Weekend games
Who: No. 11/12 Miami RedHawks (13-8-3, 10-6-2-12-1 CCHA) at Michigan State Spartans (9-11-4, 5-9-2-0)
When: 7:35 p.m. today and 7:05 p.m. Saturday
Where: Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, Mich.
Radio: WKBV-AM (1490) both days; WMOH (1450) Saturday only
TV: CBS College Sports Network Friday only
OXFORD — Trent Vogelhuber doesn’t produce a mountain of points for Miami University’s hockey team. That’s not his job.
But when the junior forward from Dublin is involved in a goal, he makes it count.
“My job is to be physical day in and day out, to be solid defensively,” Vogelhuber said. “I’m also expected to contribute on offense. But I have no problem being a secondary scorer.”
The RedHawks, who begin a series at Michigan State tonight, have plenty of primary scorers. Seniors Carter Camper and Andy Miele are tied for the national lead with 39 points, and sophomore Reilly Smith is in the top 10 with 31.
“As long as those guys are scoring, we need a physical guy who can get (the puck) in deep and get on their defensemen,” Vogelhuber said.
But he did score the game-winning goal and also recorded an assist last Saturday as Miami defeated Bowling Green 3-1 to wrap up a much-needed sweep over the Falcons.
“To contribute when we’re trying to turn the season around is really special,” he said.
Vogelhuber also had a hand in what might be called two of the most important goals ever scored in Miami hockey history.
He had the assist on Alden Hirschfeld’s game-winning goal in the second overtime against Michigan in last year’s NCAA regional final, the goal which sent Miami to its second straight Frozen Four.
“The puck went into the corner,” Vogelhuber recalled. “I went in and stirred it up, caused a turnover and got it to Hirschfeld. He was right there, and he turned around and ripped it.
“That was a big relief,” he said. “It seemed like the game was going to go on forever. It was getting late in the second overtime and we were getting pretty tired.”
Vogelhuber also scored the goal in the 2009 national championship game against Boston University which gave Miami a 3-1 lead in the closing minutes of regulation.
“I came across the key and used a defenseman as a screen,” he said. “I shot it right past his thigh pads. The goalie never saw it.
“That’s about as big a moment as you can get,” he said.
The elation of Vogelhuber and his teammates didn’t last long. The Terriers scored two goals in the final 60 seconds and won 4-3 in overtime.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
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