When you’re 1-19, you don’t expect many good-looking statistics. But if there’s one statistic for UAH this season that has been particularly woeful, it’s been penalty killing. Coming into last weekend’s series at Wisconsin, UAH had the worst penalty killing percentage in the nation at 62.9 percent.

So it was fabulous to see the Chargers go into a tough place like the Kohl Center and kill all 10 Badger power plays. And just like in KRACH, UAH isn’t last anymore (sorry Robert Morris).

The last time UAH held an opponent scoreless on the power play in a two-game series was against Bemidji State at the VBC back in October, but the Beavers only had four power play opportunities.

Coaches’ luncheon: Another home series means another pre-game coaches’ luncheon at the Varsity Room in Spragins Hall on Friday. Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron will be the guest to talk about his Falcons and the weekend’s games.

The luncheon starts at noon and will be catered by Five Guys Burgers & Fries. Tickets are $8 at the door, and Blue Line Club members get in free.

Bergeron speaks: Bergeron talked about the Chargers in his weekly press conference. Regarding the last time the teams met last month at Bowling Green, he was very complimentary of UAH’s defense, especially the blocked shots.

Injury update: Matt Larose started Friday’s game at Wisconsin, stopping 23 of the Badgers’ 25-shot barrage, but he didn’t return after the first period because of a laceration on his hip that required 10 stitches. He dressed in Saturday’s game but didn’t play as Carmine Guerriero minded the net the rest of the series.

Jeff Vanderlugt will remain out for this weekend against Bowling Green.

Around the WCHA: Most of the league stayed quiet during the holidays. Outside of UAH’s visit to Wisconsin, Michigan Tech and Bowling Green participated in holiday tournaments.

At the Great Lakes Invitational — held outside at Comerica Park in Detroit — Michigan Tech tied Michigan State 2-2 in the semifinals, advancing to the championship in a shootout. On Saturday, the Huskies fell in the final to Western Michigan, 1-0 in overtime.

At the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh, Bowling Green had a rough time against No. 7 Boston College, losing 5-0 on Friday. The Falcons held off a late Robert Morris charge to win the third-place game 3-2 on Saturday.

Heading into the new year, Ferris State is ranked No. 2 in the USCHO.com poll. Lake Superior is 18th, while Minnesota State received votes (Vermont essentially replaced the Mavericks at No. 20 after winning the Catamount Cup).

This week, eight teams resume WCHA play, while Alaska-Anchorage visits Wisconsin and Ferris State plays in the Mariucci Classic (where they may face host Minnesota on Saturday in a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup).

WCHA Standings	Conference					Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pts	W	L	T
Ferris State	12	10	0	2	22	14	2	3
Minnesota State	12	9	3	0	18	11	7	0
Bowling Green	14	6	6	2	14	9	9	4
Bemidji State	14	5	5	4	14	5	9	6
Lake Superior State	12	6	6	0	12	10	7	1
Michigan Tech	12	4	4	4	12	6	10	6
Alaska-Anchorage	14	5	7	2	12	8	8	2
Northern Michigan	10	4	5	1	9	6	10	2
Alaska	12	4	7	1	9	7	8	3
Alabama-Huntsville	12	1	11	0	2	1	19	0

THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central.
* WCHA game.

Friday, January 3
* Bowling Green at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* Michigan Tech at Lake Superior, 6:37 p.m.
* Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
* Minnesota State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Ferris State vs. Rensselaer, 4:00 p.m. (Mariucci Classic, Minneapolis)
Alaska-Anchorage at Wisconsin, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 4
* Bowling Green at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* Michigan Tech at Lake Superior, 6:07 p.m.
* Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
* Minnesota State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Ferris State vs. Colgate or Minnesota, 4:00 or 7:00 p.m. (Mariucci Classic, Minneapolis)
Alaska-Anchorage at Wisconsin, 7:00 p.m.

Happy Holidays! The team is back together from the holiday break and will resume the season with a two-game, non-conference set at Wisconsin of the Big Ten. The game start at 7 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday, and here’s how you can follow the action:

• TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox College Sports Pacific (Friday), and Fox College Sports Central (Saturday). These channels can be found on these cable and satellite providers, typically requiring a subscription to a digital sports tier:
  • Comcast Xfinity: FCS Pacific 725, FCS Central 724
  • Wow!: FCS Pacific 192, FCS Central 191
  • DirecTV: Channel 670
  • Dish Network: Channel 440 (Friday), Channel 451 (Saturday)
• ONLINE VIDEO: InsideBadgerSports.com (subscription, Friday only)
• LIVE STATS: Friday | Saturday
  
• AUDIO: WIBA
  
• TWITTER: @weloveuahhockey (us), @uahhockey (official), @uahchargers (official), @BadgerMHockey (official)

TEAM COMPARISON
	2013-14 Stats
1-17-0	Overall record	8-5-1
1-11-0 (WCHA)	Conference record	2-2-0 (Big Ten)
1.06 (59th)	Goals per game	3.50 (T-10th)
4.28 (57th)	Goals allowed per game	3.07 (42nd)
14.7 (17th)	Penalty minutes per game	11.8 (38th)
7.3% (58th)	Power play	18.9% (33rd)
62.9% (59th)	Penalty kill	83.9% (20th)
Matt Salhany (2-5-7) Frank Misuraca (1-5-6) Alex Allan (3-1-4) Chad Brears (3-1-4)	Leading scorers	Nic Kerdiles (8-9-17)* Michael Mersch (10-6-16) Mark Zengerle (1-13-14) Tyler Barnes (5-7-12) Joseph LaBate (5-6-11)
Carmine Guerriero (9 GS, 3.48 GAA, .904 SV%) Matt Larose (9 GS, 4.89 GAA, .881 SV%)	Goaltending	Joel Rumpel (7 GS, 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%) Landon Peterson (7 GS, 3.59 GAA, .881 SV%)

* Currently with Team USA at World Junior Championships.

Series preview from UAHChargers.com

The Chargers are back at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., where they haven’t fared very well. UAH is 0-8 all-time at Wisconsin (and overall, as the Badgers have never come to Huntsville). Last season, the Chargers lost 5-0 and 4-1.

UAH will have to go without Ben Reinhardt on Friday as he serves a one-game suspension for an illegal check on Zach Stepan late in the Dec. 14 game against Minnesota State. The Chargers will also be without  Jeff Vanderlugt due to injury, but captain Doug Reid is returning to action.

The 14th-ranked Badgers are on a four-game winning streak, sweeping Penn State and Colorado College at home. Wisconsin will not have their top scorer, Nic Kerdiles, who is with Team USA at the World Junior Championships.

UAH returns home next weekend, Jan. 3-4, against Bowling Green.

With finals over and a week off, many of the boys have gone home for the holidays.

Next up for the Chargers is a trip to 14th-ranked Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Dec. 27-28. The games will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin and Fox College Sports Pacific (12/27) and Central (12/28). Typically these channels are available on a digital sports tier with your cable or satellite provider.

More to come on this series (and where to watch it) in Catching the Game next week.

Alumni: Former Charger Craig Bushey taught hockey to students at Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle.

Around the WCHA: Minnesota State’s sweep of UAH propelled the Mavericks to second place in the WCHA standings, eight points behind Ferris State. It also put MSU back into the USCHO.com poll, coming in at No. 20.

Minnesota State’s Zach Stepan was back in action Tuesday after getting up slowly from Ben Reinhardt’s check from behind late in Saturday’s game. However, the Nashville Predators prospect wasn’t playing for MSU: He suited up for the United States National Junior Team against his teammates in an exhibition game in Mankato.  The Juniors won 3-2 in overtime, and Stepan made the cut for the U.S. squad as it plays in the World Junior Championships in Sweden starting Dec. 26.

First-place Ferris State had a week off from conference play, earned a tie at No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday and a win at Michigan State on Saturday. The Bulldogs are now No. 2 in the USCHO.com poll, with 12 first-place votes.

Bowling Green won and tied at Michigan Tech, and coupled with Bemidji State’s tie and loss at home with Alaska, means the Falcons and Beavers are tied for third.

Lake Superior State split at Alaska-Anchorage, and dropped down a notch to No. 18 in the poll. The Lakers are in a three-way tie for fifth with Michigan Tech and Anchorage. Also, Northern Michigan dropped two games at North Dakota.

WCHA Standings	Conference					Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pts	W	L	T
Ferris State	12	10	0	2	22	14	2	3
Minnesota State	12	9	3	0	18	11	7	0
Bowling Green	14	6	6	2	14	8	8	4
Bemidji State	14	5	5	4	14	5	9	6
Lake Superior State	12	6	6	0	12	10	7	1
Michigan Tech	12	4	4	4	12	6	9	5
Alaska-Anchorage	14	5	7	2	12	8	8	2
Northern Michigan	10	4	5	1	9	6	10	2
Alaska	12	4	7	1	9	7	8	3
Alabama-Huntsville	12	1	11	0	2	1	17	0

THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central.
* WCHA game.

Friday, December 27
UAH at Wisconsin, 7:00 p.m. (TV: FS Wisconsin, FCS Pacific)
Michigan Tech vs. Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational, Detroit)
Bowling Green vs. Boston College, 3:35 p.m. (Three Rivers Classic, Pittsburgh)

Saturday, December 28
UAH at Wisconsin, 8:00 p.m. (TV: FS Wisconsin, FCS Central)
Michigan Tech vs. Western Michigan or Michigan, 2:30 or 6:00 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational, Detroit)
Bowling Green vs. Penn State or Robert Morris, 3:35 or 6:35 p.m. (Three Rivers Classic, Pittsburgh)

A tight matchup turned ugly as Minnesota State beat UAH 4-1 on Saturday night at the Von Braun Center.

The Mavericks scored two power-play goals after back-to-back checking from behind major penalties to the Chargers. Those turned a tight 2-1 game into a breather for the Mavericks’ seventh straight victory. MSU won the first game Friday night also by a 4-1 score.

Frank Misuraca and Ben Reinhardt got the major penalties, which automatically come with game misconducts. Misuraca’s hit came on Brett Knowles with 6:47 left in the game, and Reinhardt’s was on Nashville Predators prospect Zach Stepan just 37 seconds later. Both Mavericks were slow to get up and had to be helped off the ice.

Minnesota State captain Johnny McInnis took exception to the hit on Knowles and started jawing at the UAH bench. He drew a minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but it was indicative of how ugly the game got.

The game was loaded with penalties through out, with several minors in the first two periods. UAH had 11 penalties total for 44 minutes, and Minnesota State had nine for 29 minutes.

Minnesota State came out firing, notching the first 10 shots on goal for the game before UAH got its first. The Mavericks outshot the Chargers 14-6 for the period, despite UAH having four power plays to MSU’s two. The Chargers even had 50 seconds of two-man advantage, but could not get much rubber on Mavericks goalie and Islanders prospect Stephon Williams.

The Mavericks tested UAH net minder Carmine Guerriero in their two power plays, including a four-shot-on-goal barrage in their first advantage.

The beginning of the second period mimicked the first period, with the Mavericks firing away and dominating possession. The difference was that they were able to break through with two goals. Johnny McInnis passed from the slot to JP Lafontaine, who buried the puck past Guerriero for a 1-0 lead at the 1:53 mark.

Six minutes later, Jordan Nelson put in a rebound for a 2-0 Maverick advantage. He was assisted by Brett Knowles and Max Gaede.

Chad Brears fired the puck from the right point, and Brandon Clowes deflected it past Williams for his first goal of the season and cut Minnesota State’s lead to 2-1. Frank Misuraca also assisted on the play.

Like the night before, the Chargers found themselves down one with a period to go. But after the checking from behind majors, the game got away from UAH.

Matt Leitner, who would get his own contact to the head major and game misconduct for a hit on Brent Fletcher with 2:18 to go, scored the first goal during the major power play to make it 3-1. Chase Grant followed up just under a minute later for the final score.

Guerriero finished with a season-high 42 saves.

The Chargers get next weekend off before heading to Wisconsin for a two-game series on Dec. 27-28. UAH returns home on Jan. 3-4 to face Bowling Green in a WCHA rematch.

Back home after nearly a month, the Chargers build on Saturday’s win against Minnesota State. Game time is 7:07 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the VBC box office. This week’s promotions are:

• Kids 12 and under get free admission for all remaining home games this season.
  
• Friday night, the first 500 fans receive a set of UAH hockey trading cards.
• Saturday night, the first 500 fans receive a Charger Blue bobblehead doll.

If you can’t make the game, there are many ways to follow the action:

• VIDEO: WCHA TV on America One (subscription)
• LIVE STATS: uahchargers.com
• AUDIO: KTOE radio
  
• TWITTER: @weloveuahhockey (us), @uahhockey (official), @uahchargers (official), @msumavericks (official)
  

TEAM COMPARISON
	2013-14 Stats
1-15-0	Overall record	9-7-0
1-9-0	WCHA record	7-3-0
1.06	Goals per game	2.56
4.31	Goals allowed per game	2.56
12.8	Penalty minutes per game	16.7
8.6%	Power play	20.0%
62.0%	Penalty kill	87.3%
Matt Salhany (2-4-6) Frank Misuraca (1-4-5) Alex Allan (3-1-4) Regan Soquila (1-3-4) Steven Koshey (1-3-4)	Leading scorers	JP Lafontaine (6-6-12) Matt Leitner (3-8-11) Johnny McInnis (5-4-9) Teddy Blueger (3-6-9) Zach Palmquist (2-7-9)
Carmine Guerriero (8 GS, 3.41 GAA, .903 SV%) Matt Larose (8 GS, 5.00 GAA, .875 SV%)	Goaltending	Cole Huggins (8 GS, 1.80 GAA, .932 SV%) Stephon Williams (8 GS, 3.47 GAA, .868 SV%)

 

The Chargers and Mavericks have a long history, playing 43 times over the past 25 years, in both Division I and II. The series is even at 19-19-5, but Minnesota State (which went by “Mankato State” for many of those games) is 8-0-2 in the last 10 meetings. Last year, the Mavericks visited Huntsville and won 4-1 in the first game and tied 2-2 in the second.

MSU was the favorite to win the WCHA this season in both the media and coaches polls, but did not come out of the gate like the favorite. The Mavericks started 4-7, but have since won five straight games entering this series as they continue to regain their offensive touch. MSU swept Northern Michigan at home, 3-2 and 3-0, last week to move into second place in the WCHA behind Ferris State.

JP Lafontaine and Matt Leitner are the Mavericks’ leading scorers, but the team is getting a big boost since Zach Lehrke returned from injury. Lehrke has eight points in his last six games.

Matt Salhany’s three-point night at Bowling Green on Saturday propelled him to the team lead in scoring. Frank Misuraca’s OT winner and an assist has him in second.

The Chargers’ will be off for the first time in two months next week before a two-game non-conference set at Wisconsin on Dec. 27-28. UAH’s next home series is Jan. 3-4 against Bowling Green.

More previews:

• UAHChargers.com: Chargers to host streaking Minnesota State at VBC
• al.com: Hectic Huntsville hockey weekend
• Mankato Free Press: Mavericks not overlooking Huntsville

Frank Misuraca, after scoring the overtime winner for the Chargers on Saturday at Bowling Green, was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. He’s the first UAH player to earn one of the league’s weekly honors.

In Saturday’s 4-3 win, Misuraca also notched an assist on UAH’s first goal. He blocked four shots for the series and had a +1 rating.

This season, Misuraca has a goal and four assists in 15 games, and he is fifth on the team in blocks with 20.

Coaches’ lunch: The Chargers are finally back home, which means another chance for you to get ready for the series with a little lunch and talking college hockey.

The Blue Line Club luncheon is Friday at noon at the Varsity Room at Spragins Hall. Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings, along with UAH’s Mike Corbett, will be on hand to answer your questions about this weekend’s series with the Mavericks.

LawLers Barbecue is catering. Tickets are $8 at the door, while Blue Line Club members get in free.

Kids get in free: Thanks to Huntsville International Airport, kids 12 and under will get free admission to not only this weekend’s series with Minnesota State, but all remaining home games this season. The promotion applies to UAH’s Saturday home Gulf South Conference basketball games as well.

Though there are no limits on free admissions for those under 12, availability is based on a first-come-first-served basis.

The power of four: On Saturday, the Chargers scored four goals against a Division I opponent for the first time since Jan. 14, 2011, a 5-4 loss to Merrimack. Four seems to be the magic number for UAH: The team is 4-2-1 in its last seven games scoring four or more goals against D-I opponents.

Around the WCHA: Ferris State extended its win streak to 13 games after sweeping Lake Superior State over the weekend. The Bulldogs, now ranked fourth in this week’s USCHO.com poll, face two in-state rivals this week: No. 3 Michigan tonight and Michigan State on Saturday.

Lake Superior dropped to No. 17 as the only other WCHA team ranked in the poll. The Lakers head up to Anchorage to play the Seawolves.

After a sweep of Northern Michigan, Minnesota State moved up to second place and have won five in a row coming into Huntsville. Bemidji State dropped to third after back to back 2-2 ties at home with Michigan Tech.

WCHA Standings	Conference					Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pts	W	L	T
Ferris State	12	10	0	2	22	13	2	2
Minnesota State	10	7	3	0	14	9	7	0
Bemidji State	12	5	4	3	13	5	8	5
Bowling Green	12	5	6	1	11	7	8	3
Michigan Tech	10	4	3	3	11	6	8	4
Lake Superior State	10	5	5	0	10	9	6	1
Alaska-Anchorage	12	4	6	2	10	7	7	2
Northern Michigan	10	4	5	1	8	6	8	2
Alaska	10	3	7	0	6	6	8	2
Alabama-Huntsville	10	1	9	0	2	1	15	0

THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central.
* WCHA game.

Wednesday, December 11
Ferris State at Michigan, 6:05 p.m.

Friday, December 13
* Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
* Lake Superior at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at North Dakota, 7:37 p.m.

Saturday, December 14
* Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
* Lake Superior at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Michigan State, 6:00 p.m.
Northern Michigan at North Dakota, 7:07 p.m.