Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL) is proud to announce the additions of Miami (OH) University and Xavier University for the 2017-2018 season.  In the latest ACHA DII Southeast Ranking, Miami (OH) (10-3-1-1-1) is ranked 4th.  Despite being unranked, Xavier (9-7-0-0-0) is above .500 at the break – playing a highly competitive schedule. The addition of these teams will not only strengthen the conference in the eyes of the ACHA, but it will also provide the TSCHL’s current slate of teams with a higher level of competition.

Both teams are eager to have the opportunity to compete for a conference championship.  Competing as independent teams, the RedHawks and Musketeers have only been post-season eligible for the ACHA Regional and National Tournaments.  “The TSCHL will offer our team a chance to have something to play for during the regular season,” Miami Head Coach, Justin Camuto said.  “Normally we are just playing to stay in a the top two of the Southeast Region, and our chance to play for a championship doesn’t come until the National Tournament.

Camuto and, Xavier Head Coach, Tim Driscoll spoke highly of the TSCHL.  Camuto said, “The TSCHL has continued to head in the right direction and [we] can’t wait to be a part of the continued growth of the conference.  We feel that we can bring a competitiveness to the TSCHL that will continue to help elevate it as one of the best conferences in the Southeast Region and the county.” From a recruiting aspect, Driscoll said, “When [prospective] players see we are a part of what is, in my mind, the best DII conference in the country, it will attract them.  Playing highly competitive hockey while earning a degree from Xavier is pretty compelling.”

Miami has played or will play a total of 4 TSCHL teams in the 2016-2017 season.  The RedHawks opened the season with 2-game sweeps of Bowling Green (7-0, 4-1) and Louisville (4-2, 5-1).  They fell to Ohio 5-4 in a shootout in late October, and their second semester schedule includes a home-and-home series with Ohio State in early January. 

Xavier has played or will play a total of 7 TSCHL teams in the 2016-2017 season.  The Musketeers opened the season by dropping two games to Bowling Green (5-4, 7-3).  They swept Akron (9-6, 5-2), lost to Cincinnati (5-4), and defeated Wright State (9-2).  Their second semester schedule includes two games against Pitt, two games against Dayton and a game against Ohio.

Miami and Xavier are even familiar with each other, having played in late September.  The RedHawks came out on top, 9-2.

TSCHL Commissioner, Phil Oberlin, believes that the additions of Miami and Xavier will add both depth and competitiveness to the conference – while increasing the league’s reputation within the ACHA Southeast Region and nationally.  “Miami brings a long tradition of great hockey and a national contender every year to our conference.  Xavier has consistently been a top team regionally at the Division III level prior to moving to DII, and the leadership and vision of the program matches the direction in which the TSCHL is moving,” Oberlin said.

Let’s take a brief look at next year’s newcomers.

Miami (OH) University RedHawks: (@MiamiClubHockey)
#4 Southeast
First Semester Record: 10-3-1-1-1
Head Coach: Justin Camuto
2016-2017 Top Performers:
#4 Evan Krueger: 11G, 9A
#13 Ethan Whitney: 12 G, 7A
#15 Mark Azarian: 8G, 11A
#29 Jake Gerdes: 5-3, 2.00GAA, .930SV%, 1SO
#1 Dylan Griffith: 5-0, 2.08GAA, .920SV%

Xavier University Musketeers: (@XavierHockey)
Unranked
First Semester Record: 9-7-0-0-0
Head Coach: Tim Driscoll
2016-2017 Top Performers:
#64 Ryan Talty: 17G, 5A
#24 Mark Ehnot: 6G, 14A
#3 Zachary MacMilian: 8G, 11A
#35 Stevie Irwin: 5-2, 4.29GAA, .888SV%, 1SO