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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 12:29 AM Monday, April 13, 2009

WASHINGTON — The amazed wonder in my mind about the events that unfolded Saturday night, April 11, at the Verizon Center is not that Miami University’s hockey team, just 60 seconds away from a national championship, was unable to hold a two-goal lead.

The Boston University Terriers normally score goals at about the same rate movie patrons eat individual kernels of popcorn. Once they start, there is no end in sight.

The wonder is that Miami was able to hold Boston to a single goal over the first 59 minutes. The RedHawks deserve some sort of championship trophy just for that.

Actually, the wonder really is that the RedHawks were able to put themselves in the position where there would be one of only two possible outcomes — indescribable joy or devastating heartbreak — in the first place.

The wonder is that they weren’t doing something else Saturday night.

Like sitting at home watching ESPN, watching Boston U. have a much easier time against somebody else.

Conventional wisdom says the RedHawks never should have made it this far this season. There were too many personnel losses from last year, too many new faces, too much to overcome.

But there is nothing conventional about head coach Enrico Blasi and the way he’s able to take student-athletes to a new level of consciousness about hockey and the world beyond the ice rink.

Before the start of this season, Blasi tried to convince everyone that his program, which always has a goal of winning a national championship, actually could achieve that goal.

At the time it seemed preposterous to look at 2008-09 as anything but a re-building season or re-stocking season.

The list of players lost from the previous season remains awe inspiring. Three forwards who had scored 100 career points, including All-Americans Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis. Three senior defensemen plus junior defenseman and All-American Alec Martinez. The goaltending tandem of Jeff Zatkoff and Charlie Effinger, one of the nation’s best.

And the season? It was a roller-coaster ride all the way through.

There were the highs of the sweeps over Notre Dame, Michigan State and Michigan. The low of January’s five-game losing streak. Up, the seven-game unbeaten streak. Down, Northern Michigan. Up, the NCAA wins over Denver, Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State. Down, falling behind Boston 1-0. Up, leading Boston 3-1 with a minute to go. Down, Boston’s two goals in the final minute of regulation.

Through all that time, the RedHawks never seemed to lose their cool, their focus, their belief in themselves. Adversity only made them more determined.

Even after Boston scored those two goals in the third period, the RedHawks refused to go quietly, and came close, in fact, to winning the whole thing several times. It took an unfortunate bounce to end the ride once and for all.

This year’s senior class of Brian Kaufman, Kevin Roeder, Justin Mercier, Alexandre Lacombe, Raymond Eichenlaub, Bill Loupee and Michael Findorff was not supposed to do great things.

But they did. They helped show that The Brotherhood is more than words, that Blasi is one of the nation’s more remarkable coaches in any sport, and that it’s only a matter of time before he brings a national championship trophy back to Oxford.

That isn’t a surprise to his players or to Miami’s core fans. And now it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone else.

As Boston coach Jack Parker said of the RedHawks, “Everybody knows who they are now.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

PETE CONRAD

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We'll see if they can keep up the intensity. It's tough to do. Getting to the finals is hard enough to do once. Twice in a row is pretty much unheard of. Letdowns are more the norm the season following one where you come up short at the end. I'm sure they'll be competitive, but my guess is this was our shot, and we didn't get it done. It may be a long, long wait until the next one. Only time will tell.

Charles W.
7:50 PM, 4/15/2009

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Maybe Parker was trying to be kind, but he ends up twisting the knife. The only reason why "everybody knows who they are now" is because they lost. You want to be remembered as a winner, not a loser. That kind of memory we don't need. It's the kind that sticks with you for a lifetime, and it ain't a good one.

James Burkes
8:41 PM, 4/13/2009

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Don't forget this team has been great for a few years now. Miami has won more games the last 4 years than any other in D-I hockey: 106. They've been painfully close to the Frozen Four in the past, and have now come VERY painfully close to a title. Also, many of the top performers were Fr. or So. The seniors will certainly be missed but the future looks very bright. This is not a high-water mark, but another step to an eventual national title. Love and Honor to Miami - Forever and a Day!

Dave Wendeln
3:09 PM, 4/13/2009

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In response to Charles: Miami's Frozen Four accomplishment will be the start of consistency. Count on it. As for their memorable 2009 Championship Game: everone remembers the classic home run that Carlton Fisk hit against the Reds in the '75 World Series; a series the BoSox LOST. Miami will be remembered too.

Colonel Tom
2:17 PM, 4/13/2009

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It could either be a high water mark or the start of something consistent. Programs have been known to go either way, stay in the spotlight for a time or disappear back into the pack. Only time will tell. But I do know this: nobody remembers the second place finisher. You have to win championships to be remembered, and BU will be remembered while MU will not, unless they win a title.

Charles Warner
12:51 PM, 4/13/2009

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