Miami Quarterly

Issue date: 12/12/09 Section: Sports

Goggin Ice Center was once again filled on Oct. 9, with the rousing chorus of “Hey Ref, Get Off Your Knees,” as fans watched the now #1 ranked Redhawks begin the season with a win against St. Cloud. For many fans, the Redhawks are Miami’s champions—defenders of Miami glory who prove their love and honor by brandishing hockey sticks. This year, the team gained seven new players to add to the brotherhood.

For many fans, the RedHawk hockey team are defenders of Miami glory who prove their love and honor on the ice. This year, the team gained seven new players to add to the brotherhood.

So what's it like to be a new addition to this elite group? Miami freshman Devin Mantha has just started to experience what it means to be a hockey player at Miami.

"From day one, we started looking out for each other," Mantha says. "It literally becomes a brotherhood. This is a whole new experience for me, and I love it. My first time running past the crowd, that was intense."

 The player interaction before games begin is just as exciting for the fans, according to Miami senior hockey fan Supal Desai.

"The tradition of the guys coming out and running past everyone really makes us feel appreciated, especially since a lot of students spend hours at Goggin waiting for games," Desai says.

 Team captain Tommy Wingels, a junior at Miami, says even after three years, the thrill of running past the fans at Goggin doesn't get old.

"It's exciting each and every time, and often gives me the chills," Wingels says. "I think the guys get used to the hype, but to have the continued support from our fans and fellow classmates is unbelievable."

Just like how "with great power comes great responsibility," with great popularity comes great perks. For Mantha, it didn't take long for him to start reaping the benefits of being on the hockey team.

"Obviously I can get out of classes pretty easily, because of the games, which is pretty standard for athletes in general," Mantha says. "And when people approach us Uptown or something, it's kind of flattering, actually. Now that season has started, people will look at me like, 'Is that who I think it is?' Sometimes it's weird, like when guys will ask for tickets or something - that's just awkward, because I can't do that."

But with the perks comes a heavy workload. The team practices Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 pm, in addition to traveling for games, which makes scheduling classes, group meetings and study time difficult.

"Time management is a lot different, because we always have to have that block in our schedule set aside for hockey," Mantha says. "The rest of the day just gets packed in, so we all have really busy days. We'll be up early, and then be doing work until really late."

 Wingels agrees that managing time is the hardest part about being on the team.

"There's a lot of time put aside for just practice and games, and it takes a bit to learn how to balance the school workload with the demanding schedule," he says. "Fortunately for us, we have many resources that help make this transition easier than it seems."

Coach Blasi meets with each player once a month to see how they're doing and if they have any concerns about the team. Coach Bergeron acts as an academic advisor and mentor, checking on their progress in classes and making sure the players don't fall behind in their studies.

But being a RedHawk isn't all work and no play. The word "pregame" takes on a whole new meaning for the team, with locker room pranks, traditions and a lot less time fulfilling the college version of "pregaming."

"We have to show up two and a half hours before the game, so around the locker room we'll pull pranks on one another, like we'll put clear tape on someone's skate blades, so they'll step on the ice and just slip around for a bit, until they figure it out," Mantha says.

Wingels' favorite prank is "the water cup," where the guys put a cup of water in someone's shin pads or helmet.

"When they go to put it on, the water spills all over them," he says. "It's pretty funny and brings a little humor to a locker room that can be very serious at times."

Off the ice, every Saturday before the game after morning skate, the team goes to Paesano's, conveniently located right across from the rink. "

After (Paesano's) we have the two and half hours before the game to do what we want," Mantha says.

"You tape your stick, hang out and get focused for the game." During the season, Mantha says going Uptown is limited to Saturday nights, with the night starting at the hockey house and ending at Pachinko's.

Another inherent perk of being a Miami hockey player is having drunk girls flock to them at the bars. "We'll always get a group of girls that will come up and be like, 'Oh my God, hockey players,' " Mantha admits.

 Mantha's also had girls assume he's going to be cocky and full of himself and don't want anything to do with him or his hockey bros.

"They don't say those words exactly, but they kind of send out that vibe," Mantha says. "But, for the most part, girls are pretty, pretty interested."

From practices and games to traveling and going Uptown, Wingels doesn't forget to be thankful for being a RedHawk.

"The coolest thing about being on the team is that you're responsible for representing the university in so many different facets," Wingels says. "To wear the RedHawk uniform around the country - to represent all of Oxford at other universities such as Michigan and Notre Dame - is an indescribable feeling. Wearing the RedHawk logo is truly an honor."

With the success of last year's season as the nation's second best team a not-so-distant memory, the pressure to accomplish what last year's team did (an overall record of 23-13-5) is ever-present in the players' minds.

"Blasi, the team - we all want the championship," Mantha says. "We don't forget that goal.

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