Author Archives: Redskin Warriors
>Game Preview: (4) Miami vs. (1) Denver
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NCAA Championships: Seven (1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005)
NCAA Appearance: 19th (most recent, 2008)
Head Coach: George Gwozdecky (Wisconsin ’78)
What You Need to Know: The Pioneers have been dealing with injuries, especially in the second half of the season. The good news is that Tyler Bozak is expected to return to the lineup, giving DU a much-needed boost at center. Tyler Ruegsegger is out for the season. Even when players are missing, there is sufficient, talented depth to make a difference for the Pioneers. Freshman Joe Colborne really came on in the second half of the season. Denver holds a record of 23-11-5 and a mark of 16-8-4 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The Pioneers are coming off a 4-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the championship game of the WCHA tournament. Denver also finished second in the WCHA regular season, two points behind North Dakota. The Pioneers are led by Anthony Maiani who has 41 points (11-30-41) on the season. Denver also features three 15-goal scorers in Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Guegsegger and Luke Slasar.
How They’ll Advance: You don’t win 23 games in a year, including 16 in the WCHA, by accident. The Pioneers are a very good skating team and are the best suited team of the four in the Minneapolis regional to playing on the huge ice at Mariucci Arena, although they’ll be taking that particular surface for the first time this year (and were 0-3-1 in four games on big sheets at Colorado College and St. Cloud State). Freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch has 12 goals and is a difference maker from the blue line.
What Might Trip Them Up: The Pioneers were 6-5-1 against NCAA Tournament teams this season, but just 1-4-1 in those games in the second half of the year. Consistency in taking care of the wins you’re supposed to get is a key to success in the regular season, but there has to be some concern about how Denver plays when good teams start to push back at this time of the year.
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Seventh (most recent, 2007)
Head Coach: Enrico Blasi (Miami ’93)
What You Need to Know: After a 6-0-1 stretch that put the Redhawks in a great position to finish at least second in the regular season, Miami finished the year 2-4-1, including a 3-game CCHA quarterfinal loss to Northern Michigan. Having played well most of the year, the Redhawks have to be alarmed that they’re not exactly on a roll headed into the national tournament.
How They’ll Advance: Miami has a very productive offense and two freshmen goaltenders who have been reliable for most of the year. With player like Carter Camper, Justin Mercier and Andy Miele taking the reins, the Redhawks have the ability to outscore anyone that they come across.
What Might Trip Them Up : Over the past few years it seems like the RedHawks complete great regular seasons but are incredibly inconsistent in the postseason. The team hasn’t shown that they have learned from past losses and suffered an early exit from the CCHA Tournament. Until they prove they can win in the postseason, you have to wonder if they’ll ever make a dent in the national tournament.
The Venue
Fourteen years after the new Mariucci Arena first graced the campus of the University of Minnesota, fans and players alike still are amazed by the breathtaking beauty of a sold-out Mariucci and the atmosphere it provides. In 1993, the old Mariucci Arena, located in front of Williams Arena, took on a whole new face when it relocated just north of its old home. The new Mariucci Arena brings a brand new look to Golden Gopher hockey, not only from the outside, but inside as well. With the best sight lines possible from every seat, no Gopher fan is ever disappointed with the view of the fastest game in town. The Olympic-sized (200 feet by 100 feet) ice sheet lends itself to the free-wheeling style of play of Minnesota’s “Pride on Ice.” With the capability to have ice year-round, the arena brings a truly state-of-the-art facility to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
This year marks the fourth time in 10 years that Mariucci Arena has hosted the NCAA West Regional, joining 2000, 2003 and 2005. In 2006, the facility welcomed the NCAA’s Women’s Frozen Four.
The 2001-02 season featured the introduction of 18 luxury suites, which increased the capacity of the building from 9,700 to 10,000. It was the third time that seating capacity has been increased, a testament to the support the Golden Gophers receive from the community.
Upon entering the building, fans immediately become part of the action as play on the ice can be heard from the George Lyon Lobby. The glassed-in entrance features a clear glass elevator, original brick from Memorial Stadium and a display dedicated to the legendary John Mariucci, for whom the building is named.
Escalators on either side of the lobby bring fans up to the concourse level where the fastest game in town can be seen. The open-bowl configuration allows fans to watch the game from anywhere on the concourse.
The arena seating capacity of 9,305 for the first three seasons increased to 9,700 before the 1996-97 campaign, continuing to make Mariucci Arena one of the premier collegiate hockey venues in the country. The nearly 500 person-per game average increase is due in large part to the 395 additional seats added between 1995-96 and 1996-97, the continued demand for standing-room only tickets and also to the continuous fan demand to watch a Gopher hockey game and take in the Mariucci Arena experience.
The last time these two teams met was during the 2006 Ice Breaker Tournament. Miami won the game 5-2, with defenseman Michael Findorff scoring the first ever goal at Cady Arena.
Box Score of 2006 Icebreaker Game vs. Denver
(Information in this post credited to INCH.com and MURedHawks.com)
>The Frozen Four…THE REDHAWKS ARE IN.
>As the show progresses, I’ll be updating the official brackets. Boston University is the number one overall seed in the tourney.
Manchester: (Northeast)
(1) Boston University vs. (4) Ohio State
(2) North Dakota vs. (3) New Hampshire
Grand Rapids: (Midwest)
(1) Notre Dame vs. (4) Bemidji State
(2) Northeastern vs. (3) Cornell
Bridgeport: (East)
(1) Michigan vs. (4) Air Force
(2) Yale vs. (3) Vermont
Minneapolis: (West)
(1) Denver vs. (4) Miami
(2) Minnesota-Duluth vs. (3) Princeton
Click to view the Frozen Four bracket:
With the Miami bid, the RedHawks will play on Friday at 5:30pm on ESPN2. If they were to win that game and move to the regional finals, they would then play on Saturday at 9:00pm on ESPNU. Both games are available in HD. Below are the TV listings for each tournament game:
>Updated Bracketology
>The question now seems to be, not if the RedHawks will be in, but where they will play. Finishing 13 in the PWI earns the RedHawks a number four seed. CHN’s final projected bracket is as follows:
Minneapolis
(1) Denver vs. (4) Miami
(2) Northeastern vs. (3) Princeton
Obviously, a Miami/Denver matchup would be several things…emotional, due to George Gwozdecky’s MU connection, tough, given that the Pioneers are a national powerhouse, not to mention former national champions and one could even describe the matchup this way: winnable. While Miami had a tough second half of the regular reason, we’ve seen the Jeckel and Hyde personality that this team has. Remember the sweeps of Michigan and Notre Dame? Denver is vulnerable. Beaten by University of Minnesota-Duluth in the WCHA title game, the Pioneers could be doubting their game heading into the Frozen Four…lest we forget, they *are* a number one seed.
Remember, today is Selection Sunday! Tune in at 11:30 AM on ESPN2 to find out where the RedHawks land. I’ll be updating the blog here, as the show progresses.
>Irish Claim the Mason Cup
>Quick update from work here…
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have defeated the Michigan Wolverines, 5-2, to win the Mason Cup. You’ll recall that Notre Dame won the regular season as well.
Back later with some bracketology on the eve of Selection Sunday. It looks good for now!
– INCH has released all the TV listings for the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament. Click Here to view them.
>Are the RedHawks In? Early Signs Point To…
>Yes. Having worked out every conference tournament scenario, I was unable to find one that put Miami out of the top 14 in the PWI and a few, that placed the RedHawks as high as 12th, meaning the squad would, in all likelihood, earn a 3 seed. USCHO bracket guru Jayson Moy believes that there are already 14 teams “in” the tournament. Take a look:
There are 14 teams in the tournament.
BU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Denver, Yale, Northeastern, Minn.-Duluth, North Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Cornell, Miami, Bemidji State and the AH winner.
Yale and Cornell clinched with wins today. The same for Minnesota-Duluth. Miami also clinches because of the math. The only teams that can pass Miami are Princeton and Mass.-Lowell, but even so, the RedHawks still get into the tournament.
There are 2 spots left.
The two easiest paths to these two spots belong to Princeton and UML. A win and they are in.
If UML wins, it gets one spot, but if it loses, it’s out.
If Princeton wins, it gets one spot, but if it loses, it’s out.
The other teams eligible for the final two spots are St. Lawrence, Minnesota and Ohio State.
You can follow all the thoughts and insight into the RedHawks tourney hopes on Twitter/miamiicehockey.
– In the CCHA consolation game at “The Joe,” Northern Michigan claimed third place with a 2-0 win over Alaska this afternoon. Michigan and Notre Dame will meet in the championship game tonight at 7:35.
>Mason Cup Finals Set, RedHawks Keep Hope Alive
>Click to view the CCHA tournament bracket:
– As day one action of “College Hockey at the Joe” has wrapped up, the quest for the Mason Cup is now down to two teams: Notre Dame and Michigan. The Irish played the early game on Thursday’s docket, beating Northern Michigan 2-1 with one minute left in regulation. And yes, Wildcat goaltender Brian Stewart was very good-again. For those wondering, next year will be his senior season at NMU.
In the night cap, Michigan faced a tough test in the Alaska Nanooks, the same Nanooks that claim both the CCHA Coach of the Year, Dallas Ferguson and the CCHA Player of the Year, Chad Johnson. On this night, even the Justice League wouldn’t have helped UAF, as Michigan added two power play goals and an empty net goal to seal the 3-1 victory.
With the Wolverines’ advancement to the finals, Northern Michigan will take on Alaska today at 3:35pm, in the third place/cohsolation game. U of M and Notre Dame will meet in the finals for the second time in three years, at 7:30pm.
– All of this is occurring just hours before the NCAA hockey selection committee announces their field of 16 teams to compete in the 2009 Frozen Four tourney. As of right now, all scenarios seem to include the RedHawks in the field of 16. Let’s hope there are no “burst bubbles” come Sunday at noon-time. The Selection Show will air on ESPN2, on Sunday morning at 11:30am, with a bracket to follow on this web page.
– Finally tonight, some Ryan Jones news. He was listed at number 41 on TSN’s ranking of the top 100 NHL rookies. Here’s what they had to say about the former Miami captain:
Hard-working winger who was acquired in the Marek Zidlicky deal and spent some time in the AHL this season. Willingness to go to the net could make him a 20-goal scorer.
Jones currently has seven goals and nine assists in his rookie season. You can view the rest of the list by clicking this link..
>On the Bubble…
>Click to view the CCHA Tournament Bracket
With many at a loss for words over the RedHawks Sunday night ousting from the CCHA tournament, the Miami Icers now find themselves as a bubble team, hoping to get into the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament. As of this writing, Miami’s PWI is currently tied with St. Lawrence at 14, a little on the high side…So…we need a little luck come Selection Sunday.
As the quest for the Mason Cup continues, Alaska defeated Ohio State on Sunday with a late third period goal to punch their ticket to the Joe. They’ll join Northern Michigan, Michigan, and Notre Dame when action kicks off on Friday afternoon.
Selection Sunday is this week, March 22.
>Late Night…er…Early Morning Update
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The 3 finalists for the CCHA individual awards have been announced and two RedHawks, Carter Camper and Kevin Roeder have been nominated. Camper was nominated for the CCHA Player of the Year Award, along with UAF goaltender Chad Johnson and Notre Dame goaltender Jordan Pearce. Some tough company there. Camper was also nominated for the Defensive Forward of the Year, joined by U of M’s Tim Miller, and Notre Dame’s Erik Condra.
Roeder was nominated for the Best Defensive Defernseman honor. Also in that group is U of M junior Chris Summers and Notre Dame junor Kyle Lawson.
The winners will be annoucned on Thursday, March 19th during the CCHA Awards Banquet at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
– Paula C. Weston is back with her predictions and insight into this weekend’s quarterfinal matchups. She predicts a RedHawk win…on Sunday:
Last weekend, the Wildcats decimated the Michigan State Spartans to advance to the second round of the CCHA playoffs, beating MSU by a collective score of 13-5. The series gave several players a chance to shine, especially senior Nick Sirota and sophomores Mark Olver and Gregor Hanson, each of whom netted two goals in the weekend. They face a team that is 21-31 all-time in CCHA playoff action and 4-2 in the past three seasons in the first round in which they’ve played. The Wildcats took three points from Miami in Steve Cady Arena just three weeks ago, beating the RedHawks 2-1 Feb. 20 before tying 1-1 the next night (when Miami earned the shootout “win” point). In those two games, NMU’s Brian Stewart made 89 saves, allowed two goals, and earned a .978 save percentage for the weekend. Miami is 6-4-1 against Northern dating back to 2005-06, including a 5-2 CCHA semifinal win March 17, 2006. NMU 3-2, Miami 4-2, Miami 4-2
This weekend’s games will be televised on ONN, with Dave Allen and Kevin Ackley handling the broadcast duties. This is your last and final chance to see your Miami seniors take the ice at Cady Arena.
Go RedHawks!
>More Awards, News, and Other Ramblings…
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Sophomore forward Carter Camper has been named to the CCHA-All Conference squad. Camper, on the first team, is the only Miami representative to be named. Others receiving votes from Miami were Pat Cannone, Justin Mercier, Kevin Roeder, and Chris Wideman. In his second season with the RedHawks, Camper has 19 goals and 19 assists, for a career total of 79 points and is most assuredly on his way to the 100-point club, with two years of eligibility remaining.
– The latest edition of Inside the CCHA features this a preview of this weekend’s quarterfinal matchups. Among their guests this week…none other than former RedHawk captain and current Nashville Predator, Ryan Jones! Click Here to Listen.
-Here are some game notes with stats and previews for this weekend’s series against Northern Michigan. MURedHawks.com will also feature a live game day blog, beginning on Friday.
“CHECKING” NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Northern Michigan comes into the second round of the tournament fresh off a weekend sweep of Michigan State (5-3, 8-2). The Wildcats are unbeaten in their last six games and since the calendar turned to 2009 Northern Michigan holds one of the best records in the nation at 13-3-2. No team in the CCHA has won more games in the New Year and only No. 1 ranked Boston University has more wins nationally (16). Northern Michigan has also played one of the toughest ’09 schedules as they have had six road games against ranked opponents. The Wildcats are led by a trio of young scores in Gregor Hanson, Mark Olver and Erik Gustafsson. All three have 30 points or more and hold a +14 or better (on the season). Of the three only Olver was able to record a point on the Wildcats last trip to Oxford.
The Wildcats earned a win and a tie (shootout loss) on its trip to Steve Cady Arena on Feb. 20-21. The RedHawks outshot the Wildcats 91-27 on the weekend including holding Northern Michigan to seven shots on goal on Feb. 21. It was the first time in school history Miami held an opponent under 10 shots in a game. Miami holds a record of 14-29-3 in the all-time series with the RedHawks leading 9-8-2 in games played in Oxford.
THE REDHAWK RUNDOWN
– Carter Camper picked up an assist in the Feb. 27 game against Ohio State and ended his second regular season with the RedHawks having never been held pointless in a CCHA series in which he has played in both games. Camper has kept the streak going with goals in seven of his last eight CCHA series.
– Miami holds an all-time record of 21-31 in the CCHA tournament and a 16-8 record in Oxford. Miami has won six of its last 10 CCHA tournament games and been in the CCHA title game in two of the past three seasons.
– The RedHawks lead the nation in the penalty kill with a 91.1-percent (185/203) success rate. No other team in nation is better than 90 percent.
– Connor Knap and Chris Wideman were both named to the CCHA all-rookie team this week becoming the first pair of RedHawks named to the first team since Matt Christie and Marty Guerin in 2003-04.
– Miami has not lost a CCHA second-round home series since being swept by Lake Superior State University in 2007. The sweep by the Lakers is also the last time Miami has been swept in a home series.
– Justin Mercier became the first player in Miami history with 100 wins and 100 points when he scored an empty-net goal against Ohio State on Feb. 28. It was the second time the senior had found the net in the game and the first multi-goal game of the season for the Erie, Pa. native.
– Brian Kaufman has scored three goals in his last two games including his first multi-goal game of the season against Ohio State Feb. 28.
– Bill Loupee comes into the CCHA playoff having played 99 career games for the Red and White.
REDHAWK SPECIAL TEAMS
The RedHawk special teams units are currently rated the best in the CCHA. Miami leads the conference and the nation on the penalty kill with a unit that is successful on 91.1 percent (185/203) of power plays by opposing teams. The RedHawks also have a solid power-play unit that is currently ranked second in the CCHA with a 19.5-percent (41/210) success rate. Miami has two of the top three power-play point-scorers in the CCHA this season in Carter Camper and Pat Cannone. Camper is tied for first in the conference with 22 points (11-11-22) with the man advantage and Cannone is tied for second with 21 (5-16-21). This season, Miami is 12-6-4 when it scores on the power play, 9-6-2 when it is perfect on the penalty kill and 7-3-2 when it does both in the same game.
IN THE RANKINGS
Miami is currently ranked eighth in the USCHO and CBS College Sports Division I men’s hockey poll. The RedHawks have moved up and down in the Top 10 this season but have been ranked within the nation’s Top 10 for 46 consecutive weeks. During this run, the RedHawks have been ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team for ten weeks. Miami has also been ranked in the Top 10 for 81 of the last 89 weeks and has been ranked No. 1 11 times. This season, Miami has played 10 games against ranked opponents and holds an overall record of 6-3-1, boasting two shutouts (Notre Dame – Oct. 24, Michigan – Nov. 21), both by freshman Cody Reichard.
– Staying with the Quest for the Mason Cup, INCH has published their version of the CCHA Tournament preview. Here’s their take on the “Keys to the Game”:
Season Series: Northern Michigan leads 1-0-1, Miami won the shootout
Wildcats Fact: Northern Michigan has as much success as anyone at Steve Cady Arena this year, taking three points on the weekend while goaltender Brian Stewart made 89 saves in the two games.
Redhawks Fact: With this weekend’s games, Miami has hosted a home playoff series in each of the three seasons the new rink has been open – the RedHawks are 1-1 in the two previous series, losing to Lake Superior two years ago and knocking off Bowling Green last year.
How NMU Wins: The Wildcats need to ride all of the momentum that they’ve built throughout the second half, spreading the puck around evenly as five players enter the weekend with four-game point streaks.
How Miami Wins: The RedHawks are fortunate to have some experienced and hungry players looking for an elusive first CCHA playoff championship for the program. They will, however, go only as far as Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard take them.
– MURedHawks.com has posted this morning’s online chat with seniors Kevin Roeder and Brian Kaufman here. I’m sure the boys liked the questions received from a few “fans,” namely Ryan in Nashville and Jeff in Ontario!
– Finally today, news that the Bowling Green hockey program may be in jeopardy due to the school’s 10 million budget shortfall. You can read the article, courtesy of College Hockey News, at this link.
>Smith Named Scholar-Athlete & More
>On the heels of two Miamians being named to the CCHA All-Rookie team, another honor comes along today, as junior forward Brandon Smith was selected as Miami’s scholar athlete. Smith, who carries a grade-point average over 3.70, is now one of twelve finalists for the league award (one player is selected from each CCHA team.) The winner will be announced on March 19, as a part of the 2009 CCHA awards banquet. Congratulations to Brandon. It has certainly been a season of career firsts for the hard working Pepper Pike, Ohio native.
Also, for those out there into online chatting…seinor captain Brian Kaufman and alternate captain Kevin Roeder will take part in an online chat tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 11:00am. You can link to the chat form by clicking here.
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