OXFORD — After missing Miami University’s opening series at Northern Michigan because of a short-term injury, sophomore forward David Deputy is back in the lineup and on fire, attacking every puck like a dog on a bone.
Deputy has recorded eight points in four games, including one goal and seven assists, averaging two points per game since returning. He also has recorded two three-assist performances, one in the 7-1 home opener against Robert Morris and another in Miami’s 5-1 rout of Alaska-Anchorage.
However, his production is only part of the story.
Deputy has become one of Miami’s most impactful players, building off his 2025-26 season as an NCHC Rookie of the Year finalist. His return has given the RedHawks another major offensive weapon heading into NCHC play.
“Last year I kind of went through a little bit of this, too, where I missed the first month of the year. Obviously, it sucked getting hurt again and missing the first two games, but I think I knew how to deal with it a little more this time,” Deputy said.
Deputy’s impact is evident in the analytics, too.
According to College Hockey News, he currently leads Miami in Chip Rating with a score of 5.1, a metric that evaluates a player’s overall impact on the ice. He also has put 15 shots on goal through four games while averaging just 15:55 of ice time per game.
Miami has distributed its ice time more evenly this season compared to last, making Deputy’s production even more impressive given his limited ice time through four games, although it is expected to increase during NCHC play.
According to analytics provided by Ryan Sikes, Deputy’s expected goals-for percentage ranks in the 98th percentile nationally, placing him among the most effective players in college hockey by that measure.
Deputy’s production also reflects the kind of unselfish, team-first mentality Miami coach Anthony Noreen wants throughout his program.
“It’s always been more about, like, my habits and my process to getting to that point. I’m never trying to be results-driven. If I have no points and my habits are good, I’d still consider that a good game,” Deputy said.
That approach has translated beyond five-on-five and the power play, where Deputy has become an important part of Miami’s penalty kill alongside sophomore forward Ilia Morozov.
The two have developed into dangerous short-handed threats, particularly late in penalty kills when Noreen trusts them to take advantage of offensive opportunities.
That trust paid off last Friday against Alaska-Anchorage, when Deputy and Morozov combined for a beautiful short-handed goal during Miami’s 7-1 victory. The goal was later recognized as the NCHC’s Top Play of the Week.
Deputy understands that attacking on the penalty kill requires the right balance between breaking out and staying defensively sound.
“When there are opportunities to play offense on the kill, you can kind of catch some power plays sleeping with the way that there’s only one guy back there on the power play and they want to play offense,” Deputy said. “When the opportunity is there, we want to go play offense. But the buy-in when it’s not there is that we lock it down and play the right way.”
Deputy’s chemistry with Morozov also has carried over to the RedHawks’ second line, where the two have found success alongside sophomore forward Ryan Seelinger.
The line of Deputy, Morozov and Seelinger combined for eight points during Miami’s series sweep of Alaska-Anchorage.
Deputy credited his existing chemistry with Morozov from last season and the spring, along with his familiarity with Seelinger, for helping the line find its rhythm.
“In terms of Ilia, obviously you see what type of player he is, and he’s going to play in the NHL probably here pretty soon and make a lot of money playing hockey one day. But it’s pretty easy playing with him. I think last year we kind of built some chemistry together, and it’s nice to get back to that,” Deputy said.
“With Seelinger, it’s similar to the way I play in a lot of ways, with the skating and the fast pace. It’s just been so fun to play with him. I actually know him from back home in Illinois, and I’ve known him for a while, so that chemistry has kind of been there for a while. I hope we stay together, but yeah, it’s really fun playing with those two.”
That chemistry could prove especially important as Miami enters a demanding stretch of its schedule, with St. Thomas, Colorado College and Minnesota Duluth on deck.
While Miami’s even-strength offense and penalty kill have produced encouraging results, the power play remains an area for improvement heading into conference play.
Freshman defenseman Timmy Runtso, a 2026 second-round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens who also returned from injury, was immediately placed on Miami’s top power-play unit alongside Deputy, Morozov, Kocha Delic and Matteo Giampa.
Runtso spoke highly of the talent surrounding him and how playing with elite offensive players like Deputy has helped make his transition easier.
“It’s pretty special. If you look at every one of those guys individually, they’re pretty special in their own way. They just make it easier for me whenever we’re moving the puck around and breaking it out. That’s as simple as it gets. Just make it easier for me, and I’ll move it to you, and you can do whatever you want with it, and then see where it goes from there,” Runtso said.
Despite the talent on the unit, Miami needs to do a better job converting its opportunities.
The RedHawks finished 0-for-4 on the power play during their most recent game and went 0-for-6 across the Alaska-Anchorage series, dropping their season conversion rate to 21.4%.
Miami generated several quality looks, but finishing those chances will be critical against some of the top teams in college hockey. Deputy will play an important role in that effort as one of the team’s best scorers.
Deputy embodies many of the qualities that could help this team take the next step.
If Miami wants to challenge for a top-four finish in the NCHC and earn its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015, when the RedHawks were a No. 1 seed, players like Deputy will need to continue leveling up against tougher competition.
