Author Archives: Michael Napier

Catching the game: @Bentley, 10/26; @AIC, 10/27

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The Chargers will be in Massachusetts this weekend for a two-game swing against Atlantic Hockey opponents. We’re hoping they also get out of there before Hurricane Sandy arrives. Stay dry, boys.

Friday at Bentley (1-1), 6 p.m. CT: Bentley is a team on the rise in AHA after several years of mixed results in their league over the past several seasons. So far they have a blowout against Sacred Heart at home and a loss at Michigan.

Saturday at American International (1-2), 6 p.m. CT: There hasn’t really been much to say about AIC over the years: The Jackets haven’t had a winning season since 1993-94, when they were a Division II program. AIC split two overtime games at Penn State and lost 6-2 at home to Holy Cross.

For what it’s worth, USCHO is picking against us. Meh.

SCSU 4, UAH 0

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The Chargers were formidable in the first period, but St. Cloud State dominated the rest of the way to win 4-0 Saturday in St. Cloud.

The start was similar to what happened in Friday‘s 8-3 loss. The Chargers put the pressure on early. But also like Friday, native Huntsvillian Nic Dowd put the Huskies on the board first. Dowd stole the puck from Lasse Uusivirta, deked his way toward UAH goalie John Griggs and buried it just 3:54 into the game.

St. Cloud seemed to take control after that goal — another similarity to game one. UAH also again found its way to the penalty box with a holding call on Mike Webley at 10:52, and then a trip by Sebastian Geoffrion at 12:05 created a two-man advantage for the Huskies.

The Chargers would methodically kill both penalties, and that put a spring in their step. UAH would hold on and finish the first period down just 1-0.

St. Cloud would dominate the second, outshooting the Chargers 19-4. The Huskies took a 2-0 lead on a nice back-handed centering pass by Drew LeBlanc to Andrew Prochno. LeBlanc made it 3-0 by driving in a rebound after a Charger power play.

That was one of the few rebounds given up by Griggs, who was solid in the net for UAH. Griggs finished with 38 saves on 42 shots.

The Huskies continued the pressure in the third, and Kalle Kosilla added a goal to make it 4-0. Goaltender Ryan Faragher stopped all 18 UAH shots.

Next up for the Chargers is a two-game Massachusetts swing. They play at Bentley in Waltham on Friday, Oct. 26, followed by American International in Springfield on Saturday, Oct. 27.

SCSU 8, UAH 3

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It’s another long and winding road schedule this season for UAH, and it was another rough start for the Chargers.

UAH would find some life on the power play with three goals, but St. Cloud State overmatched the Chargers 8-3 Friday night at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.

The Chargers came out strong out of the gate, notching four of the first five shots on goal. But three penalties brought the action into the UAH defensive zone for most of the first period, and two beautiful passes gave the Huskies an early 2-0 lead.

The first goal was scored by — wouldn’t you know it — Huntsville native Nic Dowd. After a Craig Pierce tripping penalty, Drew LeBlanc fed Nic Dowd in the slot, and Dowd slapped it past UAH goaltender John Griggs to open the scoring for the Huskies 7:31 into the game.

Two minutes later, LeBlanc found Brooks Bertsch alone in the right circle, and Bertsch rifled it past Griggs and giving St. Cloud a 2-0 lead.

The Huskies would outshoot the Chargers 16-6 in the first period.

The second period was a mix of fortune and frustration for the Chargers. On a UAH power play four minutes in, the Chargers crash the net and score, but the goal is overturned as Alex Allan is called for pushing the puck in with his hand.

Allen would not be denied two minutes later, redirecting a Graeme Strukoff pass in the slot past St. Cloud goalie Joseph Phillippi. The power play goal cut the Huskies’ lead to 2-1.

St. Cloud answered just 29 seconds later with an Ethan Prow goal.

The Huskies then put on a passing clinic, as four players touched the puck before a wide open Cory Thorson made it 4-1 at 11:11 of the second.

UAH would fight back on the power play. At 12:13, Kyle Lysaght’s blast through the screen just seven seconds into the man advantage made it 4-2 St. Cloud. Curtis deBruyn and Justin Cseter got the assists.

But again, almost immediately, St. Cloud had the answer. A long drive from the point by Ethan Prow 35 seconds later gave the Huskies a 5-2 advantage.

Dowd would make the score sheet again, feeding  Joey Holka in front. Holka would bury it past Griggs’ left side with 3:31 to make it 6-2 St. Cloud after two. Despite a more even period, the Huskies outscored the Chargers 4-2.

CJ Groh relieved Griggs to start the third. Griggs made 22 saves, but many of the goals were short-range and the result of beautiful passing by the Huskies. Groh stopped eight of 10 shots.

UAH had chances in the third thanks to a vicious hit on Lysaght by Jarrod Rabey, which resulted in a major power play. Two of the five minutes were killed because of a highly questionable tripping call on Lasse Uusivirta, but once the power play resumed, UAH capitalized. Jamie Kendra’s blast from the point was deflected by Graeme Strukoff upstairs past Phillippi for the Chargers’ third power play goal of the game. Alex Allan was also credited with an assist.

But that was all UAH could muster. Tim Daly and Jonny Brodzinski would add goals for the final 8-3 score.

UAH and St. Cloud State battle again Saturday at 7 p.m.

More recaps:

Series Preview: UAH vs. Minnesota State

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It’s a weekend of new beginnings for the UAH Chargers and Minnesota State Mavericks: On the ice, and behind the bench.

Both clubs feature new head coaches with impressive resumes, but will be making their debuts in NCAA Division I. UAH’s Kurt Kleinendorst spent nine years as an assistant coach and scout with the New Jersey Devils, and led the Binghamton Senators of the AHL to a conference championship.

Meanwhile, Minnesota State’s Mike Hastings made his mark in junior hockey, leading the Omaha Lancers to three championships and becoming the all-time winningest coach in USHL history with 529 wins. He replaced Troy Jutting, who coached the Mavericks for 12 seasons.

The Mavericks were 12-24-2 overall last season, finishing 11th in the WCHA with a 8-18-1 conference slate. UAH is coming off its worst season record-wise with only two victories.

As such, both teams are eager to make this a turnaround season.

The Mavericks return their top four scorers and have added depth on offense with a talented rookie class, but the top man is senior captain Eriah Hayes. Hayes has pro potential, and his line with Matt Leitner and Jean-Paul LaFontaine scored 37 goals last season.

This will pose a challenge to the Chargers’ relatively inexperienced goaltending corps. John Griggs is a third-year senior who played in six games last season, and junior C.J. Groh played in only two. Along with freshman Gregg Gruehl, this series could be an audition for the regular starter spot.

The Mavericks do not have such questions in goal. Phil Cook will start the opener. The 6-3, 195-pound senior had two different seasons in one in 2011-12: He had a 6.68 goals against average in just five games in the first half, then posted a 2.59 average (with a .917 save percentage) in 11 starts the rest of the way. He did not face UAH in the two-game series in Mankato last season.

Senior co-captain Tyler Elbrecht leads a corps of six returning defensemen for MSU. The 6-4, 210-pound Elbrecht is the most physical presence on the team. Zach Palmquist, a sophomore led all Maverick blue liners with 19 points — six more than Kyle Lysaght, UAH‘s leading scorer last season.

So what about the Charger offense? Coach K^2 is preaching the “process.” And that process will be to see how UAH’s top guns — Lysaght, captain Justin Cseter, and alternate captain Sebastian Geoffrion — will get their scoring chances. The Chargers got 22 goals against Alabama, but against real NCAA competition, this will be a work in progress that will likely require patience as coach and players get in synch. Jack Prince had a big weekend against the Frozen Tide, so his NCAA debut will be one to watch.

Minnesota State, which took a 7-1 decision against Lethbridge in their lone preseason game, has the upper hand in all phases — it showed last season when the Mavericks beat the Chargers 4-2 and 9-1 in Mankato. To pull the upset, UAH will need to rely on its five veteran defensemen (with alternate captain Curtis deBruyn) and handful of touted freshmen.

Minnesota State is unbeaten in the last eight meetings with the Chargers, evening the all-time series record at 17-17-4.

For PucKato‘s thoughts, check out their evaluations of their forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders.  Shane Frederick of the Mankato Free Press does great work.

2012-13 UAH Hockey: A Look Ahread

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The 34th season of UAH Hockey is fast approaching! Here’s a quick look at each of the opponents the Chargers will face this season:

HOME vs. ALABAMA, Oct. 6-7 (exhibition): One could learn the difference between NCAA Division I hockey and club-level college hockey. The Frozen Tide is coached by former UAH assistant Mike Quenneville.

HOME vs. MINNESOTA STATE, Oct. 12-13: The regular season opens with a chance for the Chargers — and their fans — to show the WCHA what UAH hockey is made of. The Mavericks make their first visit to Huntsville since 2008. The Chargers were swept in Mankato last season.

At ST. CLOUD STATE, Oct. 19-20: The Chargers play the Huskies for the first time since the 2001-02 season. St. Cloud finished sixth in the WCHA last season.

At BENTLEY, at AIC, Oct. 26-27: UAH visits a pair of Atlantic Hockey teams. The Chargers have never lost to Bentley, and they’ll meet for the first time in 11 years. The Chargers are 5-1-1 all-time against AIC, last meeting the Yellow Jackets with a win in the 2007 RPI Holiday Tournament.

At ST. LAWRENCE, Nov. 2-3: The Chargers have never played the Saints, who finished eighth in the ECAC last season.

At NORTHEASTERN, Nov. 10-12: Another first-time meeting. The Huskies missed the Hockey East playoffs last year with a ninth-place finish.

At LAKE SUPERIOR STATE, Nov. 16-17: UAH makes the return trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., after opening last season with a pair of one-goal losses to the Lakers at the VBC.

At NEBRASKA-OMAHA, Nov. 23-24: The Chargers split with the Mavericks last season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, stunning UNO 3-1 in the opener.

HOME vs. U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 (exhibition): The best of America‘s hockey future visit Huntsville once again.

HOME vs. FINLANDIA, Dec. 7-8: The Division III Lions are coached by former Charger winger and assistant coach John McCabe.

At WISCONSIN, Dec. 13-14: The Chargers are 0-6 all-time in Madison, including a pair of losses at the Kohl Center in 2010. The Badgers are looking to rebound from a 10th-place finish in the WCHA.

Vs. BOSTON COLLEGE, Vs. AIR FORCE, Dec. 28-29 (Mariucci Classic, Minneapolis): For the second straight season, the Chargers face off with the defending national champions. Boston College won the UAH-hosted Frozen Four in Tampa. UAH tied and lost to Air Force last season in Huntsville.

HOME vs. ADRIAN, Jan. 4-5, 2013: The Division III Bulldogs won 20 games last season and were the national runner-up in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

At PENN STATE, Feb. 8-9: The Nittany Lions will play their first season in Division I as a fellow independent until joining the Big Ten next season. UAH last visited Happy Valley as a club team in 1984, and defeated Penn State for the National Club Championship in 1983.

At MINNESOTA-DULUTH: March 1-2: The Chargers visit Duluth for the second straight season. Back in January, UAH battled hard with the then-defending national champions with 2-1 and 4-3 losses.