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Sports TwitterMiami hockey ranked No. 1 in nation
Monday, October 29, 2007
OXFORD — The Miami University hockey players and coaches are taking their No. 1 national ranking in stride, but they're also flashing some pride.
"It's a compliment to our program and an honor, and it's something everyone involved with the program should be proud of," coach Enrico Blasi said after the latest rankings were announced Monday afternoon.
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"But it's just part of the process for us," Blasi continued. "Our daily preparation and focus will not change."
The RedHawks had been ranked No. 2 behind North Dakota the last couple of weeks, but a weekend sweep of Nebraska-Omaha coupled with a UND split against Michigan Tech thrust Miami into the top spot in both the USCHO.com and USA Today polls.
Miami received 39 of the 46 first-place votes in the USCHO.com poll, and 30 of 34 in the USA Today rankings.
"It's a huge honor to know that the people who are voting view our team as the best team in college hockey right now," said senior forward Ryan Jones. "But it's not going to change the way our team operates. Our focus has always been to prepare the best we can on a daily basis, and that's what we're going to continue to do."
Jones was a sophomore when the RedHawks received their only other No. 1 ranking in school history. That came on Jan. 30, 2006, and it lasted all of one week as Miami lost its first contest after taking over the top spot, a 4-3 decision against Alaska-Fairbanks in Oxford.
This time, the Redhawks will take their No. 1 ranking on the road to Northern Michigan.
"I think we'll be a little more comfortable this year having been in this position before, but obviously being No. 1 going in is going to put a little bit bigger bull's-eye on our back," Jones said. "Northern always has a good team and they always play us tough, so we'll just prepare like we did every other week and see how the weekend turns out."
Miami's six wins are the most of any ranked team, and the RedHawks are one of just two squads who remain unbeaten. New Hampshire is 3-0 and ranked No. 4 in both polls.
North Dakota (3-1-1) fell to second in the USCHO.com poll, while Michigan is ranked No. 2 in USA Today.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.
