Miami Student

Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports

With former team captains Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis off to the pros, senior Justin Mercier (16) looks to lead the RedHawk offense in 2008-09. Miami starts the regular season Oct. 10 against Ohio State University.

The Miami University men's ice hockey team is set to skate into the 2008-09 hockey season just as it left off at the end of last season-with a national top 8 ranking. Saturday's exhibition game against Ryerson University will give coach Enrico Blasi's squad an opportunity to showcase its ability as a nationally ranked team on home ice at the Goggin Ice Center.

Despite heavy losses on the defensive front and the departure of top-notch offensive players Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis, USA Today and USA Hockey Magazine ranked Miami eighth nationally in a pre-season poll. This marks the third season in a row the RedHawks open their season perched near the top of the national polls.

Miami kicked off the 2006-07 season with a No. 8 ranking and opened the 2007-08 season ranked fourth. Additionally, this season's team was picked to finish third in the CCHA in the preseason coaches' poll.

These rankings are a clear manifestation of the respect that the 'Hawks have gained nationally, despite the abundance of young, unproven talent. This year's roster has 13 underclassmen, including seven freshmen.

Following a shocking and premature exit from last year's NCAA Tournament at the hands of now No. 1 ranked Boston College, the team known as "the brotherhood" will return to the ice this season, sans a only few players who were previously instrumental to the team's success.

Since last season, the talented offensive duo of Jones and Davis have graduated and moved on to professional arenas. Though their presence will be missed, this year's team is fairly well equipped to cope with offensive losses.

As team captain, Jones led the team in scoring last year with 49 points to his name. This year, however, Miami returns two of its top three scorers in senior Justin Mercier and sophomore Carter Camper. Both Mercier and Camper broke the 40-point mark in the 2007-08 season.

After a loss of many defensive players-including Alec Martinez and goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, both of whom left Miami a year early to join the ranks of the Los Angeles Kings-seasoned senior assistant captain Kevin Roeder will be instrumental this year in contributing to and leading defensive play on the ice, with senior Raymond Eichenlaub and sophomore Vincent LoVerde also contributing their experience to the defensive line-up.

However Miami's goaltending is the biggest question mark currently on the roster, combining junior Jon Whitacre and freshmen Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp for a talented group that simply lacks experience in a collegiate setting.

The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at Steve Cady Arena.

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