The Miami RedHawks (2-0-0) have hit the road for their second series of the season against the RPI engineers (0-0-0) this weekend, which will also be their first road trip of the year. It will be RPI’s home opener and the first time their fans will see Eric Lang behind the bench. Friday night’s puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET, and Saturday’s is at 6:00 PM ET. Both games can be viewed on ESPN+.
RPI is in a similar position to Miami. Last season, RPI went 12-21-2 overall, 7-15-0 in ECAC play, and swept Miami in Oxford last October. They have a new coach, 19 newcomers compared to Miami’s 21, and eight returners compared to Miami’s seven. The Engineers are a legendary program looking to return to prominence, with two NCAA titles (1954 and 1985). Lang is in his first year at RPI after nine successful seasons at American International College (AIC), which was recently relegated to Division II.
RPI has played just one game so far, an exhibition against the Boston University Terriers, who are ranked second in the country, last Sunday. They lost 3-0, but held their ground in a closely contested match. An empty net goal late in the third period made the score seem lopsided than it was. The Engineers play a hard and heavy style, with an average age of 21.61 years and a roster full of big/physical players.
RPI’s top scorers, Dovar Tinling and Jagger Tapper, each had 20 points last season. Tinling scored 10 goals, the second-highest total on last year’s roster.
Related: Miami completes Weekend Sweep with 3-1 win over Ferris State
Miami is coming off a series sweep of the Ferris State Bulldogswhich defeated the defending champion Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday night, was ranked first in the country.
Miami head coach said Anthony Noreen his group is well aware of the challenge ahead at this week’s press conference: “First of all, Eric Lang is a coach we have as much respect for as anyone in the country. The work he did at AIC and now that he’s moving to the ECAC at a legendary program like RPI, he’s made big changes right away. Look what they did in the portal; they had one of the best classes. When I faced them on Sunday BU saw, they were organized, tough and played extremely hard. They are detailed, well coached, and they are going to win games this year.
These first two weekends are big challenges for us because you have to be ready to go from the moment the puck drops. Otherwise you have no chance. We know that, we’ve seen enough film and our guys know we have to be ready to go.”
Engineers to watch
Tyler Wallace, a junior winger, stands 6-foot-4 and brings both size and speed. He transferred from Niagara University, where he scored 26 points in 37 games last season, including 14 goals and 12 assists. Wallace should be part of RPI’s top six forward line.
Luciano Wilson, a 6-foot-2 graduate transfer from Minnesota State, adds experience and strength at center. He scored 13 points in 23 games last season and is also expected to be in the top six. Filip Sitar, a sophomore transfer from UConn, centers one of RPI’s scoring lines and handles the faceoff duties. He went 6-for-12 on draws in the exhibition against BU last Sunday.
Freshman forward Ian Scherzer, from Austria and a former member of Miami, reversed his commitment to RPI earlier this year. He played last season with the Madison Capitals of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and recorded 21 points in 45 games. Scherzer is part of the bottom six forwards and brings energy and speed to RPI’s lineup.
In terms of purpose, RPI has a very well-known name. Former Miami goalie Bruno Bruveris played in 34 games over two seasons with the RedHawks, posting a 4.15 goals-against average (GAA) and a .866 save percentage (SV%). He left this past offseason and will be motivated to prove himself against his former team and coach, and will likely see time this weekend.
Another option in net is Nate Krawchuk, a former teammate of Kocha Delic with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Last season, Krawchuk played 47 games, going 19-20-5 with a 3.45 GAA and .901 SV%, then posted a .908 SV% in four playoff games. Krawchuk split time in Sunday’s exhibition with Bruveris and returner Carson Dorfman, who likely won’t see ice time this weekend.
RedHawks to watch
Miami’s young core looked strong early. 17-year-old forward Ilia Morozov continues to play in all situations, handling penalty kills, power play and top center duties. He was strong on the leadoff and reliable on defense, but will look to improve his faceoff percentage after struggling in that area last weekend.
Freshman forward Justin Stupka, mentioned NCHC Rookie of the Week scored in both games against Ferris State last week. On Friday, he buried a rebound in front to give Miami a 4-3 lead in the third period. On Saturday he scored just 16 seconds into the game after a hard forecheck.
Winger Matteo Giampa, part of the top line with Morozov and Delic, has developed excellent chemistry with his linemates. Giampa gets on the ice quickly and helps make that top line as dynamic as it is. He recorded three points last weekend, including two goals and an assist.
Graduated forward Max Helgeson has been Miami’s most consistent faceoff man to date. He scored the empty-netter goal to seal Saturday’s victory and assisted Friday’s empty-netter with a last-ditch effort to swat the ball against Bradley Walker.
“I think we were together early on,” Helgeson said. “Our coaches brought us in two weeks before everyone else, so we had already built that bond and brotherhood. The boys played well and together, stuck to what the coaches preached and were tough, disciplined and passionate.”
Defender Vladislav Lukashevich showed his two-way skills and recorded two assists this weekend. His best play came Friday when he made a long pass to Giampa for a breakaway goal.
In goal, Matteo Drobac provided solid play both nights, winning both games and finishing with a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV%. If Shika Gadzhiev, who missed last weekend due to ongoing participation issues, remains unavailable, Drobac will likely start both matches again this weekend.
3 keys for Miami
After a strong opening weekend, Miami will need to build on its early success and tighten up on a few things to keep its momentum on the road. Here are three keys for the RedHawks this weekend against RPI.
RedHawks must win the showdown battle
Miami struggled to draw games this past weekend, winning just 33.3% on Friday, while Ferris State controlled 66.7%. Saturday was much better, with Miami winning 41.7%. Morozov will look to improve, while Helgeson and Ethan Hay were both strong in the circle, especially on the penalty kick.
Winning more ties this weekend should help Miami get out of its own zone faster, down one man, set up the power play and get into its offensive structure to create more chances.
RedHawks need to win the Special Teams battle
Miami averaged five penalties and 11 penalty minutes per game this season. The power play is 2-for-11 and has been inconsistent, sometimes missing too many shot opportunities, being “too cute” and not putting enough pucks on net. The penalty squad, led by Ryder Thompson, Helgeson and Morozov, has surrendered one goal in each game and is 8-for-10 on the young season.
Noreen spoke about the importance of special teams earlier this week: “It’s something we talked about during camp. We knew early on that there was going to be a new standard. It’s no different than why we saw so many centermen get kicked out of faceoffs. There’s a new standard and they’re trying to implement it right away. The same goes for penalties.”
What I liked from our side was that we wanted to eliminate stick penalties, the reaching, hooking and cutting. That will really be emphasized in the NCHC, as it should be. You see it in the NHL and you want to protect the skills and hands of players in vulnerable areas. We will be a team that always has to play on the edge; we just can’t get over it. We have to find a way to stand up for a teammate without getting a penalty, to be hard at the front and in corners without taking one. That is a learning process.”
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On the power play, Noreen said the group still needs more consistency: “Our execution wasn’t where we wanted or needed it to be. On Friday we kept the pucks alive and did the little things right. Consistency breeds creativity. When you do things the right way repeatedly, you show your skills. We failed to do that on Saturday, and that’s something we know will be a major factor going forward.”
RedHawks must match their physicality
Miami matched Ferris State’s physical play last weekend and should do the same against RPI, which will play an aggressive, heavy style in front of its home crowd. Players like Helgeson, Walker, Morozov and Shaun McEwen bring that advantage and will have to set the tone early this weekend.
“We don’t want to give up the physical side,” Noreen said. “We want to be the most physical team in our conference. We just have to be mature about where the line is.”
Defensively, Miami must continue to block shots and protect the net. Against Ferris State on Saturday, the RedHawks blocked a total of 22 shots, led by Lukashevich with six, while Ryder Thompson blocked five in Friday’s game. Striker David Deputy, who played chippy in his short spell in Friday’s 6-4 win, is out with an injury and is unlikely to play this weekend.
What’s next for Miami
“So far it’s been business as usual, meetings, video and practice,” Noreen said. “It will be the first time we travel together and there will be new challenges, which is good. That’s part of a season, learning and growing.
We’re going into a tough building against a team playing its home opener, and we know what that emotion will be like. They are in a similar situation as us; new staff, new players, new culture. We have to be ready for that. The best teams I have experienced find their way on the road and it will be a good challenge for us.”
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