Next games
Who: Miami RedHawks (4-1-1, 1-1 CCHA) vs. Ferris State Bulldogs (2-2-2, 1-1 CCHA)
When: 7:05 p.m. today and Saturday
Where: Ewigleben Ice Arena (2,490), Big Rapids, Mich.
Radio: WKBV-AM (1490)
The captain likes what he’s seen so far from Miami University’s hockey team.
Senior defenseman Steven Spinell is the RedHawks’ lone captain this season, and he said there’s been a lot of positive energy created by the squad’s talented young players.
“I thought we might come out hot and just rolling right away with all this young energy, and I think we’ve kind of started out that way,” Spinell said. “We’re going to keep working on that and building on that.”
MU stands 4-1-1 after splitting its opening Central Collegiate Hockey Association series last weekend at Michigan. A two-game set at defending CCHA regular-season champion Ferris State starts tonight.
The RedHawks’ top two point men are a sophomore (Austin Czarnik) and a freshman (Riley Barber). Both have eight.
Spinell, from Vernon Hills, Ill., said the upperclassmen have been working with the younger guys since long before the season began.
“We’ve found ourselves being mentors more times than not,” Spinell said. “We had to really take time to bring the younger guys along and kind of show them the way. It’s been a lot of fun, though. You learn more about yourself when you’re trying to help other people.
“I think the thing I stress the most is hard work. One of our mottos in a sense has been, ‘We won’t be outworked.’ So aside from the systems, aside from the other things we can’t control, we can control how hard we work, so that’s our focus. There’s no secrets on this team. We’ve made it clear what we expect out of every guy.”
Spinell said it’s “an honor and a responsibility” to be Miami’s captain. He takes it very seriously.
“We have the Brotherhood document, and I try to live it the best I can, hold myself and others accountable to a high standard,” Spinell said.
The RedHawks’ top two goalies, Ryan McKay and Jay Williams, are freshmen. McKay has been starting on Friday nights, but he suffered a leg injury last week. His status for this weekend is unclear.
Ferris is 2-2-2 overall and 1- 1 in the CCHA. The Bulldogs split with Alaska last weekend.
Sophomore goalie C.J. Motte has allowed 15 goals and has a .908 save percentage for FSU. Its scoring leaders are senior wing Kyle Bonis (four goals, three assists), junior center Cory Kane (two goals, four assists) and sophomore defenseman Simon Denis (two goals, three assists).
Ferris has outscored its opponents 21-17. The Bulldogs have also nearly doubled their opponents in penalties (33-17).
Miami is 0-3-1 in its last four games at Ferris. The tie resulted in a shootout loss.
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