Nov. 15, 2008

Coach Blasi on the New RedHawks

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami ice hockey "Brotherhood" has added five new members as five junior hockey players signed national letters of intent to attend Miami University.

Shane Berschbach is a member of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Berschbach is a 5-foot-8-inch native of Clawson, Mich. In 12 games this season with the Ice, Berschbach has 11 points (3-8-11) and four penalty minutes.

"He is a small forward, very savvy with the puck," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "He has play making ability and will add speed and skill to our forward group."

Joe Hartman is a 6-foot-4-inch, 200 pound defenseman from St. Cloud, Minn., and will join the RedHawks from the Indiana Ice of the USHL. Both Hartman's and Berschbach's current head coach at Indiana is former Miami assistant coach Jeff Blashill. In 12 games this season with the Ice, Hartman has three goals and four assists and 10 penalty minutes. 

"He plays very well defensively and can add some offense from the defensive side of things," Blasi said. "He has very good puck skills for a big defenseman."

Curtis McKenzie comes to Miami from the Penticton Vee of the British Columbia Hockey Leauge (BCHL). McKenzie is a 6-foot-1-inch, 190-pound forward from Golden, British Columbia. Last season with the Vees, McKenzie played in 49 games and recorded 10 points (3-7-10) and 81 penalty minutes. This season McKenzie has played in 16 games for Penticton and has eight goals and 11 assists for a total of 19 points. McKenzine leads his team in points per game with 1.2.

"He is a very strong player ala, Ryan Jones," Blasi said. "We are very excited to have him join our family. He has the ability to go in areas where few player like to go in front of the net."   

Reilly Smith will join the RedHawks from the St. Michael's Buzzer of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.  Smith is a 5-foot-11-inch, 165-pound forward from Toronto, Ontario. Last season for the Buzzers, Smith posted nine points (2-7-9) in 13 games. Smith has only played in one game so far this season and has two penalty minutes.

"We are very excited to have Reilly join our family," Blasi said. "He is a very talented young man. He will add a very good dimension to our team."

Steven Spinell is a 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound defenseman from Vernon HIlls, Ill., and joins the RedHawks from the Fargo Force of the USHL. Spinell is in his second season in the USHL and spent the 2007-08 campaign with the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets and played in 59 games and racked up 17 points (5-12-17). In 12 games this season with the Force, Spinell has one goal, one assist, a +4 mark and 20 penalty minutes.

"Steven Spinell is a big strong defenseman." Blasi said. "he is a hard player to play against defensively and he is really hard to beat one-on-one."