DaytonDailyNews.com

WORCESTER, Mass. — The last time Miami University's hockey team faced Air Force, the RedHawks earned plenty of quiet time to contemplate the experience.

Their first-ever meeting was a 12-1 rout by Miami in the 2002-03 season opener at the Lefty McFadden Invitational in Fairborn. The next year, the RedHawks and Falcons played in the consolation game of the Nye Frontier Classic in Anchorage, Alaska.

"They pounded us unmercifully (in the first matchup)," Air Force coach Frank Serratore recalled. "The next year, we go to Alaska and, wouldn't you know it, we end up playing Miami. They're better than they were the year before, and we weren't as good as we were supposed to be. That was one game I wasn't looking forward to."

But the Falcons rose up and won that contest 2-0. And it's safe to say that Miami coach Enrico Blasi wasn't thrilled with his team's performance.

"Rumor has it that Rico didn't let his team talk on the plane all the way back from Alaska," said Serratore, whose team hasn't played the RedHawks since that day in Alaska. "That's a long way."

Blasi smiled when he was asked to confirm the story.

"You know how rumors are," he said. "Let's just say that game really turned our season around that year. We had a senior-driven team, and they weren't too happy with their performance that night. Not because they lost the game, but because they didn't play well."

So did he really instruct his players not to speak all the way home?

"It is true," Blasi said. "But it was the red eye, so I'm not sure guys were going to be talking anyway. That was a long time ago. The only guys that remember that are Frank and me, and he likes to tell stories. He's a funny guy."

Miami went on to post a 23-14-4 record in 2003-04, losing to Denver 3-2 in the NCAA tournament.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.