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Winter break was no break for the RedHawks, even though they seemed like they were on vacation.
Miami University's ice hockey team dropped all four of its games over the holidays, including consecutive losses to unranked teams and consecutive four-point losses in Ann Arbor.
The Red and White began to skid at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, attempting to defend their title at the Ohio Hockey Classic. Miami, who has participated in all six hockey classics, won last year and in 2005.
The RedHawks entered the tournament as No. 2 with an eight game winning streak behind them. That streak was broken when Clarkson University defeated Miami 4-2 Jan. 2. Though Miami out shot the Golden Knights 42-19, Clarkson, who was in the midst of an 11 game winless streak, capitalized on power plays.
Goal one for Clarkson came just 1:39 into the game when Shea Guthrie attacked at the net and Miami goalie Cody Reichard failed to make the save. At 11:16 in the second period, a rebound tap from Pat Cannone to Carter Camper evened the score at 1-1. Carter's goal was the team-high 11th of the season.
Clarkson's Julien Cayer scored during a power play at 13:05 in the second period. Brandon DeFazio and Bryan Rufenach's goals increased Clarkson's lead to 4-1.
Justin Vaive scored off of a slap shot by Raymond Eichenlaub, cutting the lead by two, but wasn't enough to overcome the large deficit.
"I am certainly proud of the way the guys competed against one of the best teams in the country," Clarkson head coach George Roll said.
The Golden Knights headed to the championship game against Ohio State University while Miami prepared for the consolation game against Army, who lost to Ohio State 6-1.
Now playing the Black Knights from Army, the RedHawks once again out shot their opponent. Once again, they were unable to pull off a win, losing 3-2. Both teams remained scoreless in the first period, with Miami goalie Connor Knapp stopping all five shots he faced.
Army took the lead in the second period with two goals by Cody Omilusik. Miami answered when Andy Miele scored at 15:16 in the second, with assists by Justin Vaive and Gary Steffes.
The score evened when Pat Cannone intercepted the puck and scored at 4:21 of the third. Army's game winning goal came at the hands of Eric Sefchik, who scored his team's second shorthanded tally of the contest.
The loss to Army marked goalie Connor Knapp's second loss of the season. Coach Enrico Blasi is still hunting for his 200th career win, of which he was denied for the second straight night.
Ringing in the New Year on a less-than-stellar note, Miami headed to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a rematch with the Wolverines.
In the two team's initial series this season, the RedHawks avenged losses from the 2007-08 campaign with a sweep in Oxford. This time it was Michigan's turn for vengeance, as they blew out Miami by a combined score of 9-1.
The series proved dangerous for 'Hawks right from the outset, as Friday's game had to be rescheduled due to structural damage to Yost arena resulting from snow and wind storms.
Once the games finally did begin, Michigan stormed out of the gate with three goals in the first five minutes of the opening period and added another in the period's waning seconds. Miami head coach Enrico Blasi pulled his starting goalie Cody Reichard after the third tally. His replacement, Connor Knapp, only succeeded the shorthanded score at the end of the first and Michigan's fifth goal of the game in the third, but the damage was already done. Miami's lone score came off the stick of freshman Trent Vogelhuber, who guided a pass from Justin Mercier past the Michigan keeper for his first goal as a RedHawk.
Unfortunately for the Oxford icers, Saturday's 5-1 embarrassment failed to wake them from their mid-winter hibernation. Michigan blanked the RedHawks 4-0 to complete the sweep, sending Miami stumbling home with a winless winter vacation.
"These were huge wins, especially where we are at in the season, the first part of the second half," Michigan captain Chris Summers said. "Some teams are second-half teams and hopefully we can be one of those teams.
The 'Hawks now stand in second place in the CCHA standings, five points behind the University of Notre Dame.
Up next for Miami is a home series against Michigan State University. The RedHawks will look to turn things around as they return to the Goggin and face a team they swept on the road before their winless 2009 began.
