Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff stopped 22-of-24 shots for his 20th victory of the season

Jan. 27, 2008

FAIRBANKS, AK - Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff came up big for the RedHawks once again, holding the Nanooks to only two scores, helping Miami to a 7-2 victory. Zatkoff stopped 44-of-46 shots during the weekend sweep of Alaska, earning his 19th and 20th wins of the year. Zatkoff did not allow a goal in 216:02, the longest streak in school history.

After winning its seventh consecutive game, the Red and White are tied with North Dakota for the nation's longest winning streak. Only Michigan State has a longer unbeaten streak (eight games, 5-0-3) than Miami.

Senior captain Ryan Jones scored the team's sixth goal of the evening, his 22nd of the year, tying him with Michigan's Kevin Porter for the nation's lead in goals scored. Jones ranks fifth in the country with 35 points to his credit.

Sophomore Jarod Palmer silenced the Nanooks faithful just 1:28 into the first period, as he rifled a shot over the glove of Alaska netminder Wylie Rogers. Palmer's goal came on the team's first shot of the game. Palmer now has six goals to his name on the season.

Junior forward Justin Mercier pushed the RedHawks' lead to 2-0, when he and Palmer connected on a score while the team was on the penalty kill. Palmer was able to pressure Nanooks forward Adam Naglich into turning the puck over deep in his own zone, and backhanded a pass to a wide-open Mercier in front of the UA net. The goal for Mercier was his 20th of the season, doubling his previous best for a season.

Extending the Miami lead to three goals was freshman forward Justin Vaive, scoring his third goal of the year. The score was Vaive's first since November 24, 2007, in the RedHawks' 11-1 victory over Canisius.

Late in the third period, freshman forward Tommy Wingels put a shot through a screen in front of the Alaska net, and potted the RedHawks' fifth goal of the game. Wingels leads the nation in goals scored by a rookie, and is tied for fourth in the CCHA with 20 points scored.

Landon Novotney scored for the Nanooks with just 1.7 seconds remaining in the second stanza, marking the first time in the weekend series that Alaska put a goal on the score board. The goal ended Zatkoff's shutout streak at 216:02.

Nanooks' sophomore goaltender Erik Largen started the third period in relief of starter Wylie Rogers, and was welcomed quickly, as senior captain Ryan Jones scored during Miami's fourth power play of the evening, two minutes into the third. Jones is now tied with Michigan's Kevin Porter for the NCAA's lead in goals scored with 22.

Braden Walls gave the Nanook fans something to cheer about with eight minutes left in the game, scoring his third goal of the season, and drawing the score to 6-2.

Shortly after the Walls score, Camper netted his second power-play tally of the game, giving him 13 goals this season. With three points in the game, Camper now has 33 points and trails senior captain Ryan Jones by only two points for the team's lead in points.

The team will now travel back to southwest Ohio and enjoy a weekend off before welcoming the University of Michigan Wolverines to Steve Cady Arena, February 8-9.

NOTES:

With Justin Mercier's 20th goal of the year, Miami is now the only team in the country with two 20-goal scorers. 57 NCAA Division I teams do not have a single 20-goal scorer.

The RedHawks have now scored seven shorthanded goals this season, tying the team with four others for the third most in the nation.

By scoring and assisting on a goal, freshman forward Carter Camper has registered 18 points in his last 12 games.

The RedHawks boast eight skaters with 20 point or more during the 2007-08 campaign.

Freshman forward Andy Miele earned his first-career collegiate assist by setting up Ryan Jones' tally.

GAME'S THREE STARS: No. 3 - Jeff Zatkoff No. 2 - Carter Camper No. 1 - Jarod Palmer

ATTENDANCE: 2994