The Miami University RedHawks hockey team opened up the 2025-26 season hot, winning its first two games in the home opener against Ferris State University. Miami hits the road this weekend against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers on Oct. 10-11.
Game one vs. Ferris State (6-4 win)
The RedHawks stepped on the ice for warmups on Oct. 3, not just with 21 new faces on the official roster (and almost an entire new lineup), but also with a new attitude. Hoots and hollers echoed around Steve “Coach” Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center, signaling the outset of a new season and, hopefully for those involved, the beginning of a new age.
Miami welcomed the Ferris State University Bulldogs as its first opponent of the 2025-26 season. With a crowd of 2,572 in attendance for the Friday whiteout-theme, the two teams engaged in a war from start to finish.
Miami and Ferris State both registered power-play goals in the first period. One of the RedHawks’ seven returners, sophomore defenseman Michael Quinn, struck first nearly eight minutes into the game. Just under three minutes later, senior forward Josh Zary responded for the Bulldogs.
Ferris State eventually took a 3-2 lead in the second period while holding the home team to zero. However, a three-goal run in the third period tipped the scale back in the RedHawks’ favor. Sophomore forward Casper Nassen, freshman forward Justin Stupka and junior forward Matteo Giampa all tallied a goal, while Giampa earned his second goal of the night after scoring late in the first period.
Junior forward Emerson Goode gave the Bulldogs one more goal for the night, but Bradley Walker scored on an empty net to keep the deficit at two goals. The RedHawks took their win 6-4 for their first victory since Oct. 26, 2024.
Game two vs. Ferris State (3-2 win)
The second game of the series wasn’t nearly as high-scoring as the first, with neither team impacting the scoreboard in the second period. When the final buzzer rang, however, Miami held a two-point advantage and rose to 2-0 early in the season.
The RedHawks wasted little time (16 seconds to be precise) before getting on the scoreboard, with Stupka scoring his second goal of the series early in the first period. Neither team found the back of the net for nearly two full periods afterwards.
The Bulldogs tied the game 1-1 thanks to a power play early in the third. With three minutes left on the clock, Miami put the final nail in the coffin when Kocha Delic registered a goal off an assist from Michael Quinn and Matteo Giampa.
The RedHawks headed to the locker room with a 2-0 standing to start the season.
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Junior forward Matteo Giampa skates with the puck against Ferris State at Goggin Ice Center on Oct. 3
Preview: Road matchup against RPI
Miami leaves Oxford this weekend to face the RPI Engineers in Troy, New York. The games are slated for 7 p.m. on Oct. 10 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 11.
The Engineers played an exhibition game against the No. 3 Boston University Terriers, losing 3-0. The series against Miami will serve as RPI’s official season opener.
RPI lost most of its top scorers from last season. Senior defenseman Wil Gilson, the roster’s leading scorer with 24 points, transferred to Quinnipiac University. Junior forward Tyler Hotson, who finished with 22 points, is currently at Bowling Green State University.
The team’s fifth-best scorer, senior forward Dovar Tinling, returned to skate for RPI this season. He tallied 20 points, with an even 10 goals and 10 assists, last season.
The RedHawks welcomed RPI to Goggin last season, losing the first game 3-2 in overtime and dropping 2-1 in regulation on the second night.
The games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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