RedHawks were killjoys

Miami University is ranked second in the nation in penalty killing, and the RedHawks' defensive skills were on display yesterday during the their 2-1 victory over the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinals at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

The RedHawks, who blocked 20 shots and kept most of the Wildcats' 44 shots to the outside, killed off all seven UNH power plays.

"That's the kind of game that we like to play," said Miami captain Ryan Jones, who scored the winning goal and assisted on the RedHawks' first goal. "We like to play an up-tempo game where we're all over teams and force them to make mistakes. As far as blocked shots, that's just the team working hard and sacrificing themselves to win a game. I thought we did a great job. There were a couple of big shots. [Defenseman Mitch] Ganzak blocked one with his head right in the crease that could've went in. That's a great play."

Miami coach Enrico Blasi credited teamwork and preparation.

"That's exactly what we do every game," said Blasi. "Our two assistant coaches [Jeff Blashill and Chris Bergeron] are in charge of the penalty kill. They spend a lot of time watching video and teaching our penalty kill from day to day and our guys have really bought into that. We have some guys who can skate and we just felt if we can get pressure on teams and force them to make mistakes it would be to our advantage. Sometimes we give up some Grade A scoring chances but that's where your goaltender comes in."

Despite its 44 shots, UNH generated just one goal, which came at 15:15 of the third period while the Wildcats were shorthanded. Mike Radja took a long pass from defenseman Craig Switzer and got off a one-handed a shot while falling down that sailed over goalie Jeff Zatkoff's shoulder. "Coach [Dick Umile] told us if we had a chance to be offensive on the penalty kill to do it," said Radja. "Switzer made a great play and he just threw it up to the middle and I caught it and I just tried to get the puck behind the defenseman and go get it. The puck was just laying there and I tried to swipe at it and it took a good bounce off his stick and in." . . . Jones is the nephew of former NHL player John Tonelli . . . UNH's Matt Fornataro had a game-high nine shots on net. Three players had six each -- Jones, Miami's Nathan Davis, and UNH defenseman Chris Murray.

A sometimes frustrating season will end with a homecoming for Maine goalie and Missouri native Ben Bishop. Bishop, who returned for the NCAA Tournament after missing four games with a groin injury, backstopped the Black Bears to a 3-1 victory over UMass last night in the East Regional final, sending his team to St. Louis for the Frozen Four.

Bishop hails from Des Peres, Mo., a suburb southwest of St. Louis. His father, Benjamin Bishop Jr., is a member of the St. Louis Sports Commission, which is the host for the Frozen Four. "They've done a lot of hard work in St. Louis to make this a special event and now that we get to go down and experience it, it makes it special," said Bishop.

The 6-foot-7-inch sophomore will also have a chance to showcase himself for his future team. The St. Louis Blues tabbed him in the third round (85th overall) of the 2005 NHL draft. But he's not focused on that now. "We're only halfway there," he said. "The seniors, this will be there third time, so we'll need to get them some hardware."

Maine placed four players on the East Regional all-tournament team -- Bishop, defensemen Mike Lundin and Bret Tyler, and forward Michel Leveille, who was named the most outstanding player. UMass had two players selected to the team -- forwards Matt Anderson and Kevin Jarman.

With all the great goalies in Hockey East, including Bishop, Cory Schneider (BC), John Curry (BU), and Kevin Regan (UNH), it's easy for UMass's Jon Quick to get lost in the shuffle. However, the sophomore showed he's as good as any in the Minutemen's 1-0 overtime victory over Clarkson in the East Regional semifinals Friday, recording his third career shutout -- all this season.

"He is a very gifted athlete. I think most people know that. His athleticism is unparalleled as far as I can see," said UMass coach Don "Toot" Cahoon. "I think there are a lot of other good goalies, and they've put together great seasons, but I don't know if there is a better athlete playing this position than Jon."

Quick made 26 stops in last night's loss to Maine, a team he already had beaten four times this month.

The Minutemen (21-13-5) set a school record for wins.

Brian Boyle's first-period goal in Boston College's 4-1 win over St. Lawrence in the Northeast Regional was his 18th of the season and extended his points streak to eight games, all BC victories . . . The Eagles improved to 7-0 in first-round NCAA games under coach Jerry York . . . The crowd of 9,015 in Manchester oohed when scoreboard operators gave a scoring update from the West Regional showing Air Force leading top-seeded Minnesota, 3-1, in the third period. The crowd aahed when another update reflected Minnesota's two-goal outburst for a 3-3 tie, then let out an outright groan when a final was flashed on the screens above the ice: "Minnesota 4, Air Force 3." Credit the in-house camera crew for locating the only Minnesota fan in the building, perhaps the entire Granite State. Dressed in a Gophers hockey sweater, the man was shown on the scoreboard proudly displaying the No. 1 sign as he was roundly booed.

Globe staffers Christopher L. Gasper reported from Rochester, N.Y., Michael Vega from Manchester, N.H.