A week after clinching the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) regular season championship, the No. 1 Miami University hockey team (19-1-4-2 CCHA, 22-4-6 overall) will look to continue its winning ways and extend its 22 game conference unbeaten streak with its final home series of the season v. the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) (12-11-3-2 CCHA, 16-12-6 overall) this weekend.

The RedHawks' primary focus this season has been to win championships, beginning with the regular season title and ultimately hoping to achieve what slipped through their fingers on April 11, 2009 — winning the national championship. With the first goal checked off the list, Miami is now concentrating on securing a No. 1 seed to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional in Ft. Wayne, Ind.

"At the beginning of the year we sat down with the coaches and laid it all out on the table — we want to win three championships," sophomore Chris Wideman said. "The first one was the conference title and that's the only one on our plate right now. Now that we've accomplished that, we're playing for the No.1 seed in Indiana. We want to play there in front of our fans."

UNO possesses a lot of depth and momentum that is sure to make life hard for the RedHawks this weekend. The Crimson and Black are 6-1-1 in their last 10 games. Additionally, the Mavericks are under the fierce leadership of new Head Coach Dean Blais, who formerly led the University of North Dakota for 10 seasons and won a pair of national championships with the Fighting Sioux. Still, the Brotherhood is unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with the Mavericks and leads the all-time series 16-6-3. The Red and White are also currently on a NCAA-best 10 game unbeaten streak.

Both teams performed well last weekend and were recognized for their achievements this week. Each week, the CCHA honors four players, and after outstanding performances v. University of Michigan (UM) and Bowling Green State University (BGSU), respectively, the Mavericks and RedHawks swept this week's conference awards.

UNO freshman Terry Broadhurst earned the nod as the CCM Rookie of the Week for the second straight week after he tallied two power play goals — including the game-winner in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Wolverines — and two assists in the Crimson and Black's sweep of UM Feb. 12 and 13. Additionally, redshirt freshman goaltender John Faulkner was named the Reebok Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season. Faulkner recorded a season-high 36 saves in the Mavericks' 4-1 win over the Maize and Blue on Saturday and improved his record to 12-9-4 on the season.

Miami senior Jarod Palmer was chosen as the CCHA Player of the Week after he registered six points on three goals and three assists last weekend. The Fridley, Minn. native had a hand in all three of the RedHawks' goals on Friday and scored the game winner with 3:23 left in regulation. On Saturday, Palmer posted one goal and two assists, and tallied a +4 on the weekend overall. The award was Palmer's second of the year, as he was named the CCHA Player of the Week on Nov. 9, 2009.

The Red and White's No. 1 defense performed just as well as its offense, and Wideman took home the defenseman of the week award after a solid showing v. the Falcons. Wideman netted a goal in both games — including one shorthanded on Saturday — and tallied two assists in the series finale for a season high three points. In addition, he helped Miami kill off 11 of 13 BGSU power plays.

"We're capable of scoring," Miami Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "We have three or four lines that can score. Defense is getting involved in it. Obviously it takes a team effort to score 10 goals — it's not one guy doing it."

Though the Brotherhood has occupied the nation's top spot for 16 of 18 weeks this season, this week's individual awards are some of only a few that have been granted to Miami players this season.

"Well we haven't had too many players of the week this year, and you can look at it two ways: one, where people could say that we're not getting the recognition, but I look at it that this has been a team effort all the way," Blasi said. "When the team's doing well … everybody's shining and everybody's contributing in one way or another. No one really cares about players of the week — we want to hoist trophies as a team."

It all starts with the forwards. Palmer boasts a team best +23 and is tied with junior Andy Miele for tops in points with 35. Four of Blasi's boys — Palmer, Miele and juniors Carter Camper and captain Tommy Wingels — have 30-plus points this season and rank among the nation's top 50 scorers.

The Mavericks play a solid all-around game as well, which prompted College Hockey News to name them this week's team of the week. One of UNO's greatest strengths lies with its forwards. The lineup features seven players with 20-plus points this season, which will pose a definite threat to the RedHawks normally airtight defense. Senior captain Jeric Agosta is having a career season and leads the team in goals with 14, tied with Miele for 10th in goals in league play. Broadhurst is especially dangerous when the Crimson and Black have the man-advantage. Broadhurst is tied for first on the team in power play goals and third in the CCHA.

Defensively, Miami is nearly unparalleled by any other team. The Red and White have surrendered an average of just 1.69 goals per game. Seeing as the RedHawks rank second in the country in penalty minutes as well, it is vital that Miami fares well with the man-disadvantage. The Brotherhood's fourth-ranked 87.7 percent kill rate speaks for itself.

The Mavericks 26th ranked scoring defense has allowed just 2.79 goals per game, and their penalty kill (PK) unit finds success 83.4 percent of the time.

Faulkner's prowess between the pipes was highlighted by his nod for the CCHA Goaltender of the Week, but the Sarnia, Ontario native has provided a dependable backbone for UNO's defense all season. Faulkner has compiled a record of 12-8-4 and owns 2.51 goals against average (GAA) and 0.907 save percentage (SP).