DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The new fashion at Miami University this week will feature the casual look. RedHawks hockey jerseys are in, starting with the man at the top.

"This is my official uniform for the week," Miami President David Hodge, holding up a Miami jersey, told a fired-up crowd of about 800 fans at a pep rally held at Steve Cady Arena on Sunday, April 5.

The fans gathered to cheer Miami's hockey team, which will make its first trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in Washington, D.C., later this week.

The RedHawks will play Bemidji State in the national semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Verizon Center. The winner advances to the championship game 7 p.m. Saturday.

Minutes before Hodge spoke, each player and head coach Enrico Blasi had been introduced by public address announcer Scott Shriver and highlights from the team's two victories at the NCAA West Regionals were shown on the video board.

"We have waited 200 years for this moment," Hodge said.

Miami is celebrating its bicentennial this year and never has gotten this close to winning a national championship in a major sport.

"You represent the very best of what Miami University is all about, about hard work, about commitment ... about living the dream," Hodge told the players, who were lined up on either side of him, standing on a red carpet at the middle of the arena's ice surface.

Blasi told the fans, "You are a big part of the Miami program and we want you to enjoy the ride with us.

"We're all Miami RedHawks," said Blasi, whose voice then rose a notch. "And we're not done yet."

Master of ceremonies Steve Baker, Miami director of broadcasting and longtime voice of the RedHawks on radio, shook his head in wonder and said, "Is this incredible or what?"

The crowd, which included Miami's pep band, was a mixture of all ages, including many children and seniors.

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