The Miami University (OH) RedHawks will host the 16th-ranked University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks this upcoming weekend for a two-game series, starting on Friday, December 6th, at 7:05 PM EST. Miami had a week off after suffering a pair of losses at Omaha on November 22nd and 23rd. The Fighting Hawks enter the series with a record of 7-7-1 and are 2-2-0 in NCHC play. The RedHawks, with a record of 3-11-2 (0-6-0 NCHC), are seeking their first win since October 26. However, the Fighting Hawks lost to Bemidji State (CCHA) last Friday and then played to a tie with the Beavers the following night in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Matt Choupani leads the RedHawks with twelve points, having scored five goals and seven assists. Colby Ambrosio leads the team in assists with eight. A glaring issue during the RedHawks’ month-long losing streak has been their lack of scoring, averaging only 1.9 goals per game, and carrying a -1.7-scoring margin. For the Fighting Hawks, Sacha Boisvert and Jake Livanavage both have twelve points, with Boisvert scoring six goals and Livanavage contributing one goal and eleven assists. T.J. Semptimphelter has a record of 6-5-1 in net, with a 2.69 goals-against average (GAA) and a .905 save percentage. The Fighting Hawks score at a higher rate than the RedHawks, averaging 3.1 goals per game.
In terms of special teams, Miami has successfully killed 53 of 60 penalties this year, which is the fifth-highest total in the nation, and they rank 12th in the country in penalty kill percentage at .883. However, their power play has struggled, converting only 11 of 62 chances (17.7%). However, North Dakota’s power play has been hot this season, scoring on 12 of 43 opportunities (27.9%), making it crucial for the RedHawks to avoid penalties during this series. The Fighting Hawks’ penalty kill has also been solid, stopping 39 of 50 power play attempts, giving them a kill rate of 78%. For the RedHawks to be competitive in this series, they must win the special teams battle, especially against a North Dakota team that is eager to improve from its current .500 record.
Series Preview Press Conference:
“It’s the football equivalent of playing Alabama and Georgia. We have a ton of respect for them, and we know we have to be at our best, no different than every other team in this league”
Miami Head Coach Anthony Noreen on what he sees with North Dakota coming to Oxford this weekend
Current NCHC Standings:
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