# 2023–24 Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey season was the 46th season of play for the program and the 11th in the NCHC. The RedHawks represented Miami University, played their home games at the Steve Cady Arena and were coached by Chris Bergeron in his 5th season.

## Season

In the first month of the season, Miami appeared to have resolved whatever problem had been affecting the program over the previous four years. The team went 4–1–1 in October which included a good showing against #13 Arizona State. Logan Neaton was playing well in goal and the many new additions to the lineup were contributing on both sides of the puck. However, as soon as the RedHawks began their conference schedule the results turned sour. Miami followed a strong showing by nearly going winless in November. Neaton's goals against ballooned versus NCHC competition and things got even worse for Miami when freshman Bruno Brūveris got his turn in goal. Compounding the team's problems was the sudden disappearance of their offense as the RedHawks could manage more than two goals in just two of eight games during the second month of play.
The team's defense recovered a bit in December but by Christmas the RedHawks had yet to win a single conference game. At this point the season was already over with the only hope for Miami being able to win their conference tournament, against teams they had already failed to defeat. Despite their situation, the team fought hard after returning from the break and won their first conference match by downing #10 Western Michigan but it came at a high price. With about ten minutes to play in the game, Neaton injured himself while making a save and he would miss the next six weeks while recovering.
Miami now had to rely on Brūveris to carry them down the stretch and the season ended up going from bad to worse. Over an eleven-game span, Brūveris limited the opposition to fewer than three goals just once. With the offense still not providing much support, the team did not win another match for the rest of the season. Even after Neaton's return in early March, the RedHawks remained in a dismal state and went 0–15–1 to end the year.
Shortly after the end of the season, Miami fired head coach Chris Bergeron. In his five years at the helm, the team had not won ten games in any season and had finished last in the conference four times.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Alec Capstick | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Joe Cassetti | Forward | United States | Transferred to Western Michigan |
| Nick Donato | Defenseman | United States | Left program (did not play) |
| Mike Holland | Forward | United States | Transferred to Babson |
| Alex Murray | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Niagara |
| Jack Olmstead | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Åmåls SK) |
| Ludvig Persson | Goaltender | Sweden | Transferred to North Dakota |
| Chase Pletzke | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Michigan |
| Red Savage | Forward | United States | Transferred to Michigan State |
| Ryan Savage | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Brian Silver | Forward | United States | Transferred to Augustana |
| John Sladic | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Tanyon Bajzer | Forward | United States | 21 | Cleveland, OH |
| Bruno Brūveris | Goaltender | Latvia | 21 | Riga, LAT |
| Spencer Cox | Forward/Defenseman | United States | 22 | Powell, OH; transfer from Long Island |
| Teddy Lagerbäck | Forward | United States | 22 | Chanhassen, MN; transfer from Arizona State |
| Brayden Morrison | Forward | Canada | 21 | Calgary, AB; transfer from Wisconsin |
| Albin Nilsson | Forward | Sweden | 25 | Ljungby, SWE; graduate transfer from Niagara |
| Rihards Simanovičs | Defenseman | Latvia | 19 | Riga, LAT |
| Ryan Sullivan | Forward | United States | 23 | Grosse Pointe, MI; transfer from Massachusetts |
| Artur Turansky | Forward | Slovakia | 21 | Bratislava, SVK |
| Raimonds Vītoliņš | Forward | Latvia | 21 | Ogre, LAT; transfer from Vermont |

## Roster

As of July 1, 2023

## Standings

2023–24 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #8 North Dakota † | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 87 | 67 | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 151 | 105 |
| #1 Denver * | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 110 | 80 | 42 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 198 | 119 |
| #18 St. Cloud State | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 77 | 74 | 38 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 121 | 114 |
| #15 Colorado College | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 66 | 56 | 37 | 21 | 13 | 3 | 111 | 93 |
| #12 Omaha | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 68 | 74 | 40 | 23 | 13 | 4 | 117 | 112 |
| #14 Western Michigan | 24 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 78 | 64 | 38 | 21 | 16 | 1 | 136 | 97 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 65 | 80 | 37 | 12 | 20 | 5 | 103 | 125 |
| Miami | 24 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 44 | 100 | 36 | 7 | 26 | 3 | 78 | 135 |
| Championship: March 23, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: April 1, 2024 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| October 7 | 7:07 p.m. | at Ferris State* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Neaton | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 1,678 | 0–1–0 |
| October 8 | 5:07 p.m. | at Ferris State* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Neaton | W 5–2 | 1,250 | 1–1–0 |
| October 13 | 7:05 p.m. | Canisius* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | W 4–2 | 1,534 | 2–1–0 |
| October 14 | 7:05 p.m. | Canisius* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | W 4–1 | 1,524 | 3–1–0 |
| October 27 | 7:05 p.m. | #13 Arizona State* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,818 | 4–1–0 |
| October 28 | 7:05 p.m. | #13 Arizona State* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 1,908 | 4–1–1 |
| November 3 | 8:30 p.m. | at St. Cloud State | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Neaton | L 2–3 | 3,007 | 4–2–1 (0–1–0) |
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at St. Cloud State | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Brūveris | L 0–6 | 3,277 | 4–3–1 (0–2–0) |
| November 10 | 7:05 p.m. | Colorado College | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 1–5 | 2,107 | 4–4–1 (0–3–0) |
| November 11 | 7:05 p.m. | Colorado College | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 1–4 | 2,431 | 4–5–1 (0–4–0) |
| November 17 | 8:07 p.m. | at #2 North Dakota | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Neaton | L 4–6 | 11,589 | 4–6–1 (0–5–0) |
| November 18 | 7:07 p.m. | at #2 North Dakota | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Neaton | L 1–5 | 11,657 | 4–7–1 (0–6–0) |
| November 24 | 7:05 p.m. | Mercyhurst* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,571 | 4–8–1 |
| November 25 | 4:00 p.m. | at Mercyhurst* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Neaton | W 2–0 | 630 | 5–8–1 |
| December 8 | 7:05 p.m. | Minnesota Duluth | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 1,889 | 5–8–2 (0–6–1) |
| December 9 | 7:05 p.m. | Minnesota Duluth | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 1–3 | 2,092 | 5–9–2 (0–7–1) |
| December 29 | 7:00 p.m. | at Niagara* | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Neaton | L 1–4 | 605 | 5–10–2 |
| December 30 | 5:00 p.m. | at Niagara* | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Brūveris | W 3–0 | 733 | 6–10–2 |
| January 12 | 7:05 p.m. | #10 Western Michigan | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 1–4 | 2,403 | 6–11–2 (0–8–1) |
| January 13 | 7:05 p.m. | #10 Western Michigan | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | W 4–3 | 2,387 | 7–11–2 (1–8–1) |
| January 19 | 9:00 p.m. | at #18 Colorado College | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | SOCO CW, CBSSN | Brūveris | L 1–2 | 3,474 | 7–12–2 (1–9–1) |
| January 20 | 6:00 p.m. | at #18 Colorado College | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Brūveris | L 2–4 | 3,454 | 7–13–2 (1–10–1) |
| January 26 | 8:07 p.m. | at Minnesota Duluth | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Brūveris | L 2–6 | 6,004 | 7–14–2 (1–11–1) |
| January 27 | 8:07 p.m. | at Minnesota Duluth | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Brūveris | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 6,094 | 7–15–2 (1–12–1) |
| February 2 | 7:05 p.m. | #2 North Dakota | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Brūveris | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 2,717 | 7–16–2 (1–13–1) |
| February 3 | 7:05 p.m. | #2 North Dakota | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Brūveris | L 1–4 | 3,101 | 7–17–2 (1–14–1) |
| February 9 | 7:05 p.m. | #16 St. Cloud State | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Brūveris | L 2–5 | 2,311 | 7–18–2 (1–15–1) |
| February 10 | 7:05 p.m. | #16 St. Cloud State | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Brūveris | L 1–3 | 2,593 | 7–19–2 (1–16–1) |
| February 23 | 9:00 p.m. | at #3 Denver | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Brūveris | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 6,341 | 7–19–3 (1–16–2) |
| February 24 | 8:00 p.m. | at #3 Denver | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Brūveris | L 1–8 | 6,274 | 7–20–3 (1–17–2) |
| March 1 | 7:05 p.m. | #18 Omaha | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Brūveris | L 3–4 | 2,747 | 7–21–3 (1–18–2) |
| March 2 | 7:05 p.m. | #18 Omaha | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Neaton | L 1–2 | 2,907 | 7–22–3 (1–19–2) |
| March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | at #15 Western Michigan | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Neaton | L 2–3 | 2,748 | 7–23–3 (1–20–2) |
| March 9 | 7:00 p.m. | at #15 Western Michigan | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Brūveris | L 1–6 | 3,556 | 7–24–3 (1–21–2) |
| NCHC tournament ||||||||||
| March 15 | 8:07 p.m. | at #5 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Quarterfinal Game 1) | Midco | Neaton | L 1–5 | 11,320 | 7–25–3 |
| March 16 | 7:07 p.m. | at #5 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Quarterfinal Game 2) | Midco | Neaton | L 1–7 | 11,569 | 7–26–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Matthew Barbolini | C | 31 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 40 |
| P. J. Fletcher | C/RW | 36 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 18 |
| John Waldron | F | 36 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 6 |
| Raimonds Vītoliņš | C | 28 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 26 |
| Axel Kumlin | D | 34 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| William Hallén | C/LW | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Max Dukovac | F | 36 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Ryan Sullivan | F | 29 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| Albin Nilsson | C | 17 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| Artur Turansky | LW | 35 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Dylan Moulton | D | 34 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 35 |
| Spencer Cox | C/D | 30 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| Jack Clement | D | 36 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Hampus Rydqvist | D | 36 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 20 |
| Rihards Simanovičs | D | 29 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Thomas Daskas | F | 36 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 21 |
| Zane Demsey | D | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 25 |
| Michael Feenstra | D | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Robby Drazner | D | 33 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Blake Mesenburg | C | 36 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| Frankie Carogioiello | C | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Teddy Lagerbäck | LW | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Tanyon Bajzer | RW | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Brayden Morrison | C | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Carter McPhail | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruno Brūveris | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Neaton | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | | | 78 | 135 | 213 | 325 |
Source:

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Logan Neaton | 23 | 1334:48 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 72 | 609 | 1 | .894 | 3.24 |
| Bruno Brūveris | 15 | 794:35 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 55 | 355 | 1 | .866 | 4.15 |
| Carter McPhail | 2 | 38:14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 0 | .885 | 4.71 |
| Empty Net | - | 20:47 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2188:24 | 7 | 26 | 3 | 135 | 987 | 2 | .880 | 3.70 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.