Miami Better than UND?

This is what Elliot Olshansky had to say about Miami, Denver University and UND. Personally I like Elliot's work and I listen to his podcast every week, but I must take exception with a few things that he has said. Miami has played two teams that I would consider to good and ranked in the top ten, the Irish and Michigan State and they went 3-1 against them. While Elliot is right Miami does have a better record, I am not impress with them beating the likes of Vermont, Ohio State, Nebraska, Canisius, Rensselaer. If you look a little deeper at this you will see based on the the KRACH Miami strenght of schedule is 15 while DU is ranked 3rd and UND 1st.

The Rink Rat Rankings: Season 2, Edition No. 7
By Elliot Olshansky - December 17, 2007
I had one of my most gratifying moments of the season on Saturday.

After answering questions from the media about his Miami RedHawks' 7-3 win over RPI, Miami head coach Rico Blasi asked me, "So does this mean we get in your rankings now?"

This makes Blasi the second coach to talk to me about the Rink Rat Rankings - Robert Morris' Derek Schooley was the first - and the answer, naturally, is yes.

The No. 2 team in the nation - according to the polls - joins the Rink Rat Rankings this week, along with Nebraska-Omaha and Union.

So, where do the RedHawks land? Click "more" to find out.

1. Miami - So, I established last night that the RedHawks are, in my opinion, a better team than North Dakota, so you knew they'd be No. 4 or higher, but I'm giving them full marks. Jeff Zatkoff gives Miami a presence in goal that neither Notre Dame nor Michigan can boast right now, and Charlie Effinger is still a very capable backup (who might even be able to start over Billy Sauer or Jordan Pearce, although I suspect that if he were capable of his sophomore year form over the long haul, it'd be an even split with him and Zatkoff). There's also that size, strength, and physical presence that Miami brings. If you look at the comments that Rensselaer head coach Seth Appert made about how physically strong the RedHawks are, and how much further along they are in their physical development compared to RPI, you can say the same thing - albeit not to the same degree - when comparing them to Michigan or Notre Dame, particularly that very young Michigan team.

As for Denver, that would be a hell of a game - especially if it were in to happen in Denver this April - with great goaltending on both sides behind well-coached teams with skill and character. Again, though, I think the size, experience, and physical development favor Miami, and the RedHawks certainly have enough skill to match up with the Pioneers in that department. I think it'd be a game decided in the third period - where, coincidentally, the RedHawks have outscored the opposition 36-6- and Miami would wear DU down for the win.

5. North Dakota - The harsh light of high expectations made a solid, if unspectacular, first half in Grand Forks seem like cause for concern. The Sioux will get New Hampshire for a pair after Christmas in lieu of a holiday tournament, and a strong performance there - the Sioux will have their full complement, while UNH will be without James vanRiemsdyk - would likely spark a big second half for Dave Hakstol's bunch. In the meantime, after seeing the "Kosha Boy" parody video on YouTube, I'm wondering how long it will be until some NoDak fan comes up with lyrics for "Crank That Oshie Boy." I can hear it now... "SIOUX!!! SIOUX!!!"

Goon's Perspecitve

I will take my chances when the money is on the line and Dave Hakstol is behind the Fighting Sioux bench, the Sioux are due for finishing the deal. First for Miami I predict another 1 or 2 games and done for the Redhawks in the NCAA playoffs this season, Denver will be in the mix at the end of the season and will probably be on of the participants in the Frozen Four in Denver in April. One final note Miami goalie Jeff Zatkoff was Jeff Frazee back up during last season WJC; what does that say?