The Miami RedHawks honored Brendan Burke last night in the best way they know how...by sweeping Michigan with a 3-0 shutout. They now sit atop the CCHA and have moved up ever so slightly in the pairwise rankings. They need to build off the momentum they've created this weekend if they plan on making the NCAA tournament.
Here are some thoughts on some of the players I saw in action this weekend:
Chris Brown - Michigan - Phoenix - My affinity for the brand of spit and vinegar this Flower Mound, TX native brings to the game grows every time I see him play. The knock against him last year was his propensity to take undisciplined penalties and put his team at a disadvantage on a nightly occurrence, but he has slowly figured out a way to play his aggressive style, but within the rules and between the whistles. Just one assist to show for it this weekend, but he's been much more consistent in his effort and is getting the job done along the boards and around the net.
Jon Merrill - Michigan - New Jersey - He's a fantastic skater, but is still learning what it means to be positionally sound. He likes to take risks and they usually pay off for him in the offensive zone, but sometimes those risks come back to bite him and he gives up a scoring chance or is forced to take a penalty, or in the case of last night's game, both. I'm also eager to see him put on some muscle over the next year or two and use his big frame more to his advantage. In the dirty areas, he can be a bit of a lightweight.
Shawn Hunwick - Michigan - UFA - Sometimes it pays to be on the short side. He had a solid showing this weekend with one save in particular standing out in my mind. There was a shot from the point that got redirected in the slot from blocker-side to glove-side and he snapped that out the air like it was nothing leaving most of us wondering how in the heck he did that. Upon further review, the answer is that he's so low that he can literally see through the traffic in front of him. For a former third stringer, he's carved out a nice collegiate career by using his size (or lack there of) to his advantage.
Carl Hagelin - Michigan - New York Rangers - He's very intense and tenacious. Add in his speed and skating ability and he can be dangerous at any given moment and that's exactly why you can't ignore him on the ice. No points on the board this weekend to show for it but he was part of several quality scoring opportunities for the Wolverines. At the start of the season, there was talk about him potentially contending for the Hobey and while that doesn't look like it will pan out, he's still a very good player with a fantastic work ethic who could turn a few heads at the next level.
In short, Michigan is a better team than what they showed this weekend. They coasted in the third on Friday and got burned and they got behind early on Saturday and couldn't recover. They will need to figure out how to forget the scoreboard and learn to play for the next goal if they want to go deep in the tournament.
Chris Wideman - Miami - Ottawa - The offensive defenseman with a heck of a shot from the point is finally seeing regular time on the power play and it's paying off for the RedHawks with beaucoup scoring chances. People like to focus on his skating, but one of the more underrated aspects of his game is that he makes smart decisions with the puck and has great vision.
Andy Miele - Miami - UFA - With a goal and four assists on the weekend, he now has 54 points in 30 games and has a firm grasp on the top spot in the country. (Teammate Carter Camper is second with 47). He played with a lot of intensity and emotion this weekend and it paid off. He's a great playmaker with crisp passes and threads the needle like a seamstress. As of now, he's in my Hobey Hat Trick.
Justin Vaive - Miami - Anaheim - He's what I affectionately call a BAMF and Brian Burke had to be watching the games this weekend thinking to himself, "That's why I drafted him!" He uses all of his 6'6" 225 pound frame to punish opponents on a regular basis and I love just about everything about his game. He's got grit, determination and a nose for the net. Despite of, or maybe because of, his plethora of superstitions/routines, he also plays with a lot of passion and I dig it.
Will Weber - Miami - Columbus - I finally get all the Will Weber/Chuck Norris jokes...he is an absolute beast on the ice and laid out some monster hits this weekend. He is another BAMF and if I were on the ice and saw him coming at me, I'm sure I'd run as fast as I could in the other direction. I love watching him do his thing on the ice.
Reilly Smith - Miami - Dallas - Reilly seems to be in the right place at the right time. He follows the play, gets in open spaces, uses his skating and has great hands. You could say that his goals this weekend were easy tap-ins as both were rebounds but they were done with style. I'm eager to see his game develop over the next few years.
In general, Miami showed this weekend that they're an incredible team when they want to be. They've got a bit of an uphill climb if they want to get to St Paul in April, but they've got everything they need to get there if only they can maintain focus, play a full 60 and quit it with the stupid penalties, especially late in the game.
To watch highlights of Saturday's game, including parts of the pre-game ceremony to honor Brendan and post-game locker room reaction, click here
I'll be in Boston for the Beanpot tomorrow and will stay the week for various interviews and the Beanpot final next Monday....
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