Miami allowed 34.3 shots per game last season, the sixth-worst clip in Division I.
The RedHawks return seven members of that corps — including four seniors — and their two additions are better known for their offensive ability.
Which means MU coach Chris Bergeron must believe his returning players will step up significantly in their own zone this season.
The Miami coaching staff refused to be interviewed for this and subsequent stories and has instructed its staff to block VFTG from all future player interview requests.
VFTG takes a look at the defensemen in Part III of our 2023-24 Miami Preview.
Parts I and II can be found here: Overview | Forwards
WHO’S BACK: Srs. (4) – Hampus Rydqvist, Robby Drazner, Jack Clement, Dylan Moulton; Sophs. (3) — Zane Demsey, Michael Feenstra, Axel Kumlin.
WHO’S GONE: Nick Donato (transferred), Alex Murray (transferred), Alec Capstick (graduated).
WHO’S NEW (previous team in parentheses): Spencer Cox (Long Island U., NCAA), Rihards Simanovics (Amarillo, NAHL).
ANALYSIS: It wasn’t just shots against that were a red mark against this group, Miami finished third-last in D-1 to affiliate member Stonehill and newcomer Lindenwood in goals allowed rate (3.81).
Obviously goalies and forwards also factor into those metrics, but this D-corps needs to cut down the number of quality chances its opponents generate.
The top two Miami defenseman scoring slots last season were both held by Swedes.
Senior Hampus Rydqvist recorded a career-best 14 points, including 11 assists. He scored six times in 2021-22 and has a lethal right-handed power play shot.
Axel Kumlin — as a freshmen — went 3-8-11 and logged major power play time.
Graduate senior and captain Jack Clement has logged 130 games as a shut-down D-man on the RedHawks’ blueline, recording nine goals and 16 assists.
Three-year starters Robby Drazner and Dylan Moulton are also back and should be regulars on the Miami lineup card.
Moulton has five goals and 11 assists in 81 games, and Drazner has dressed for 80 contests and is 4-7-11.
Zane Demsey injured his shoulder at the end of last season, but as a freshman, he was one of Miami’s top shut-down D-men and should play a major role on the back end as well as provide a much-needed physical presence.
Michael Feenstra was also a freshman defense-first defenseman in 2022-23 and improved significantly as the season progressed.
Transfer Spencer Cox, originally a Miami commit, was 8-25-33 in two seasons at Long Island U. and give the RedHawks another quality two-way defensemen.
Latvian Rihards Simanovics is a wild card, as he scored 16 goals from the blue line for NAHL Amarillo, but how will that translate at the collegiate level? He did play for his country in the World Juniors, so that high-level experience should help him adapt to Division I play.
Better defending is paramount if Miami intends to improve in 2023-24, and hopefully its four seniors, The Dubuque Three and the transfer duo can help squelch opponents’ scoring opportunities, leading to fewer goals against.
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