Blake Mesenburg, a senior forward at Miami University, stands out as the sole remaining player from his freshman recruiting class. Hailing from Orono, Minnesota, Mesenburg has endured the toughest times, including a dismal record of four wins in 76 games within the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Now, he finds himself part of an astonishing turnaround for the RedHawks.
This season marks a significant transformation for Miami, who entered the campaign winless in their last 40 NCHC games. Currently, the team boasts a record of 17-9-2 and is ranked No. 20 in the national polls. They are engaged in a competitive battle with Minnesota Duluth to secure a top-half finish in the NCHC for the first time in over a decade, and they are also positioned at No. 20 in the NPI Rankings, closing in on their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2015.
“I would say it”s finally rewarding to go through this,” Mesenburg stated. “Coming into a program in the situation we were in as freshmen, we are finally experiencing the benefits of our hard work. The support from students, the community, and alumni this year is incredible compared to last year. Home games feel different, and there is a palpable hype around our team.”
Few players in college hockey can relate to Mesenburg”s journey. Over the last three seasons, no team in the country secured fewer wins than Miami, which totaled 18. The losing streak stretched into a painful 2-44-4 record after January 1 during his initial three seasons.
“It was tough, for sure,” Mesenburg reflected. “Losing can bring out a different side in guys. It was a struggle just to come to the rink when the losses piled up. There wasn”t much positive to draw from.”
Following Mesenburg”s sophomore season, the RedHawks made a coaching change, bringing in Anthony Noreen to replace Chris Bergeron. Noreen, who previously coached the Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League, faced an uphill battle. The previous season ended with a disheartening record of 3-28-3, prompting a major roster overhaul that saw 21 new players join the team—more than any other college hockey program. Despite the changes, Noreen retained Mesenburg for his character and competitiveness, recognizing his leadership potential.
“I don”t know if there”s anyone more representative of that than Blake Mesenburg,” Noreen remarked. “He”s Miami through and through, actively involved on campus and in the community. This year hasn”t been easy for him, as he faced time out of the lineup. However, how he has managed this situation will serve him well in the future.”
As Miami prepares to face UND in a weekend series at Ralph Engelstad Arena, Mesenburg feels a unique connection. His grandfather, Paul Brewer, played football at UND in 1958 and 1959, and has been a lifelong supporter of the Fighting Sioux.
“He”s always been a Fighting Sioux fan, as he”d call it,” Mesenburg noted. “He loves watching those games when we”re up there.”
Mesenburg has not disappointed, having scored his first collegiate goal at Ralph Engelstad Arena in November 2022, with another goal the very next night. He has found the net in three of his four games played in The Ralph, matching his total goal count at Miami”s Goggin Ice Arena.
“We are coming in under much different circumstances than in the past,” Mesenburg expressed. “This weekend is crucial for our standings with only a few regular-season games remaining. We feel confident and positive about our game, which is a refreshing change from previous years. We are aiming for nothing less than a sweep.”
When: 7:07 PM Friday, 6:07 PM Saturday. Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena. Records: Miami 17-9-2 (8-8-2 NCHC); UND 21-7 (13-5). TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD). Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM). Stream: NCHChockey.com/tv.
