Feb. 3, 2010

Weekly Release

THE WEEKEND
No. 1/1 Miami continues its four-game homestand this weekend when it welcomes Lake Superior State to Steve Cady Arena. Friday's game takes place at 7:35 p.m., while faceoff on Saturday is at 7:05 p.m. Both games will be aired live on the Ohio News Network (ONN).

Miami extended its CCHA unbeaten streak to 18 games this past weekend with a sweep of Western Michigan, 4-1 and 2-1. The six goals were scored by six different players, while 11 RedHawks recorded at least one point in the series. Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp combined to stop 33 of the 35 shots they faced.

Lake Superior State was last in action two weeks ago, gaining a shootout win at home against Notre Dame. The Lakers lost 6-1 on Friday night before rebounding for a 1-1 tie the next day.

THE COACHES
Enrico Blasi (Miami '94) is in his 11th season behind the RedHawk bench, holding a 228-155-39 career record. He is a three-time CCHA Coach of the Year selection and was named National Coach of the Year in 2005-06.

Jim Roque (Lake Superior State `87) is in his fifth collegiate season, all with the Lakers. He holds a 71-82-30 overall record, leading LSSU to the 2006 CCHA Semifinals, their first appearance at Joe Louis Arena in 10 years.

THE SERIES
Lake Superior State holds a 54-32-10 all-time record against Miami, but the RedHawks have dominated the series in recent years. Miami has won four straight and seven of the last nine meetings with the Lakers. In Oxford, the RedHawks hold a 22-18-6 record versus LSSU.

POLL NUMBERS
Miami retained its No. 1 ranking in both polls on Monday and has now held the top spot for 14 of the 16 weeks this season. The RedHawks dropped to No. 2 for two weeks in early January. Miami is also top team in the INCH Power Ratings this week.

QUICK HITS

• Miami is unbeaten in 18 straight CCHA games. Since losing 3-2 in overtime to Michigan State on Oct. 24, the RedHawks are 14-0-4 in league play.
• In its two-game series with Western Michigan, the RedHawks peppered the net with 92 shots. They equalled their season high of 43 (also against the Broncos) on Friday before tallying 49 one day later.
• The four seniors moved into a second-place tie on the list of winningest classes in school history. They have combined for 98 wins in four years and need just nine more victories to take over the top spot.
• Miami leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 1.64 goals per game. In 20 league games, the RedHawks have surrendered only 23 goals.

SERIES BREAKDOWN
Lake Superior State holds a 54-32-10 all-time record against Miami, but the RedHawks have dominated the series in recent years. Miami has won four straight and seven of the last nine meetings with the Lakers. In Oxford, the RedHawks hold a 22-18-6 record versus LSSU.

The complete series history can be found on page 115-116 of the fan guide, but here are the last 10 meetings:

11-10-06	L, 1-2	A
11-11-06	W, 4-2	A
2-9-07	W, 4-1	H
2-10-07	W, 3-2	H
3-9-07*	L, 1-2	H
3-10-07*	L, 1-2	H
1-18-08	W, 6-1	H
1-19-08	W, 5-0	H
2-13-09	W, 2-1	A
2-14-09	W, 4-0	A
* CCHA Tournament Second Round

BLASI vs. THE LAKERS
Enrico Blasi holds an 17-8-0 career record against Lake Superior State, including 11-3-0 at home. The RedHawks have won seven straight regular-season games against the Lakers.

100-POINT CLUB
Miami has had two players cross the 100-point plateau this season as Jarod Palmer and Carter Camper have both reached the mark.

Palmer became the 43rd member of the elite club on Oct. 24 when he scored to tie the game against Michigan State.

Camper dished out three assists at Ohio State on Dec. 11 to put his name on the list as Member No. 44.

An abbreviated listing of the 100-point club (full list is on page 127 of the fan guide):

	Player	Games	Points 	Year 

1.	Steve Morris	145	202	1979-83
2.	Rick Kuraly	145	179	1979-83
3.	Kevyn Adams	151	172	1992-96
4.	Bill Bok	136 	169	1978-82
5.	Vern Sketchley	131	158	1978-82
---------------------------------------------------------------------

27.	Tim Leahy	124	118	1994-98
28.	Jarod Palmer	153	117	2006-
29.	Bobby Marshall	155	115	1990-94
	Marty Guerin	156	115	2003-07
31.	Andy Cozzi	133	114	1981-85
	Andy Greene	159	114	2002-06
33.	Pete Shipman	73	112	1978-80
	Rob Vanderydt	141	112	1987-91
35.	Carter Camper	101	111	2007-

	John Malloy	75	111	1978-80
37.	Brian Savage	106	109	1990-93

CLOSE CALLS
Of Miami's 28 games this season, 19 have either ended in a tie or had a one-goal differential. Eight games have gone to overtime.

Miami stands 8-3-5 this year in games decided by a single goal or less, including 1-1-6 in overtime games. A year ago, the RedHawks were 0-2-5 in games that were tied after regulation and 6-7-0 in one-goal games.

SHUTOUT STANDARDS
Miami registered its seventh shutout of the season on Jan. 23 against Alaska, giving the RedHawks three more than the previous school record. The latest blanking was the third of the year for sophomore Connor Knapp.

Already this year, Cody Reichard has tied the school single-season record for shutouts with four -- former RedHawk David Burleigh also blanked four opponents during the 2002-03 season.

GOAL SWAP
Miami has used its typical Friday-Saturday goal rotation -- starting Cody Reichard the first night and Connor Knapp the second -- in 11 of the 14 weekend series. Reichard started both games at Northern Michigan, at Michigan and at Ferris State.

Both players have been outstanding in net with Reichard leading the nation in goals-against average (1.50) and save percentage (.933). In conference play only, Knapp and Reichard are 1-2, respectively, in the league in GAA (1.13/1.15) and save percentage (.954/.950).

SHOOTING GALLERY
Miami has outshot its opponents in 25 of the 28 contests this season, posting a 17-4-4 record in such outings. Against Western Michigan, the RedHawks tied and then bested their season high in the category with 43 and 49 attempts in the two games. The previous season high was also 43 on Nov. 21 at Western Michigan, while the RedHawks also reached 40 on three other occasions.

The RedHawks registered at least 10 shots in all six periods vs. WMU and have now done so in 51 of the 84 overall stanzas this year. The high is 23 in the second period of the Saturday game at Western Michigan.

QUICK STARTS OF LATE
Over the last three games, Miami has scored multiple goals in the first period twice, including a season-high three at Alaska on Jan. 23. In contrast, the Redhawks tallied just 12 goals in the 25 previous first periods this season.

Still, Miami has scored only 17 of its 86 goals (19.8 percent) in the opening period of play. The other 69 goals are split nearly even -- 36 in the second and 32 in the third (one in overtime).

COMING BACK, I
Miami has fallen behind 1-0 in 15 of the 28 games this year, but that hasn't been a worry for the RedHawks. They have a 7-4-4 record in such contests.

During the 2008-09 campaign, the RedHawks were just 2-12-3 when the opponent scored first.

COMING BACK, II
Miami has faced a two-goal deficit six times this season, rallying to tie the game in five of those. The lone expection was a 3-1 loss at Robert Morris on Jan. 8.

The record in the five occurences is 1-2-2. Miami rallied for the win Dec. 12 vs. Ohio State and earned ties with New Hampshire and North Dakota. The two losses came against Michigan State (in overtime) and Bemidji State.

POWER-PLAY UNIT
After a slow start to the 2010 portion of the schedule -- just four of 46 -- Miami's power-play unit stepped up last weekend. The RedHawks matched that scoring total in just 12 attempts. That now leaves Miami successful on eight of 58 (13.8 percent) attempts since a incredible run of seven goals on their last 14 tries before Christmas.

For the season, the RedHawks rank fifth in the CCHA at 19.1 percent (29 of 152).

PENALTY KILLERS
Miami faced just five shorthanded situations against Western Michigan, but allowed a goal on one of them. The RedHawks has surrendered just one goal in their 16 previous situations before that.

Still, Miami has killed off 100 of their last 112 penalties and rank second in the CCHA with an 88.5 percent success rate (138 of 156).

Miami has had four lengthy penalty-kill streaks this season -- 19 (at the start of the year), 17, 21 and 24.

FOUR SPOT
With four goals in the second stanza at Ferris State on Jan. 16, Miami has now registered that scoring total in six periods this season. It has happened in the second period three other times -- twice at New Hampshire and at Northern Michigan (Oct. 30), while also coming in both third periods vs. Ohio State.

EVEN-STEVEN
A tie in the Friday night game at Alaska was was the seventh this season, equaling season school records for both ties (also 1994-95) and overtime games (also 1991-92 and 2004-05). The RedHawks are now 1-1-6 this season in games that went to overtime. The shootout win was Miami's second in four attempts this season and fourth all-time (4-4).

SHORTHANDED SUCCESS
Miami has registered four shorthanded goals this season, with Joe Hartman leading the way. The freshman from St. Cloud, Minn., is tied for fourth in the nation in the category and is the only freshman in the top 19.

Tommy Wingels and Andy Miele have the RedHawks' other two shorthanded goals, both coming Nov. 20 at Western Michigan. That marked the first time Miami had two shorties in a game since Dec. 15, 2007 at Rensselaer.

...AND FAILURE
Miami has allowed two shorthanded goals this season, the last against Robert Morris on Jan. 8. North Dakota scored the other 4-on-5 goal against the RedHawks on Nov. 28.

IN THE CLUTCH
Tommy Wingels has been credited with five game-winning goals and is tied for first in the nation with six others.

Jarod Palmer and Andy Miele are just one shy of the team lead at four and are tied for eighth in the country.

THE CAPTAIN
With seven goals in the last 10 games -- including four at Ohio State Dec. 11 -- junior Tommy Wingels has vaulted into the team scoring lead. He has 13 goals and 29 points -- both team highs.

Wingels has recorded at least one point in 12 of the last 13 games, including seven straight at one point. He has also tallied points in 19 of the 28 outings this season.

MIE-LEADER
Junior Andy Miele stands tied for second in assists and fourth in points this season. He has registered eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points.

However, he has been held without a point in three of the last six games after being credited with at least one in 14 of the first 20 contests.

Miele has matched his career high of two goals twice this season -- at Western Michigan (Nov. 20) and vs. Ohio State (Dec, 12). He has also tallied three game-winning goals.

CENTURY CLUB
Miami saw its fifth player join the century club last Friday when junior Carter Camper made his 100th appearance as a RedHawk. He will joined classmates Tommy Wingels, Pat Cannone, Vincent LoVerde and Justin Vaive as in the club's the newest entrants.

Seniors Jarod Palmer (153) and Gary Steffes (133) have also reached triple-digit appearances.

Andy Miele has played in 86 career games and could reach the mark during postseason play.

COUNTDOWN TO 100
The 2009-10 senior class is one of the most successful in school history and still has several games left to play. The foursome of Jarod Palmer, Gary Steffes, Dane Hetland and Brandon Smith have experienced 98 wins during their careers, moving into a tie for second place with Saturday's win over Western Michigan.

The top 10 senior classes in Miami history:

1.	2008-09	106
2.	1997-08	98
3.	2009-10	98
4.	2006-07	88
5.	2005-06	88
6.	1994-95	84
7.	1981-82	77
8.	2003-04	76
	1995-96	76
	1996-97	76
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	2010-11 (next year's seniors)	74

GRAB THE BROOM
Western Michiganbecame Miami's seventh victim of a Friday-Saturday sweep this past weekend. The RedHawks also won a pair of games against St. Cloud State, Northern Michigan, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Ferris State.

Last year, Miami also swept seven teams during the regular season.

OPPONENT SWEEP
Robert Morris posted the first sweep against the RedHawks this year, handing Miami its first back-to-back losses since the 2009 CCHA Tournament against Northern Michigan.

They also mark the first time the RedHawks have been swept in a weekend series by a non-conference opponent since Oct. 29-30, 2004 at St. Lawrence University.

A year ago, only Michigan swept the RedHawks during the regular season.

FRESHMEN FEVER
Three of Miami's freshman class members have made a tremendous impact this season. Curtis McKenzie stands sixth on the team with 17 points (4g-13a), while Reilly Smith and Joe Hartman have 11 and eight points, respectively. Hartman was part of the No. 1 defensive pairing earlier this year and also has a pair of shorthanded goals.

HOME, SWEET, HOME
Miami's travel schedule got a lot lighter when it returned from Alaska on Jan. 24. Of the last 10 games on the regular-season schedule, seven are at home (five of eight currently). The three exceptions won't even take them out of state as Miami is slated to visit Bowling Green on Feb. 12-13 and Ohio State on Feb. 26.

ANOTHER HOME WEEKEND
Miami guaranteed itself a home weekend in the CCHA playoffs with its sweep of Western Michigan last weekend. The RedHawks can clinch a first round bye with just five more points (a win and a shootout win).

Miami can finish no worse that sixth in the conference standings.

PENALTY STOP
Sophomore Cody Reichard has stopped two penalty shots this season, first against Michigan State on Oct. 23 and then against Michigan on Nov. 6. Miami was also on the defensive end of two penalty shots last year with Connor Knapp making both stops.

ALL IN
A total of nine players on the Miami roster have appeared in all 28 games this season. The number includes freshman forwards Curtis McKenzie and Reilly Smith. Cameron Schilling was the latest player to miss a game -- he was a healthy scratch for Saturday's contest with Western Michigan.

Reserve goaltender Ben Saksa and defenseman Garrett Kennedy are the only players on the active roster yet to see action for the RedHawks.

TOP TEAMS
Miami's ice hockey team has the best winning percentage among all 58 Division I teams since 2005-06. Over the last four-plus seasons, the RedHawks have compiled a record of 124-48-20 (.698), ahead of Michigan, which has a record of 124-59-11 (.678) during the same span.

SHOOTOUT NUMBERS
Four of Miami's CCHA games this season have ended in a tie and gone to a shootout to determine who gets the third point in the conference standings.

Both games of the first Ferris State series, the Saturday night contest at Western Michigan and the Alaska opener were still deadlocked after overtime and went to the extra session.

Miami is 4-4 all-time in shootouts, including 2-2 this season.

EMPTY NETTER
Jarod Palmer converted Miami's only empty-net goal of the season on Dec. 12 when he scored with 27 seconds remaining against Ohio State.

The RedHawks previously registered an empty-net goal in the national semifinal win over Bemidji State. Justin Mercier was the recipient of that effort.

TWO OTs IN A ROW
Miami's back-to-back overtimes against Ferris State Nov. 13-14 were the first since the end of the 2007-08 season. The RedHawks defeated Air Force in the first round of the NCAA Regionals 3-2, before falling to Boston College 4-3 the next night.

CCHA AWARD WINNERS
Miami players have won three CCHA awards this season, including a pair on Nov. 9. Jarod Palmer and Cody Reichard were honored as Player of the Week and Goaltender of the Week, respectively, after the sweep at Michigan.

Sophomore Matt Tomassoni was the first RedHawk to gain a CCHA weekly award this year when he was named Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 19.

AND A NATIONAL AWARD
Cody Reichard was named National Player of the Week by Inside College Hockey on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

He was the first RedHawk honored with a national award this season.

QUICK STRIKES
Miami's two goals on in the second St. Cloud State game came just 20 seconds apart at 5:22 and 5:42 of the third period. The school record for fastest pair of goals is 11 seconds.

200 AND COUNTING
Miami University is celebrating its Bicentennial this year as the school was founded in 1809. The year-long celebration started on charter day - Feb. 16, 2009 - but the 2009-10 hockey season will be featured.

During the Notre Dame weekend, approximately 45 former players returned to campus to celebrate the history of the hockey program.

To commemorate the bicentennial, the team wore a special fourth jersey for both nights. The jerseys were then auctioned off to fans on MURedHawks.com.

THIS AND THAT NUMBERS
Miami improved to 15-0-0 when leading after two periods this season... The RedHawks are now 10-2-2 on Fridays, 8-1-4 on Saturdays and 10-0-4 on the road.