This Friday, the #17 Ohio State Men’s Hockey team hosts #11 Miami University in the only Columbus match-up between the teams. The home-and-home series revisits the former in-conference showdown for the second straight year since the end of the CCHA (game two is Saturday in Oxford). It’s a new-look season for the Buckeye offense, and a redemption year for a mostly-unchanged Redhawk squad. What can you expect from this marquee game?
Meet Miami
In general, recent history has been kind to the Redhawks. Miami made the NCAA Tournament 8 consecutive seasons between 2006 and 2013. The team reached some dizzying heights, making the Frozen Four in both 2009 and 2010 (including that most heartbreaking title game loss against Boston University in 2009). Last season was a rare step back for Enrico Blasi’s team, finishing under .500 for just the second time in the past decade.
Miami did not suffer much overhaul from last season. That may come as a mixed bag comment given their record, but the returning parts should contribute to a roaring offense. All 8 of the 8 leading Redhawk scorers make the roster again. They’re led by 2013-14 point-per-game forwards Austin Czarnik, Riley Barber, and Blake Coleman. Goalie Ryan McKay also makes a return in net. His sophomore showing was a drop from a stellar rookie 2012-13 season, so he offers more uncertainty than his forward counterparts.
If McKay returns to prior form or if the defense can help suppress chances, the Redhawks stand a chance to improve their record. If those options fail, it will be left to the offense to win firefight games all year.
In-State History
Both Miami and Ohio State are former members of the CCHA. Thanks to that long run of great play for the Redhawks and regular conference games against the Buckeyes, OSU has been a frequent victim of the Miami attack. Over the past 3 years, Miami leads the series 8-2-1. Home ice hasn’t helped Ohio State either: the Buckeyes have fallen to 0-4-1 in Columbus games vs Miami since the 2011-12 season.
The last time the Buckeyes won the season series against the Oxford team was in 2010-2011, nabbing two wins in the Schott. This apparent OSU shortcoming speaks more to the success of Miami than anything else. Ohio State has simple been another team to brush aside as the Redhawks pushed for NCAA glory.
Results to Date
The season is young, and both teams have a 1-1-0 record. Ohio State pulled a surprise upset at home over (then #3 ranked) Providence last Friday. The Buckeyes rode a late game powerplay surge and an Anthony Greco hat trick goal in OT for victory. OSU suffered their first loss of the year the next night to close the series. Ohio State still mangaged to push the Friars to OT Saturday thanks to a great performance from Buckeye goalie Matt Tompkins. Providence won it 2-1.
Miami opened their year with a home-and-home against Bowling Green, with each team picking up a home victory. The first game was 2-3 loss for the Redhawks at BG. Sunday in Oxford, Miami netted a 3-2 win. Sean Kuraly led the way for Miami, picking up 2 goals at home and an assist on the road. Seven other Redhawks tallied points during the weekend.
What to Expect Friday
Arguably the most exciting thing to come Friday night? The atmosphere, especially compared to the silence of last weekend. Miami fans show up in Columbus thanks to the cheap, abundance space in the Schott (it’s a much easier entrance than at the Goggin). Columbus attendance numbers have been over 4,00 for each of the past five OSU-MU games (the biggest showing in February 2012 with over 8,000 in the stands).
While 4,000 still isn’t enough to occupy the entire arena, the proud and noisy Miami fans do wonders to fill the space. A strong offense and vocal supporters means an evening full of Redhawk goal celebrations, stereotypical sieve chants, and a pleasant consistent noise of reaction to on-ice events. Factor in the energy of the Knucklebuck student section and the regular OSU crowd? The Schott should get that college hockey kick of life on Friday.
As for the game action itself: if the Miami offense is clicking, Ohio State will have to summon the scoring seen last Friday to keep up. That said, Providence is a very talented team, so the Buckeyes should be prepared for their Oxford opponents.
The puck drops at 7:00 pm on Friday, so grab your tickets and get to the game!
NHL Outlook
Miami has 6 NHL Drafted players on their active roster (their 7th, Jimmy Mullin, out for the year with injury). If you’re at the game Friday, keep an eye out for these potential future pros.
- #3 Colin Sullivan (2011 7th, MTL)
- #9 Sean Kuraly (2011 5th, SJ)
- #11 Riley Barber (2012 6th, WSH)
- #25 Blake Coleman (2011 3rd, NJ)
- #58 Louie Belpedio (2014 3rd, MIN)
- #95 Anthony Louis (2013 6th, CHI)
Featured image of Blake Coleman courtesy of Wikimedia and user Elliott Connor
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