The first annual Three Rivers Classic will start on December 28th and run through December 29th. The tournament will feature four Division I college programs, each playing two games at Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The four programs are Penn State, Robert Morris University, Ohio State, and Miami of Ohio University. Today, we will take a look at Miami of Ohio University.
The Miami Redhawks are favorites to win the Three Rivers Classic, ranked as the fifth best team in the nation thanks to a record of 11-3-4. Led by head coach Enrico Blasi, the Redhawks boast a squad that is just as young as it is talented. Eighteen players are underclassmen, including five of their eight defensemen as well as their top scoring forward, Riley Barber. Unfortunately for the Redhawks, Barber, along with Sean Kuraly, will not be playing this weekend. Both forwards are currently playing for the United States in the IIHF World Junior Championship.
If that means relying on goaltending and defense to win, then Miami is still in a great position. Over their last 11 games, the Redhawks have not allowed more than two goals while posting shutouts in two games. Freshman goaltender Jay Williams has a record of 8-2-3 while posting a .921 save percentage and 2.05 GAA. In their two game sweep against Ohio State, Williams teamed up with goaltender Ryan McKay to post identical save totals (22) and goals allowed (1).
Tied with Notre Dame for the top spot in the CCHA, Miami will look to stay hot while simultaneously pushing Ohio State further away. While the Redhawks have won three of their last four against Ohio State, they are 3-4-1 against the Buckeyes on neutral ice. While Riley Barber, who registered a goal and an assist against Ohio State last game, remains out, so does OSU head coach Mark Osieki; assisting the coaching duties for team USA.
The stage shouldn’t be too big for the Redhawks in comparison with the other teams in this tournament. After all, Miami hasn’t missed an NCAA tournament since 2005. Nevertheless, this is a very important weekend if Miami wants to stay on top of the division and stay on course heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Photo courtesy of NCAA
