By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Miami has that Central Collegiate Hockey Association thing down. Now the RedHawks have to figure out the NCAA Tournament.

The RedHawks suffered their third NCAA Division I first-round loss in three tries when they lost 3-2 to the University of Denver in the semifinals of the West Regional at the Colorado Springs (Colo.) World Arena last Friday night.

The Pioneers took leads of 2-0 and 3-1 and were able to hang on for the win despite facing three shots on goal with Miami having pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker in the final minute.

"It's disappointing, but that's the name of the game," RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi said. "Either you win and you feel good, or you lose and you go home disappointed."

The loss wraps up a season in which Miami went 23-14-4, its third 20-win season in the last four years. The RedHawks finished second in the CCHA during the regular season and third in the league tournament. They produced the CCHA Coach of the Year in Blasi and the Player of the Year in senior Derek Edwardson, their leading scorer with 48 points. Edwardson is MU's second CCHA Player of the Year and first since Brian Savage in 1993.

Edwardson, a center, is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, hockey's version of the Heisman. The three finalists are scheduled to be announced Wednesday, and the winner will be announced April 9 during the Frozen Four at Boston's Fleet Center.

Edwardson is one of eight seniors. The class includes the team's top three point producers, with second-line center Mike Kompon and winger Greg Hogeboom behind Edwardson.

Hogeboom also set a school record against Denver by playing in his 156th consecutive game.

Among next year's returning RedHawks are this year's leading goal-scorer, freshman Matt Christie, who produced 21 goals and 35 points, and classmate Marty Guerin, who scored 14 goals and 31 points. Guerin scored one of Miami's two goals against Denver. The other goal was a ricochet off a Pioneer that was credited to RedHawk defenseman Matt Davis.

Sophomore defenseman Andy Greene, an All-CCHA first-teamer, served as an alternate captain this season and is in line to succeed Edwardson as team captain.

Also back are freshman goalies Brandon Crawford-West (21-8-3) and Steve Hartley (2-5-1). Crawford-West suffered the loss against the Pioneers despite setting a personal record for saves in a period with 18 on 19 shots in the second.

"I feel good about the team and the direction were going in," Blasi said. "Hopefully, they'll learn from some of the situations the team was in, and they'll work harder and smarter.

"The freshmen and the way they contributed, I don't want to say it was a surprise, but it was kind of a good thing. We knew that, if we were going to have a good year, we would need some of those guys to contribute."

The RedHawks already have signed seven recruits to letters-of-intent, and they still have some room.

"We're in good shape with that," Blasi said. "Obviously, the guys coming in aren't going to replace the seniors right away, but hopefully, they'll complement the guys we've got coming back."