Entering the 2023-24 season, the University of Miami Redhawks hockey team had only three first-year signees: Tanion Beiser, Bruno Boubelis and Ryharc Szymanovic. His two later signees are both from Riga, Latvia. Their journey across the world to Oxford was long, but that was to be expected.
Goaltender Vulbelis and defenseman Szymanovic both grew up playing in the same camp, but they have never played together because Vulbelis is one year older than Szymanovic. Although they never played together, both players found themselves taking similar paths to play in Miami. They played in the United States Junior Hockey League before joining the World Junior teams in Miami and Latvia, where they made their first connection.
“The first time we played together was in the U20 World Championship team (Latvia World Juniors),” said Simanovic. “We have a great bond and live together in Miami.”
Bouvelis was the first player to commit to Miami in November 2022. After hearing the coaches' interest in his former teammate, Bouvelis had good words for him and even encouraged Szymanovic to join him.
“I noticed that the coaching staff was asking me questions about Rehears,” Bouvelis said. “I described him as a great human being who would make a huge impact on Miami hockey. I also had several conversations with him and convinced him to come on board right away.”
Photo credit: Bella Sagarese | Miami student
Simanovic scored 7 points and took 22 shots in his first season in Miami.
Simanovic also reflected on his experience transferring to Miami and fellow Latvian junior forward Laimons Vitorins. Vitorins has followed a similar path to both Vulbelis and Simanovic, drawing on his experience in the Junior Hockey League and with fellow Latvian world junior teams before transferring to Miami in 2022.
Simanovic was on the fence about moving to Miami, but other Latvian players eventually convinced him to take on Oxford, and he decided to move in April 2023.
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“I saw the commitment of Bruno and Rai (Limons) and it was interesting, but I didn't know anything about Miami,” Simanovic said. “I was looking for a place to commit and Miami contacted me. I remembered Bruno and Rai and had a good conversation with the coach and Bruno.”
Both players found success early in their college careers. The transition from Junior League to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) wasn't easy, but both Boubelis and Szymanovic have steadily paved the way.
While with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Bouveris averaged an .897 save percentage. He's already put up similar numbers in Miami, playing in 15 games and posting an .866 save percentage in 794 minutes of game time.
Bullbrace really hit his stride when graduate student goaltender Logan Neaton was injured. In a game against the University of Denver Pioneers, Boubelis saved the game for the Redhawks with an overtime block that sent the game to a shootout, earning him the NCHC's Play of the Week award.
For Brubelis, the main factor in the transition from the Junior League to the NCHC is the intensity and speed of the game.
“You have to make the jump from junior to college,” Bouveris said. “College hockey is much faster. It's just a different level. Learning to manage my schedule was very important to me so that I could be the best version of myself both in the classroom and on the ice.”
Simanovic took a different path and played for the Amarillo Wranglers of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He finished first in the conference in scoring among defensemen (16 points) and second in scoring (45 points). In Miami, Simanovic already has seven points and 22 shots in 27 games.
“The skill of the game is completely different,” Simanovic said. “The level of play is much faster and more difficult. In order to be able to play at this level and try to do what I did last year as a junior, I have to adjust a lot of things and pay more attention to details. I would like to continue doing my best here.”
Both players have high aspirations not only for themselves but also for the team. The transition to college hockey has been a process, but Bouvelis and Szymanovic still hope to make the playoffs.
“I believe we can take a step forward in this last period of the season,” said Bouvelis. “We're looking forward to the playoffs and looking forward to dropping everything and running.”
Miami is currently 7-24-3 on the season. They will head to North Dakota State on March 15th to take on the No. 1 North Dakota University Hawks in the NCHC Tournament.
I believe the team can escape. All that's left now is to prove it on the ice.
scheesgd@miamioh.edu
