Geoff Smith has been a crucial part of the senior leadership this season with his play both on and off the ice.

'Hawks depend on senior leadership

3rd place RedHawks rely on veteran players

By: Stephen McCardell

Posted: 2/23/07

The Miami RedHawks may have lost six seniors from last year's Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) championship team, but the five seniors on the team this season have helped lead the 'Hawks to a 15-7-4 conference record.

The senior class of Marty Guerin, Matt Christie, Joe Cooper, Geoff Smith and Andy Nelson has Miami University sitting in third place in the CCHA right behind Michigan and Notre Dame.

While the RedHawks will not be able to repeat as CCHA champions, they do have a chance to build on their experience and success of the past three years in the playoffs this season.

"Obviously they have experience," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "They know what to expect, which will help the younger guys in the playoffs."

Blasi also noted that the seniors have played in two NCAA tournaments, something not many Miami hockey players of any era can say.

Guerin, who leads all seniors with 31 points, knows that the younger guys on the team can look to the seniors for support since they have the experience in big

game situations.

"We've been here for four years," Guerin said. "We've been in the spotlight before, so we know what to expect."

Christie, who has 25 points including his 100th point of his college career this season, understands the importance him and all the seniors play on a daily basis.

Guerin and Christie both agree that their role as seniors is a very important one, which they began developing from the seniors who were on the team when they were freshmen.

"Derek Edwardson and Mike Kompon really took Christie and me under their wing and showed us how to carry ourselves," Guerin said. "I learned the importance of every shift and every decision you make, both on and off the ice."

Christie also remembered what Edwardson and Kompon taught him four years ago.

"The biggest thing I learned is how to go about your day-to-day business," Christie said. "I learned to treat every day as a chance to get better."

The younger RedHawks may have already embraced this idea, as the team has strung together four straight wins heading into this weekend's final regular season games.

While there is little doubt that the seniors have helped lead the way on the ice this season, their roles off the ice may be what really defines the team. Seniors not only lead on the ice but they set the tone for the rest of the group.

"Ultimately, it's the senior's team," Christie said. "We have to lead by example and show (underclassmen) what it takes."

Work ethic isn't the only thing that the seniors have established throughout the team. In fact, it's the camaraderie they have established which may be the most instrumental reason for their success.

"Brotherhood is the team slogan," Guerin said. "We have a family atmosphere. We are all best friends on and off the ice,"

The freshmen on the team know that they have the older players to learn from. From day one, freshman Dane Hetland and other first-years have looked to the seniors for

guidance and help making the transition into collegiate hockey.

"The seniors have been awesome," said Hetland. "They treated us as part of the team from the very beginning."

The way to go about treating others is one of the many valuable lessons that Hetland said he has learned from this year's seniors.

The seniors and the rest of the RedHawks will now focus on finishing up their regular season on a high note this weekend against Northern Michigan before preparing for the CCHA tournament.

The 'Hawks hope a strong performance in the tournament will earn them another trip to the NCAA tournament near the end of March. This would be the third NCAA tournament for the seniors, which would be a tremendous accomplishment.