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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.
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!!!
2011-12 Season Preview: Ohio State
Last year’s Ohio State Men’s Hockey team disappointed a lot of Miami faithful by beating the ‘Hawks 1-0 and 5-2 in Columbus on January 7-8. But fret not Buckeye haters RedHawks fans, this was the beginning of the end, and Ohio State promptly finished the season 3-10-3 which included a 2-game sweep out of the CCHA tournament at the hands of Lake Superior State.
Head Coach Mark Osiecki will be at the helm for his second season after a 15-18-4 overall and 10-14-4-2 CCHA record last year. He will have a new goalie coach to mentor senior netminder Cal Heeter and will take one of the largest freshmen classes in college hockey history into the season with 13 rookies on the roster to start things off.
For all of the so-called “draw” of the upcoming Big Ten Conference and the Ohio State “brand name,” this year’s out of conference schedule certainly isn’t impressing us. Ohio State opens up tomorrow (10/1) with an exhibition against Windsor (Canada) College, followed by a home series against Quinnipiac October 7-8. They later have a November series against Alabama-Huntsville and one game at the RMU/Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase on December 30th. Throw in a game against Little Sisters of the Poor and it looks something like the football team’s OOC schedule (in which they’ve played Akron, Toledo and Colorado this year, and looked awesome awful at Miami of Florida 2 weeks ago).
Outside the weak out of conference schedule, Ohio State does have a couple “marquee” games this year. They will play at Notre Dame in potentially the final game/series in the Joyce Center Ice Rink on October 14-15 (schedule is still undecided for the Irish). Then there’s the aforementioned College Hockey Showcase in Pittsburgh against host Robert Morris University. Finally, to top it off, on January 15th Ohio State heads to Cleveland and Progressive Field for the Frozen Diamond Faceoff against arch-rival Michigan.
Our Fearless Predictions:
The Buckstache rides again…towards the bottom of the league and another first round CCHA tournament road trip and early exit. And with these HIDEOUS “traditional” new uniforms, I’m not sure it will be a pretty ride, either.
The CCHA Media took Ohio State 9th and the Coaches predict a 7th place finish.
Ceiling: 7th
Floor: 11th
Related Links:
Ohio State Hockey Men’s Hockey Examiner – Season Preview
OSU Lantern – Season Preview
2011-12 Season Preview: Northern Michigan
A look back:
The ‘Cats were picked 7th by media, 6th by coaches in 2010-11 and finished 6th. However, in their 1st round playoff series at home against Bowling Green – who had only won 8 games prior to that series – they were taken down 2-0 in game 2 and 2-1 in a 2OT thriller in game 3, ending NMU’s season early.
Where they stand:
NMU’s Top 3 scorers return as seniors, and one of them, Tyler Gron, was just named to the Preseason All-CCHA 2nd-team. Gron was not named as one of the captains of the team by head coach Walt Kyle (NMU class of 1981), however and those honors go to seniors Justin Florek, Andrew Cherniwchan, and junior Scott Macaulay. Kyle has a rather surprising record of 176-153-39 in his 10 seasons in Marquette, and will likely ride Reid Ellingson as the ‘Cats primary goaltender this year.
A look ahead:
The Wildcats start the season without an exhibition, but with 2 games in the Kohl Center vs. the Wisconsin Badgers. Although the Badgers won’t be there, this will be a small taste of the WCHA, and they’ll get a full dose starting in the newly reconfigured WCHA starting in the 2013-2014 season. A strong start could get this young team (16 underclassmen) on the right track.
Predicted Finish: This year looks to be more of the same from the Wildcats. In the CCHA preseason polls released 9/28, the coaches tabbed NMU at 6th and the Media in a tie for 7th.
Floor: 10th
Ceiling: 6th
Links:
Preseason All-CCHA teams announced
The CCHA has released its 2011-2012 preseason All-CCHA teams.
Reilly Smith heads up the 1st-team with 10 first place votes – only he and Notre Dame’s T.J. Tynan received 10 first team votes, earning them both unanimous decisions. Cody Reichard makes the first team as the league’s top goaltender. Defenders Chris Wideman and Will Weber made the 2nd-team as well.
Rankings: Miami #1/2, Notre Dame #2/1 in preseason polls
The 2 national (official) polls have released their first rankings of the 2011-2012 season. If the polls on September 26th meant anything, Miami RedHawks players, coaches and fans should be VERY happy.
The first unofficial poll was released by College Hockey News last week with Miami at #1, and today’s In the first USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll for the 2011-2012 season, Miami checks in at #2, despite having more first place votes (12) than the Irish (11). 4 CCHA teams made the Top 20, and 6 more are in the “Others Receiving Votes” category to start the season. Interestingly, 7 of the 8 NCHC teams are in the top 20 including #’s 2, 3 and 4, and the 8th team (St. Cloud State) checks in at #24. Have a look at the full poll HERE and the USCHO writeup HERE.
In the first USA Hockey Magazine / USA Today D-I Men’s Poll, Miami and Notre Dame flip spots, with Miami taking 15 of the 31 first place votes. In this 15-team poll, the CCHA has the same 4 teams ranked, with only 3 more “receiving votes.” Again, all 8 NCHC teams made the list, with St. Cloud State getting just 1 point. Full Poll can be found HERE.
Here’s Miami’s official release on the rankings.
6 days until HOCKEY!!!
Update: WMU and SCSU Officially Accept Invitations to NCHC
Well, that didn’t take long.
After officially extending invitations to the schools on Wednesday, the NCHC became a reality for the Western Michigan Broncos and St. Cloud State Huskies on Thursday. This brings the total schools welcomed into the NCHC up to 8, and gives Miami a conference rival of sorts in Western Michigan, having spent the last 31 years in the CCHA together (WMU has been in the CCHA since the 1975-76 season and Miami joined for the 1980-81 campaign).
Miami Athletic Director Brad Bates was present to welcome the Broncos with WMU director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard providing the big news to local media.
St. Cloud State University President Dr. Earl Potter announced the Huskies are joining the NCHC, and looks forward to “forming new partners with Miami and Western Michigan.”
As far as these two teams go, Miami has a slight 51-49-9 edge all time against Western Michigan, and a solid 7-1-1 record against the Huskies.
Going the Distance?
Head Coach Enrico Blasi, Captains Alden Hirschfeld and Will Weber, and probably just about everyone else associated with the Miami Hockey program will tell you that rankings before the season starts, on opening night, and even in the second half of the season don’t mean anything. Coach Blasi certainly has said in the past that the only ranking that matters will be where and when Miami ends up on April X. This year, that date happens to be April 7th, and that location is Tampa, Florida.
With that said… A Number 1 ranking is still something to celebrate, and celebrate we will.
Thanks to College Hockey News, we have that reason to celebrate. CHN has put Miami at the head of the class for the 2011-2012 season. Check out the headlines here.
Again, we appreciate the great preseason accolades. But how serious should we take the rankings? Let’s wait until April and see what shakes out in the next six and a half months. Especially with fellow defectors CCHA-ers Notre Dame, Michigan and Western Michigan joining Miami in CHN’s entirely too early preseason top 10 rankings.
11 days until the exhibition. The countdown is on!!
Coach Blasi officially a Twitterati
Contrary to popular belief, Miami’s head coach was NOT one of over 175 million twitter users when someone was posing as him near the end of last season. As of yesterday however, that story has changed, and the short-in-stature, tall-in-influence leader of the RedHawks has officially joined the Twitter ranks.
Over 900 RedHawks and college hockey fans alike had already followed Da Coach on his first day on twitter, likely in thanks to ESPN Sportscenter anchor John Buccigross’ (@Buccigross) shout out. Now over 1,000 followers, Blasi didn’t waste any time catching up with old friends.
Blasi said a quick hello to 2007 graduate Nate Davis (not currently on Twitter), as well as last year’s captain Carter Camper (@c_camps11) and fan favorite Justin Vaive (@Vaiver22). Hobey Baker Award winner Andy Miele (@Andy_Miele) also jumped in on a little hazing by insulting Blasi for being vertically challenged: “I am no longer the shortest guy on twitter, everyone welcome @coachblasi #legend #shouldagivenmemoreicetime”
Blasi is sure to provide great insights to the season as well as a good amount of comedic relief along the way. Follow @CoachBlasi now by heading over to twitter.com/coachblasi.
You can also follow Redskin Warriors at twitter.com/redskinwarriors, or by clicking the Twitter link in the top right corner of the blog. I’ve even got all of the current RedHawks and a few of the older ones in this list.
17 days to go until the ‘Hawks take on Windsor…
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