This weekend’s games
Who: Miami RedHawks (8-3-3, 6-2-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (6-3-3, 2-2-2)
When: 7:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Lawson Ice Arena (3,667), Kalamazoo, Mich.
Radio: WMOH-AM (1450) today, WKBV-AM (1490) both days
OXFORD — Comfortable with his role on the ice, Miami University sophomore Reilly Smith has developed into one of the RedHawks’ top offensive weapons.
Playing primarily on Miami’s top line with seniors Carter Camper and Andy Miele, the 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore ranks third on the team and in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists). Smith leads Miami with a plus-13 rating.
“Reilly’s a goal scorer. He can make plays and he can skate,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. “He’s got a good sense of the game and where open spots are and is often a little bit ahead of where things are going to happen. And he works really hard.”
Smith, a Mimico, Ontario, native, totaled 75 points (27-48) in his final season in junior hockey with the St. Michael’s Buzzers before coming to Miami. A third-round pick (69th overall) by the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL entry draft, Smith had a solid freshman campaign, totaling 20 points while playing in all 44 games for the RedHawks.
“It has a lot to do with experience,” Smith said of his second-year breakout. “It was kind of the same transition (from high school to junior hockey) where the first year it took some time to feel it out and then the second year I was put more into a role where I could be a game-changer.
“That was my goal coming into this season to step into that role. So far the year’s gone great. I’m just trying to keep it going.”
The RedHawks (8-3-3, 6-2-2 CCHA) hope to build off last weekend’s road sweep at Bowling Green when they travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., this weekend to face Western Michigan (6-3-3, 2-2-2).
Smith had four points (2-2) in the sweep over BG, but was quick to credit the play of teammates Trent Vogelhuber, Curtis Mackenzie, Justin Vaive and Patrick Tiesling for freeing up the RedHawks’ other forwards.
“Our power forwards really played their game and pretty much took control with their physical play,” Smith said. “They’re making a lot of space and creating a lot of opportunities by winning the puck in the corner. ... They put some fear in the BG defensemen’s eyes. They didn’t want to go get the pucks down low.”
WMU is led by first-year coach Jeff Blashill, who was an assistant coach under Blasi for six seasons (2002-2008) at Miami. The Broncos, who finished 8-20-8 last season, are ranked 19th in this week’s USCHO.com poll.
“(Blashill) has got them playing well and playing disciplined,” Blasi said. “He has them believing in what they’re doing and it seems to be working. It’s going to be a good test.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2506 or jboyle@coxohio.com.
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