Spring Break
Top 2 CCHA teams to battle on Goggin ice
Erika Hadley
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Front Page
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The occasion? A face-off between the two top-ranked teams in the nation.
Though Miami (6-2-2-1 CCHA, 6-3-3 overall) and the University of Michigan (5-3-0-0 CCHA, 8-4-0 overall) are now ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, the electricity and buzz surrounding the series remain as strong as ever.
The No. 1 tag attached to Miami's namesake last year led the RedHawk faithful to believe that anything was possible for their beloved team. Unanticipated, however, was the possibility that the Red and White might not be able to hold its ground against its nemesis to the north-the Wolverines of Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Maize and Blue scored four goals within a span of six minutes during the first frame of game one last year, evoking a rare and unnatural silence amongst Miami fans in the normally boisterous Steve Cady Arena. Unable to rally in the face of such a debilitating onslaught, the RedHawks fell 4-2 to the Wolverines that night.
The brotherhood fought to defend its honor during game two, battling back and forth fiercely with Michigan for a hard 60 minutes. In the end, despite coming back from numerous deficits, Miami skated to a disappointing 5-5 tie against the Wolverines. A heartbreaking 2-1 CCHA championship loss to Michigan March 22 closed the 2007-08 conference season for the 'Hawks.
As a result, the RedHawks have a score to settle.
"It's a big rivalry, obviously, and after what happened last year there's a little bit of payback involved," freshman goaltender Cody Reichard said.
Some of the big names in the series changed with the departure of Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik from Michigan's squad and Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis from Miami. The nature of the game, however, remains the same.
"They'll be tough games, for sure," senior captain Brian Kaufman said. "Michigan, every year, is a great team and they're a great program. They lost a lot from last year-a few guys, but a lot of talent. But they reload again every year, so they'll be great again this year. We'll expect another great battle like last year."
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