Believe in the Brotherhood
Erika Hadley
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Front Page
The RedHawks celebrate victory over the Bemidji State Beavers Thursday evening at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The final takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday against Boston University.
Emotions ran high Thursday night as the Miami University men's ice hockey team bested Bemidji State University 4-1 to advance to its historical first-ever NCAA tournament final.
The RedHawks normally draw a tremendous amount of strength from their ability to possess the puck, but Bemidji State managed to keep Miami from playing to that strength during the first frame. The Beavers did a good job reducing major RedHawk offensive plays to mere board battles and keeping the puck on Miami's end, and the period ended in a 0-0 draw.
"We knew Bemidji was going to be tough in the way they play, real aggressive style," Miami head coach Enrico Blasi said. "I thought our guys did a pretty good job of adapting to that and really trying to turn it on them in transition."
Less than four minutes into the second stanza, however, the brotherhood's luck began to change after BSU sophomore Ian Lowe was whistled for hitting from behind at 2:22. Miami took the man-advantage all the way to the net and earned the first point of the game when freshman Matt Tomassoni fired a cross-ice pass to sophomore Tommy Wingels and Wingels blasted a slapshot right past Bemidji goaltender Matt Dalton. Miami is now 22-1-2 when lighting the lamp first.
Freshman Alden Hirschfeld then gave the Red and White an insurance goal at 8:35 on a beautifully executed Miami play. Sophomore Carter Camper picked up the puck in Miami's defensive zone and dished it to Wingels, who passed it neatly across the slot to Hirschfeld for the RedHawks' second tally of the night.
Shortly thereafter, the Beavers earned their second power play of the night when sophomore Andy Miele was sent to the sin bin for hooking at 9:26 of the second frame. Bemidji didn't let the advantage go to waste and cut the RedHawks' lead in half just 20 seconds later when senior Matt Francis wristed a shot past rookie goaltender Cody Reichard.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
poisontongue
poisontongue
posted 4/10/09 @ 1:03 AM EST
Yeah! Do me a favor and please, please don't let another Boston team beat us! No more Beantown bums! Do it, we are Cinderella! The Brotherhood conquers all!
Now if only that Angels pitcher didn't get killed today, I'd be in much better spirits. (Continued…)
bhalas
Miami Alum '93
posted 4/10/09 @ 1:14 AM EST
I feel extremely proud at this moment to be a Miami University alumnus. My senior year was Miami's first trip to the NCAA tournament. We were hastily dismissed in the first round, but I knew the best was yet to come. (Continued…)
Ben
posted 4/10/09 @ 9:01 AM EST
Go REDHAWKS!!! This is really sweet! It's nice to actually have a sports team to get excited about. Boston College is good, real good in fact. Miami will need to bring it come Saturday. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 4/10/09 @ 4:10 PM EST
As a Miami alumnus, I hope people on campus realize how huge this is - love Miami hockey - loved watching the early 90's teams @ goggin including enrico blasi, Oates, & others - it would be unf'inbelievable to beat these east coast fairies - go redskins - yes I said redskins
MU Alum 1987
posted 4/10/09 @ 4:16 PM EST
Go Miami Go! This is great to follow. So nice to see hockey succeed and get attention nationwide. What better way to celebrate 200 years of Miami than with an NCAA Championship!
Andy Bailer
posted 4/10/09 @ 4:54 PM EST
Erika,
You did a great job with this article and your question at the post-game press-conference was more knowledgeable and insightful than writers from well-known media outlets around the country. (Continued…)
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