Miami hockey continues its season this weekend with a series against Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena in Lansing, Mich.
The teams are strikingly similar.
So far, they have equal records. Both squads are 1-1, after Miami split a series with Ferris State and Michigan State took one-of-two from Air Force earlier this season. Both teams were also tabbed to finish second-to-last in their respective conferences’ preseason coaches polls.
Like Miami, Michigan State’s biggest strength is its goaltending. The RedHawks will have to find a way to beat goaltender Drew DeRidder, a senior, who finished last season with an excellent .923 save percentage in 24 games.
His backup, now sophomore Pierce Charleson, was even better than Deridder over fewer games his first year. He finished the season with a .938 save percentage in seven appearances.
The talk around Cady Arena this week was defense.
“We need to defend better than we defended before … the last time we played games,” head coach Chris Bergeron said. “After that we need to take care of the puck in all three zones.”
“Just be more consistent, '' junior forward Ryan Savage said. “[Against ferris state] I think we gave up too many opportunities in the d-zone and some simple mistakes we need to clean up, but if we play our game I think we’re going to be ok.”
SCOUTING REPORT
GAME 1
Miami RedHawks vs. Michigan State Spartans
Faceoff: 7 p.m. Friday, October 15, at Munn Ice Arena in Lansing, Michigan
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MIAMI REDHAWKS
Record: 1-1-0 (0-0 NCHC)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Michael Regush (striker, sophomore, 2 gp, 1 g, 2 a)
Derek Daschke (midfielder, senior, 2 gp, 0 g, 3 a)
Ryan Savage (midfielder, senior, 2 gp, 2 g, 0 a)
Matt Barry (forward, senior, 2 gp, 1 g, 1 a)
Ludvig Persson (goaltender, sophomore, 2 gp, 1-0-0, .867 save percentage)
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Record: 1-1-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Player (position, class, key stats)
Mitchell Lewandowski (forward, fifth-year, 2 gp, 3 g, 1 a)
Griffin Loughran (forward, junior, 2 gp, 2 g, 1 a)
Josh Nodler (forward, junior, 2 gp, 1 g, 2 a)
Nash Nienhuis (defenseman, sophomore, 2 gp, 0 g, 2 a
Pierce Charleson (goaltender, sophomore, 2 gp, 1-0-0, .966 save percentage)
GAME 2
Miami RedHawks vs. Michigan State Spartans
Faceoff: 7 p.m. Sunday, October 16, at Munn Ice Arena
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