DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — It was disconcerting at first for freshman Jarod Palmer, trying to fit in on the same front line with the Miami RedHawks' two big-time scorers, Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones.

About as disconcerting for the native of Fridley, Minn. as walking outside into the 70-degree weather this week and wondering if Oxford was in southern Ohio or southern Florida.

"I haven't seen snow," Palmer said. "I keep looking at my winter jacket every morning, wondering when I'm going to be putting it on."

If the weather forecast is accurate, winter jackets are likely to be in abundance tonight at Steve Cady Arena when the RedHawks square off against the Ferris State Bulldogs.

And Palmer? Oh, he's fitting in now. It just took a little time.

He had played two games with no points when Miami coach Enrico Blasi suddenly needed a new line mate for Davis and Jones.

"Matt Christie got injured," Palmer said, "and it gave someone on the team an opportunity, and that someone happened to be me."

It was slow going at first, but over the last eight games Palmer has scored 11 points on four goals and seven assists. He is the third-leading scorer among Miami's forwards with 14 points, trailing only line mates Davis (the nation's leading scorer with 30 points) and Jones (18).

"They were ahead of me mentally and physically, so keeping up with them was a battle," Palmer recalled, "but they communicated with me. They were real supportive of me. They wanted me to succeed.

"I felt it was just a matter of time before I had a breakout night with multiple points," he said. "I was creating multiple opportunities for myself. And getting advice from Nate and Jonesie on where to go, when to shoot, really helped me start producing points on the scoreboard."

The RedHawks, coming off a 4-2 loss at Clarkson last Saturday, are ranked fourth in two national polls.

"What's great about this team, even though we have a good record, we expect more out of ourselves," Palmer said. "We're hungry. We're hungry for more wins. We've got what it takes, and we need to produce."

Effinger still out

Sophomore goaltender Jeff Zatkoff has made five straight starts, and is expected to take the Friday slot of teammate Charlie Effinger again tonight.

Effinger has been sidelined by illness and has not played since Nov. 10.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.