Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey

Updated on Dec 03, 2024

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University Miami University Location Oxford, Ohio Arena/Stadium Goggin Ice Center		Captain(s) Louie Belpedio Colors Red and White

Head coach Enrico Blasi18th year, 369–249–62 (.588) Alternate captain(s) Anthony LouisConor LemirandeJosh MelnickGrant Hutton Conference National Collegiate Hockey Conference

The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), starting play in the conference in the conference's 2013-14 inaugural season. Prior to the NCHC, from 1980 to 2013, the RedHawks were a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). They play in Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center.

History

Miami University added hockey to the roster of varsity sports in 1978, the program's first coach was Steve Cady. Miami played as an independent Division I team for the first two seasons, collecting an overall record of 45-27-3. The team joined the CCHA for the 1980-81 season, and has participated in the CCHA every season since.

The 1992-93 season marked a historic year for the program. led by the third head coach in program history, George Gwozdecky, the team received its first bid to the 1993 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The team lost in the first round to Wisconsin 3-6.

After a mediocre record for most of the program history the team has recently elevated to a powerhouse program in the NCAA Division I. Under current head coach Enrico Blasi the team has made the NCAA Tournament the past nine out of ten seasons, including the past eight straight seasons.

In 2009, the RedHawks made their first appearance in the Frozen Four, beating University of Denver in the opening round, Minnesota–Duluth in the West Regionals, and Bemidji State in National semifinal game. The team advanced to the Championship game and came within a minute of winning the school's first NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship before Boston University scored 2 goals in the final minute of regulation to tie the game. Boston finished the comeback with a strange redirected shot 11:47 into overtime.

Tragedy struck the program and school on Friday February 5, 2010, when Miami student hockey manager, Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, and a friend/passenger died in a traffic accident on icy winter roads in South-Central Indiana. The team remained strong, using the tragedy as inspiration on the ice. The team scored 10 goals the following night against Lake Superior State University. And on February 12, 2010, after a victory over Bowling Green State University, the RedHawks claimed a third CCHA regular-season title.

The RedHawks finished the 2010-11 regular season ranked third in the CCHA, giving the team a first round bye in the 2011 CCHA Tournament. The RedHawks faced Alaska in the second round and swept Alaska by a combined score of 8-2. The RedHawks then beat Notre Dame 6-2 in semifinal round and dismantled the Western Michigan Broncos in the championship to give the university its first Mason Cup. After the strong finish in the regular season the team was ranked as a #1 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. The RedHawks were placed into the Northeast Regional at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. In the opening round of the tournament the team faced the 4th-seeded New Hampshire Wildcats and lost 1-3 in front of a pro-New Hampshire crowd. Miami senior forward Andy Miele was named as the 2011 Hobey Baker Award winner, becoming the university's first Hobey Baker winner. Miele lead the nation in scoring with 71 points (24 goals and 47 assists). It was the most in Division I since the 2002-03 season and 11 more than the second highest scorer in the 2010-11 season. In addition, he had at least one point in 33 games and multiple points in 22 and tied a school record with a 17-game points streak from January 8, 2011, to March 19, 2011.

In July 2011, following the announcement in June 2011 that the Big Ten Conference will begin sponsoring men's ice hockey, The athletic directors of the Miami and five other schools, Colorado College, the University of Denver, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, and the University of North Dakota, announced the formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Miami will remain in the CCHA until the NCHC begins play in the 2013-14 season.

The 2011-12 season marked another return to the CCHA Semifinals at Joe Louis Arena and seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The RedHawks finished the regular season with a record of 21-15-2 and a conference record of 15-11-2-1. Despite a slow start to the season that included a five-game winless streak through October, they finished the regular season with a six-game win streak and secured fourth place in the CCHA standings. The RedHawks received a first round bye in the 2012 CCHA Tournament and swept Michigan State in a best-of-three series to advance to the CCHA Semifinals. Although the team lost in the CCHA Semifinals 2-6 to Western Michigan, the RedHawks rebounded with a 4-1 win over Bowling Green in the CCHA Third-place game. Despite the loss in the CCHA Semifinal round, the RedHawks received an at-large bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament and were seeded second in the East Regional, held in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Miami played the third-seeded UMass Lowell in the opening round in the tournament. The RedHawks rallied in the third period to overcome a three-goal deficit and tie the game to force overtime. The RedHawks season was ended just over two minutes into overtime when UMass Lowell forward Riley Wetmore capitalized on a rebound to give UMass Lowell a 4-3 win. The loss to UMass Lowell marked the team's second straight first round loss after making the Frozen Four in 2009 and 2010.

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last several seasons completed by the RedHawks.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Records as of completion of 2015-16 season.

Current

The RedHawks current head coach is Enrico Blasi, former player at Miami (OH) from 1990–1994 and captain 1993-94. Blasi was hired as head coach at Miami in 1999 after serving as assistant coach to former RedHawks coach, George Gwozdecky at the University of Denver. He was just 27 when hired, becoming the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.

The 2005-2006 season marked a historic season for Blasi and the Miami RedHawks program. With a 3–1 win over Ferris State, Blasi became the winningest head coach in school history reaching 130 career wins and surpassing Steve Cady's 122 wins behind the RedHawks bench. In addition Miami (OH was ranked #1 in the country for the first time program history. Blasi lead the RedHawks to the program's first CCHA Regular Season Championship. That same season he was the winner of the Spencer Penrose Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association for head coach of the year in Division I Men’s Hockey.

All-time coaching records

As of March 5, 2016

Current roster

As of January 11, 2017.

Hobey Baker Award winners

Andy Miele – 2011

All-Americans

The following players have been named First or Second Team All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association:

Note: Italics indicate a player is still an active RedHawk.

Austin Czarnik – 2014 Second Team

Austin Czarnik – 2013 First Team

Reilly Smith – 2012 First Team

Andy Miele – 2011 First Team

Carter Camper – 2011 Second Team

Cody Reichard – 2010 Second Team

Carter Camper – 2009 Second Team

Ryan Jones – 2008 First Team

Alec Martinez – 2008 Second Team

Nathan Davis – 2007 Second Team

Andy Greene – 2005 Second Team and 2006 First Team

Derek Edwardson – 2004 Second Team

Dan Boyle – 1997 and 1998 First Team

Randy Robitaille – 1997 First Team

Chuck Thuss – 1995 First Team

Brian Savage – 1993 Second Team

Bob Marshall – 1993 Second Team

Conference awards

The following RedHawk players won a major conference award:

Cody Reichard – 2009–10 CCHA Player of the Year

Will Weber – 2009–10 CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman

Tommy Wingels – 2009–10 CCHA Best Defensive Forward

Andy Greene – 2007–08 CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman

Alec Martinez – 2007–08 CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman

Nathan Davis – 2006–07 CCHA Best Defensive Forward

Andy Greene – 2005–06 CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman

Andy Greene – 2004–05 CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman

Derek Edwardson – 2003–04 CCHA Player of the Year

Ernie Hartlieb – 1998–99 Terry Flanagan Award

Dan Boyle – 1997–98 CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman

Chuck Thuss – 1994–95 Terry Flanagan Award

Chris Bergeron – 1992–93 CCHA Best Defensive Forward

Joe Cook – 1992–93 CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman

Bob Marshall – 1992–93 CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman

Brian Savage – 1992–93 CCHA Player of the Year

Currently active

Riley Barber (2012–15) – Hershey Bears (AHL)

Tyler Biggs (2011–12) – Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)

Carter Camper (2007–11) – Albany Devils (AHL)

Austin Czarnik (2011–15) – Boston Bruins (NHL)

Blake Coleman (2011–15) – Albany Devils (AHL)

Andy Greene (2002–06) – New Jersey Devils (NHL)

Ryan Jones (2004–08) – Kölner Haie (DEL)

Connor Knapp (2008–12) – Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)

Alec Martinez (2005–08) – Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

Curtis McKenzie (2009–13) – Texas Stars (AHL)

Andy Miele (2007–11) – Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Jack Roslovic (2015–16) – Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Cameron Schilling (2008–12) – Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Reilly Smith (2009–12) – Florida Panthers (NHL)

Chris Wideman (2008–12) – Ottawa Senators (NHL)

Tommy Wingels (2007–10) – Ottawa Senators (NHL)

Jeff Zatkoff (2005–08) – Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

Retired

Kevyn Adams (1992–96) – played professionally 1996–2008 (AHL, DEL, IHL, NHL)

Chris Bergeron (1989–93) – played professionally 1993–2000 (AHL, CHL, ECHL, IHL, UHL); current head coach of Miami's in-state rival the Bowling Green Falcons (WCHA).

Dan Boyle (1994–98) – played professionally 1998–2016 (AHL, IHL, NHL, SHL)

Alain Chevrier (1980–84) – played professionally 1984–91 (IHL, NHL); first Miami player to reach the NHL.

Ernie Hartlieb (1997–2001) – played professionally 2001–14 (AHL, ECHL).

Cody Reichard (2008–12) – played professionally 2012–16 (AHL, ECHL).

Randy Robitaille (1995–97) – played professionally 1997–2014 (AHL, KHL, NHL, NLA, RSL)

Brian Savage (1990–93) – played professionally 1993–2006 (AHL, NHL).

School records

The following are the Miami school records. Statistics are accurate as of the 2009–10 season.