This weekend, Miami will play its first-ever games outside of the United States.
The RedHawks are playing in a Friendship Four tournament — the NCAA’s only non U.S.-based hockey event played each season — in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday and Saturday.
MU faces upstart RIT on in its opener, and depending on the outcome will play either Union or Sacred Heart the next day in either the final or consolation game.
VFG takes a look at Miami’s upcoming tournament:
WHO: Miami RedHawks (8-4) vs. Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers (9-4).
WHERE: SSE Arena (11,058), Belfast, Northern Ireland.
WHEN: Friday–2:05 p.m.; Saturday–TBA, 10:05 a.m. or 2:05 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Vs. RIT–First meeting.
VIDEO STREAMING: FloHockey.tv ($).
MIAMI RADIO: Both nights–Miamiredhawks.com. Greg Waddell (PxP) and Drew Davis (color).
NOTES: RIT had won nine straight games from mid-October to mid-November but has lost its last two games, both by one goal.
The biggest story for the Tigers this season has been sophomore Czech goalie Jakub Krbecek. After posting a 3.90 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage, he is 9-3 with a GAA of 1.67 and a save percentage of .935.
His nine wins are tied for third in the NCAA, and he is second in Division I in GAA among goalies with seven or more games played.
So not surprisingly, RIT is tied for sixth in college hockey in average goals against at 2.00.
Leading the Tigers’ defense corps are Crossley Stewart, Tristan Allen and Ben Roger.
Stewart is tops among RIT blueliners in assists (8) and points (9) and is second on the team in points overall.
Allen has seven helpers and is the only Tiger averaging over 20 minutes of ice time.
Up front, Christian Catalano leads the team in scoring with five goals and six assists for a team-high 11 points, and Simon Isabelle is second with a 3-7-10 line.
Austin Brimmer, Zach Wigle and Evan Conyen all have nine points, and Tyler Mahan is tops on the Tigers with six goals.
RIT is 59th in the NCAA on the power play (12.5 percent) but second in PK efficiency (92.7 percent). The Tigers also average just 7.2 penalty minutes per game, fifth-best in Division I.
Union is ranked No. 20 in the USCHO poll and is allowing just 2.07 goals per game.
Sacred Heart is 6-5-1 and has won its last three games, outscoring opponents, 16-5.
Miami is definitely racking up the frequent flyer miles. The team played last Friday and Saturday nights, rode to Cleveland on Sunday, flew to Dublin on Monday and rode up to Belfast — about a two-hour drive — on Tuesday.
From here, the RedHawks will return to Cleveland and drive home on Sunday then leaves for Denver a couple of days later.
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