No. 1 RedHawks take control in 4-1 victory

Wideman has goal and assist to help the cause as MU tops Western Michigan.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 12:43 AM Saturday, January 30, 2010

OXFORD — The top-ranked Miami RedHawks are starting to act less like a college hockey team and more like a bulldozer as they continue to plow through the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Miami stormed to a 4-1 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday night, Jan. 29, at Steve Cady Arena to remain unbeaten in its last 17 CCHA contests.

“We got together and said we were going for three championships this season,” said sophomore defenseman Chris Wideman, who had a goal and assist for the RedHawks. “The CCHA (regular-season) championship is first on our plate and the only one we can do anything about right now.”

Miami (17-4-6 overall, 14-1-4-2 CCHA) holds a seven-point lead over second-place Michigan State, and the Spartans have played two more games than the RedHawks.

Miami last won the CCHA regular-season title in 2006. The RedHawks have yet to win the CCHA tournament or national championships, the other trophies on their radar screen.

Junior forward Carter Camper, like Wideman, contributed a goal and assist, and sophomore goaltender Cody Reichard stopped 18-of-19 shots, several of them nothing short of spectacular.

“He’s done that for us all year,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. “He knows he has to make saves when there are breakdowns.”

“He’s unbelievable,” Camper said.

Camper also said he likes the way Miami kept its focus against the Broncos, who fell to 6-14-5 overall, 2-13-4-1 in the CCHA).

“I think our team’s maturing quite a bit,” he said. “In past years we’ve let down against teams near the bottom of the standings.”

Defenseman Cameron Schilling and Wideman scored first-period goals for Miami.

Western Michigan freshman Luke Witkowski scored a power-play goal 3:46 into the second period, but Miami senior Jarod Palmer answered with his 11th goal.

Camper concluded the scoring in the final minute with his 10th goal.

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