The Miami University RedHawks hockey team (3-23-2, 0-18-0 in conference play) has struggled to earn points against National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) opponents in the 2024-25 season.
Although the RedHawks have fallen far behind in the standings, they are still doing everything they can to gain points in a transition year.
Miami’s matchup last weekend against the No.19 Colorado College Tigers showcased that Anthony Noreen’s team still wants to perform as best as they can before the season ends.
Friday’s game between the two squads was as much of a one-sided affair as possible.
The Tigers stormed out to a 3-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of the game thanks to an unassisted tally from first-year forward Philippe Blais-Savoie and two goals from senior forward Drew Montgomery.
There were no more tallies in the first frame, but the Tigers continued pouring the heat on. Another first-year forward, Owen Beckner, put his name in the goal column less than four minutes into the second period.
Graduate student defenseman Dylan Moulton scored the only goal of the game for the RedHawks just over three minutes later, but a second goal from the Tigers with 9:01 remaining in the second returned their four-goal lead back. Gavin Lindberg found twine, becoming the third first-year to put the puck in the net.
Tigers sophomore forward Klavs Veinbergs scored the only goal of the third period, giving the Tigers a 6-1 lead and eventual victory.
With the first result as lopsided as many others have been this season, there was reason to believe Saturday’s contest would be much of the same. However, the RedHawks showcased resolve.
The Tigers started hot once again, with two goals in the first and one in the second. Up 3-0 heading into the third, it looked as if the Miami offense would once again be stifled by a ranked NCHC opponent.
Moulton scored his second goal of the weekend just 4:14 into the period, but less than five minutes later, the Tigers responded thanks to graduate student Tyler Coffey. After the RedHawks received a five-on-three power-play goal from graduate student Colby Ambrosio, the floodgates opened.
Miami, down 4-2 at this point in the game, scored two more goals in less than two minutes to tie the game. Sophomore defender Rihards Simanovičs scored his first career collegiate goal, and senior forward Raimonds Vitolins potted the second, forcing overtime.
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The RedHawks had what appeared to be the game-winning goal on the power play with 17.5 seconds remaining, but Tigers head coach Kris Mayotte successfully challenged the play for goalie interference, overturning the goal call.
Miami fell under two minutes into the extra period on Montgomery’s third goal of the weekend. However, the RedHawks managed their first point in the conference standings since their first NCHC series on the road against the St. Cloud State Huskies.
“I thought we showed heart all night long,” Noreen said. “I thought we were disciplined, we worked. It was just one of those games where we would have a crack, and they’d come down, something would flip up in the air and find a way to go into our net. But what I loved is that we stuck to it.”
The RedHawks face the No. 6 Denver University Pioneers, a team coming off a home series split against the then-ranked No. 17 University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Denver sits with a 10-7-1 record in conference play, good for fifth in the NCHC. Their overall record sits at 21-8-1, giving the RedHawks a major test in their first home series in two weeks.
Miami does get a break on Friday, as the Pioneers will be without their best player due to a suspension. Sophomore defenseman and Minnesota Wild first-round selection Zeev Buium fought North Dakota’s first-year defenseman EJ Emery in the last game between the two teams last weekend.
Four Pioneers players, including Buium, have scored 30 or more points this season. Senior forward Jack Devine leads the team with 41 points in 30 games.
The games are scheduled for Feb. 21 and 22 at 5:30 and 6:05 p.m. at Goggin Ice Center.
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