and ranked 12th in KRACH (MSU is 13th). At least the guys at Inside College Hockey got it somewhat right having Miami reenter their power rankings at 20th while MSU is out.
But, at the end of the day, it’s not the pollsters that decide anything. It’s the Pairwise that will determine Miami’s national title hopes.
Miami finishes sweep of #15 Michigan State 4-0
Connor Knapp made 20 saves and Miami received goals from four different players as they completed the weekend sweep at #15 Michigan State winning 4-0 on Saturday night.
Junior forward Reilly Smith opened the scoring by tallying the eventual game-winning goal on a 5×3 powerplay midway through the second period and the RedHawks exploded for three goals to break open the game in the third as they peppered Spartan netminder Will Yanakeff with 44 shots.
Reilly Smith rings a shot off the post as Will Yanakeff attempts to make a save.
With the weekend sweep, Miami moved all the way to fifth place in the tightly packed CCHA standings, and if the season ended today, Miami would earn a first round bye in the CCHA tournament. Additionally Miami has moved solidly into NCAA tournament consideration as both their KRACH, and more importantly, Pairwise numbers are favorable. Miami is now ranked 10th in KRACH having faced the fourth most difficult schedule in the country and tied for 11th in the Pairwise meaning the RedHawks would be a #3 seed if the season ended today. But, it’s still early January.
One troubling note coming out of this game was that Miami found itself shorthanded eight times and took eleven penalties in the game. Hopefully, it was simply the presence of former CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos on the Spartan bench that led to many questionable calls against the RedHawks and not the start of another trend. It is true that Miami is a physically imposing, strong team and at times it does seem as though the RedHawks receive the short end of the stick for “being too strong.” To his credit, Anastos said of the Friday game, “I thought that we got what we expected – a tough, physical game from an opponent that has some pretty good size across the board. They made things tough for us, but we generated some shots and did a good job getting in front of the net.” (source: Lansing State Journal) So, at least the Spartan head man acknowledged the size and strength of the RedHawks and certainly did not go on the record complaining about calls because he got plenty of them Saturday night. On the results of the weekend, Anastos said, “When someone comes into your rink and beats you in every phase of the game, that’s unacceptable.” (source: Lansing State Journal) It’s always great hearing an opposing coach talk about how his team was dominated — especially in their barn.
So, 2012 has gotten off to a nice start for the RedHawks. But, with plenty of hockey to still be played, Miami has to string together the kind of second half that can propel them up the national rankings and into the CCHA, and hopefully, NCAA tournaments come March.
Miami is back in action next week as they travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to take on Lake Superior. The Lakers swept Miami in Oxford on October 27-28 so the RedHawks will be looking for payback as well as yet another chance to face someone ahead of them in the CCHA and national standings.
Notes
– Miami’s 44 shots on goal was a season’s high mark and they dominated the Spartans with a 20-5 SOG advantage in the final period.
– Tyler Biggs, Alden Hirschfeld and Blake Coleman had Miami’s three goals in the third period.
– Miami’s last sweep over MSU also came on the road November 14-15, 2008.
– Connor Knapp earned both weekend wins allowing just one goal on 54 shots (.981). The shutout was the ninth of Knapp’s outstanding Miami career.
– Miami’s penalty kill was 13-for-13 on the weekend.
– It seems as if Miami has been on the road the entire season, as they have played just one home game since November 19. But, after next weekend’s series at Lake Superior, Miami plays nine of its remaining twelve games at Steve Cady Arena.
– Here’s Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos on the differences between his Spartans and Miami. Courtesy USCHO.com
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