After losing its first six league games, Miami is granted a weekend reprieve from its conference schedule.
But Mercyhurst is no pushover, as the Lakers have scored at least two goals in 10 of 11 games largely against a highly competitive set of non-conference opponents.
VFTG takes a brief look at the series:
WHO: Miami RedHawks (4-7-1) vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (3-6-2).
WHERE: Cady Arena (3,049), Oxford, Ohio; and Mercyhurst Ice Center (1,500), Erie, Pa.
WHEN: Friday at Miami — 7:05 p.m.; Sunday at Mercyhurst — 4 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Miami leads, 2-1.
MIAMI RADIO: Sunday — WMOH-AM (1450).
STREAMING: Friday — NCHC.tv ($); Sunday — FloHockey.tv ($).
NOTES: A very brief series history…
These teams first faced off in the 2018 Ice Breaker on the home ice of the OHL Erie Otters.
Miami had lost to Providence in Game 1 and played host Mercyhurst in the third-place game, which the RedHawks won, 3-0 thanks to 21 saves by Ryan Larkin.
The teams had agreed to another series, but the Lakers backed out of that agreed-to two-game set, claiming a Miami coach communicated with a Mercyhurst player during the Ice Breaker weekend.
Despite the rift, the Lakers agreed to a home-and-home series in 2021-22, and both teams won in each other’s rink, with Miami taking game one, 7-4.
In Game 2, however, the RedHawks blew a two-goal lead in the final 2:34, allowing a pair of extra-attacker goals and losing in overtime on their home ice.
Mercyhurst scoring has been well-balanced, with 10 skaters recording five or more points through 11 games.
Up front, Boris Skalos, Philip Waugh and Garrett Dahm are tied for the team with eight points.
Skalos is a freshman, Waugh is the team leader in goals (5) and Dahm has notched a Lakers-best seven assists.
Seniors Mickey Burns and Marko Reifenberger both have been solid points-producers at Mercyhurst and have six points apiece.
Sophomore Tommy Bannister (2-4-6) already has two more points than his freshman season.
Dustin Geregach leads all blueliners in points with seven — six on assists. Maine transfer Adrien Bisson is 0-5-5, but the remainder of the Mercyhurst defense corps has combined for three points.
Mercyhurst has a young goaltending duo, but is has combined for a .913 save percentage.
Owen Say stopped 33 shots in a 5-1 win over Air Force and has a .912 save percentage in nine games despite a 3.30 goals-against average.
Freshman Simon Bucheler has appeared in four games and has posted a .930 save percentage.
Miami’s Matthew Barbolini has four career points vs. Mercyhurst, and defenseman Dylan Moulton has notched three assists.
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