Author Archives: Michael Napier

Wisconsin 4, UAH 1

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For two periods, the boys put last night’s throttling behind them and give Wisconsin everything they could handle. But the margin of error is so small in a place like the Kohl Center, and it slipped away in the third as the Chargers lost 4-1 on Friday.

On the onset, the Chargers didn’t let the Badgers dictate the game like they did in rolling 5-0 on Thursday. They chased the puck and Wisconsin with more energy. UAH also fired the puck more, getting eight shots on goal – one short of the nine they had in all of game one (a Wisconsin school record for shots on goal allowed).

The turning point in the period came with 1:20 left. Michael Mersch, who had two goals in the first game, hit an oncoming Graeme Strukoff with his elbow for one penalty. Meanwhile, Joseph Labate was called for another elbowing penalty high on Brice Geoffrion (although Labate’s six-inch height advantage played a factor).

With the two-man advantage, UAH struck first. Frank Misuraca’s pass through traffic found Michael Webley, whose second whack on the puck got past UW goalie Joel Rumpel to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead.

The emotion and  energy carried into the second period, but the Badgers found a way to take the lead.  At 2:25, Mersch’s wrister from the slot was initially saved by Griggs, but Labate knocked in the rebound to tie the game.

After UW’s Nic Kerdiles and UAH’s Chad Brears went off for roughing, the Badgers took the lead on the ensuing 4-on-4 with some nifty passing. Mersch passed to his right to Derek Lee, who centered it back to Kevin Schulze, who fires it past Griggs at 13:14.

After Thursday’s rout, being within one goal entering the final frame was an encouraging situation. And the boys stayed with the Badgers for most of the first 10 minutes. Plus, Kerdiles’ check from behind on Alex Allen gave UAH a five-minute power play.

However, the Chargers’ advantage was quickly dispatched, and it all went downhill from there. Derek Lee’s goal – after stealing a pass right in front of Griggs – with 7:25 to go gave the Badgers a 3-1 lead and crushed UAH’s chances for a rally.

Brandon Woods then capped off the scoring, rifling a shot past Griggs on a 2-on-1 break. Wisconsin outshot UAH 11-4 in that decisive third period, and 30-22 for the game.

Finally, a break for the boys as they are off for the first time all season next week. Then, another major challenge: Top-ranked Boston College at the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis on Dec. 29, followed by Air Force on Dec. 30.

Wisconsin 5, UAH 0

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Sporting new uniforms, the Chargers looked for a spark at a place where they haven’t had much success. Unfortunately, UAH couldn’t find it in Wisconsin in a 5-0 loss on Thursday.

The Badgers outshot the Chargers 37-9 in a game that Wisconsin took control from the start.

Wisconsin lived in the offensive zone and scored two goals in the first eight minutes. Nic Kerdiles deflected a Kevin Schulze blast from the blue line that trickled between  John Griggs’ legs for a 1-0 Badger lead four minutes in.

Wisconsin made it 2-0 almost three minutes later on the power play following a Frank Misuraca holding penalty. Michael Mersch punched in a centering pass by Derek Lee in which Griggs had little chance.

As the first period progressed, however, UAH started to find some flow and puck possession, if not shots on net. Griggs made a couple of big saves to keep the margin at two goals.

The Chargers opened the second period trying to build on the end of the first, but it still did not translate into many offensive chances. Wisconsin regained its dominance as the period progressed, holding UAH to shots on goal for the frame.

The Badgers scored its third goal at 13:51. From behind the net, Lee faked Griggs by making him go his right post, then passed it in front on the left side to Mersch, who had an easy, wide open net.

Wisconsin poured it on in the third period, scoring twice in the first 4:31 to put the game out of reach. Gregg Gruehl replaced Griggs to finish the game.

The Chargers and Badgers square off again Friday night at 7 p.m.

Catching the Game: at Wisconsin 12/13-14

The Chargers are on TV this week! Well, provided you have the appropriate cable/satellite sports package. UAH visits Wisconsin for a Thursday-Friday series, with both games at 7 p.m. CT. The games will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox College Sports Pacific (Thursday) and Fox College Sports Central (Friday). For those who don’t have these channels (or can’t get to a sports bar that has them), there’s still online video (delayed to 10 p.m.), live audio, live stats, and live tweets.

Channel locations of FS Wisconsin, FCS Pacific, and FCS Central in Huntsville (check with your cable/satellite provider to find these channels in your area):

  • Knology (Sports Pak): FCS Pacific 192, FCS Central 191
  • Comcast (Sports Entertainment Package): FCS Pacific 725, FCS Central 724
  • DirecTV (Sports Pack): FS Wisconsin 652 (Thu.), RSN Alternate 625 (Fri.)
  • Dish Network (Multi-Sport Pack): Check listings
  • AT&T U-verse (Sports Package): FCS Pacific 649, FCS Central 648

The Badgers are 2-7-5 and have yet to win a game this season at the Kohl Center. This is one of the better chances to steal some points in Madison, where UAH is 0-6 all time.

UAH 4, Finlandia 1

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Ah, a series sweep. Maybe it was against a Division III foe, but it still feels good to get victories, and to break out a little offense while doing it.

UAH beat Finlandia 4-1 at the VBC Saturday afternoon to take two from the Lions, spoiling the homecoming of Charger alum John McCabe. The Chargers won Friday night’s tilt 5-2.

The first period was mostly Chargers in terms of puck possession, but no goals to show for it. UAH outshot the Lions 9-3 in a period that saw lots of continuous action if not a lot of scoring chances.

UAH got it together in the second period with four goals.

Jeff Vanderlught started the scoring by driving in on Finlandia goalie Troy Chandler’s right, punching the puck in at 2:47. Kyle Lysaght got the assist on the power play goal after Finlandia was called for delay of game for dislodging the net.

Vanderlught scored his second goal of the night at 8:03, deflecting a Alex Allan blast past Chandler for a 2-0 lead.

UAH then chased Chandler just 15 seconds letter when Michael Webley scored on a centering pass from Justin Cseter to make it 3-0 Chargers.

Even when Finlandia finally got on the board with 7:43 left in the frame, UAH answered right back 32 seconds later. After a slashing call on the Lions, Frank Misuraca’s slapper from the blue line beat backup goalie Cedrik LaFrance just six seconds into the power play.

Not much to add about the third period. Finlandia outshot the Chargers 9-7 in a scoreless period, but UAH still dominated in shots for the game, 41-19.

Not much to say about the penalty box either, as only three penalties were called all game. Finlandia got two penalties in the second period, and UAH scored on both power plays. Brice Geoffrion’s cross-checking penalty with 1:30 in the game was the only infraction on the Chargers.

UAH split goaltending duties: Gregg Gruehl got the start for the first half of the game, stopping all six shots he faced. CJ Groh was a little busier in relief, stopping 12 of 13 shots.

Next up for the Chargers is another road trip, a two-game set in Wisconsin to take on the Badgers on Thursday and Friday. Both games are at 7 p.m., and will be televised on Fox College Sports Pacific (Thursday) and Fox College Sports Central (Friday).

Times article on McCabe as Finlandia comes to town

Budd McLaughlin for The Huntsville Times caught up with Finlandia coach and UAH alum John McCabe ahead of this weekend’s series. Remember, McCabe will be at tomorrow’s coaches’ luncheon. Here was McCabe’s UAH career by the numbers:

  • Three-year left wing for the Chargers from 1995-98. He wore #25.
  • Member of the 1996 and 1998 NCAA Division II championship teams.
  • Scored 35 goals and 53 assists for 88 points in 82 games. At the time, McCabe was 18th in UAH’s career points list and tied for 17th in career assists.
  • Led the team in assists (32) during the ’98 run.

USA Under-18 Team 6, UAH 2

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Well, that was a rude homecoming.

Back at the VBC for the first time in 48 days, the Chargers lost 6-2 to the USA Under-18 National Development Team on Friday night.

It was nip and tuck early as both teams were feeling each other out to begin the game. Even with the first two power-plays, the Chargers could not mount much of an offense, and were outshot 3-2 halfway through the period.

And it was the U-18 team that would get on the board first with a goal by Hudson Fasching at 15:32.

The Chargers poured on the shots to finish the frame, including a six-shot power play. But U-18 goalie Thatcher Demko would not be beaten.

The U-18 team come out strong for the second period, dominating possession and posting the first 10 shots on goal. They would score twice before the Chargers could stop the momentum: Tyler Kelleher at 4:16 and Fasching’s second of the night at 11:14.

Once UAH steadied the onslaught, the Chargers were able to get back into the game. Jamie Kendra took a Graeme Strukoff pass in the right circle, and wrested the puck past Demko’s stick side to cut the U-18 lead to 3-1 at 14:11 of the period.

The U-18 team poured it on again to start the third, but this time it wore the Chargers down. Goals by Connor Clifton, Will Butcher, and JT Compher scored goals to put the game away at 6-1 before the halfway point of the period.

Craig Pierce scored UAH’s second goal with 3:58 to go for the final tally.

John Griggs made 24 saves on 30 shots. He was pulled at 8:32 of the third for CJ Groh, who stopped all seven shots he faced. The U-18 team outshot UAH 37-19.

The two teams square off again Saturday at 7 p.m. as Military Appreciation Weekend continues. Note there’s no live video for tomorrow’s game, so head out to the VBC as UAH tries to even the series.

Catching the Game: vs. U.S. Under-18 National Team, 11/30-12/1

The boys are back at home for the first time in six weeks. It’s Military Appreciation Weekend. You can trade another school’s shirt for a free Charger T-shirt. Predators’ PA announcer Paul McCann (Saturday) and another troupe from Nashville are coming down. So what else do you need? Come see the Chargers take on America’s brightest young hockey talent at the VBC! Friday night at 7. Saturday night at 7. If for whatever reason you can’t make it, there’s live video, live stats, and Twitter updates. But make it anyway!