UAH (3-14-1, 3-9-0 WCHA) vs. Bemidji State (11-8-3, 6-5-1 WCHA) WHERE: Sanford Center, Bemidji, Minn. WHEN: Saturday, 4:07 p.m.; Sunday, 2:07 p.m. WATCH:FloHockey.tv (subscription)
The UAH Chargers and Bemidji State Beavers have battled each other almost every year for almost 27 years, but this could be the last meeting between the longtime rivals for a while.
Next season, Bemidji State will be in the new CCHA. UAH’s future has yet to be determined.
The rivalry began with the 1994 NCAA Division II championship in Huntsville. The teams would meet four times in five years for the national title, each winning two championships. UAH and BSU would continue meeting as they moved into Division I, becoming members of College Hockey America in 1999 and staying through the men’s league’s end in 2010. The teams met four times while UAH was an independent, and then UAH joined Bemidji State in the WCHA in 2013.
The schools have played each other 92 times, with the Beavers holding a 55-32-5 advantage in the all-time series.
This weekend’s affair will not affect UAH’s seeding in the WCHA playoffs. Locked into seventh place, the Chargers will try to get some momentum into the postseason after being swept by Bowling Green last week and losing nine of their last 10.
The Beavers, ranked 17th in the latest USCHO.com poll, are playing for home ice in the quarterfinals. They are in sixth place but could finish as high as fourth.
A bunch of busy Beavers, Bemidji State is playing six games in 11 days to close the regular season. They split a home-and-home series with Minnesota State last weekend and split with Lake Superior in Bemidji on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Senior Zach Driscoll has put together another solid year between the pipes for Bemidji State, posting a 2.52 goals against average and a .919 save percentage, starting in all but one of BSU’s 22 games this season.
The Beavers have experienced forwards in seniors Ethan Somoza (11 goals) and Brendan Harris (16 points) and junior Alex Ierullo (19 points). Junior Owen Sillinger had nine goals but has missed BSU’s last seven games with an injury suffered against Northern Michigan on February 12.
This week in the WCHA: All times Central.
Friday, March 5 #19 Michigan Tech at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Saturday, March 6 UAH at #17 Bemidji State, 4:07 p.m. Ferris State at #20 Lake Superior State, 2:07 p.m. #19 Michigan Tech at #4 Minnesota State, 6:07 p.m.
Sunday, March 7 UAH at #17 Bemidji State, 2:07 p.m.
Bowling Green spoiled UAH’s Senior Day upset bid Sunday, scoring twice halfway through the third period toward a 4-2 win at the Von Braun Center.
The Chargers (3-14-1, 3-9-0 WCHA) led the 13th-ranked Falcons 2-1 at the second intermission in their season home finale, but could not capitalize on crucial power-play opportunities at the start of the third period.
UAH finishes the regular season next weekend at Bemidji State. The Chargers are locked into the seventh seed in the WCHA playoffs, which begin in two weeks.
Bowling Green (19-8-1, 8-5-1) made its grip on the second seed tighter with the victory, leading Lake Superior State by seven points. If the Falcons hold, they would be hosting UAH in the best-of-3 quarterfinals. Bowling Green has finished its regular season.
The Falcons outshot the Chargers 27-18 and won the possession battle most of the game, but UAH that held the lead twice.
The Chargers got an unlikely goal from an unlikely spot to open the scoring. Defenseman Lucas Bahn took the puck up the right half-wall to just in front of the goal line, threw it toward the net and banked it off Falcon goaltender Zach Rose with 1:26 remaining in the first period.
It was Bahn’s first goal of the season and second of his UAH career, assisted by Connor Merkley, playing for the first time since February 5, and Adrian Danchenko.
UAH gave away the lead almost immediately after starting the second. A turnover lead to a two-on-none breakaway for the Falcons. Tim Theocharidis finally scored after playing catch with Brandon Kruse to tie the game at 1-1 just 35 seconds into the period.
The Chargers got the lead right at 2-1 back with their first short-handed goal of the season. Drew Lennon’s slapshot from the right circle, off a nifty cross-ice pass from Bauer Neudecker, beat Rose for his second goal of the season near the halfway point in the contest.
The Falcons used a short leash on Rose, pulling him for senior Eric Dop, who shut out the Chargers in Bowling Green on Wednesday. Dop continued to stymie UAH, stopping all nine shots he faced.
UAH had a huge chance to increase its lead at the end of the second period and the start of the third. Anton Malmstrom drew a major penalty and a game misconduct with a hit from behind on Connor Wood, and T.J. Lloyd took a roughing minor to give the Chargers a two-man advantage for two minutes.
The Chargers could not capitalize despite getting five shots on Dop over the five minutes of power-play time.
That would bite UAH halfway into the third, when Bowling Green scored two quick goals to take a 3-2 lead. Connor Ford stuck in a rebound in front during a power-play with 10:43 remaining, and Sam Craggs then scored high on the doorstep 54 seconds later.
Ford then added an empty-net goal with 49 seconds remaining for the final 4-2 score.
As the only two seniors on the 2020-21 Chargers, Connor Merkley and Connor Wood have experienced quite a lot at UAH. They have seen thrilling victories, grueling road trips, and the cancellation and resurrection of the program, and that’s just for starters.
The two will be honored at Senior Day, the Chargers’ final home game of the season, on Sunday against Bowling Green at the Von Braun Center. Opening puck drop is 3:07 p.m.
Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography
Connor Merkley
A native of Portland, Ontario, Canada, Connor Merkley is one of many to come to UAH from the Carleton Place Canadians in the CCHL.
“Making the jump to NCAA hockey is no short leap by any means for anyone,” Merkley said. “In NCAA hockey, everyone is here for a reason. At the beginning it was definitely a learning experience for me, but I think the biggest thing for me was just having confidence in myself and my own abilities. Once you make that adjustment, you just need to be sure of yourself and find your role as you continue to move forward.”
Merkley got plenty of chances to adjust from the start, playing in 35 games in his freshman year. His first collegiate goal came on November 11, 2017, in thrilling fashion against Alaska Anchorage, tying the game with less than a second remaining in regulation.
“That’s one moment that will stick with me, I’m sure,” Merkley said. “That was my first career collegiate goal, and my family had made the road trip down. I had my parents, both of my sisters, and my brother-in-law there, so that was exciting to have them in the stands and share that moment with them.”
That was just the start of his memories at UAH.
“I enjoyed playing in the playoffs the two times that we played,” Merkley said. “My freshman year against Northern Michigan was exciting, where we went to game three and had a good chance in that series. Playing against Mankato (the following season), as much as it wasn’t the result we wanted, it was just the challenge of playing against such a well-run team, and as a hockey player you want to play against the best players.”
In 110 career games at UAH, Merkley has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. This season, Merkley has only played in nine games, scoring one goal. He’s missed the last eight with a knee injury, but he’s hopeful that he will play on Sunday.
Speaking of adjustments, Merkley says the Chargers have been able to weather through the pandemic, which has led to several schedule disruptions, as best they can.
“You have to stay in the moment within what you are doing in your daily activities,” Merkley said. “You can’t really let outside noise or anything going around affect what you’re doing and take it day by day. It’s been a roller-coaster for sure trying to just stay the path, but it’s one of those situations where everyone is fighting through the same thing.”
Merkley is a kinesiology major graduating this year. He was named to the WCHA all-academic team last season. Merkley said the pandemic has made his near-future plans unclear: “I’m not sure whether I’m going to continue playing hockey or pursuing school, but it’s hard to get a grip on what anything is going to bring in the future.”
Merkley is optimistic for the future of the UAH hockey program, and grateful for the opportunity the program has given him.
“Last summer, we experienced some things you don’t wish to go through as a player and a program, but the school and the alumni and the new coaching staff have a great vision for what is to come in the future,” Merkley said. “The direction of the team is going to be great with the all the support. The biggest thing right now is to get into a conference. Whatever conference that we end up joining, UAH has some big things ahead of them.
“There’s been lots of people over the course of my career that have helped me. I’m grateful for the opportunity that UAH has given me to be able to follow my dreams and be able to play Division I hockey. I’m grateful to all the support staff, from the coaches that I’ve had to the equipment manager Damon Wheeler, to the athletic trainers. It’s hard to step away from your family and go away on 18-plus-hour road trips and support the team. I’m also grateful to my professors and everyone within the UAH kinesiology department who have made me have a good experience with going to school full time as well as playing hockey.”
Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography
Connor Wood
Two things make Connor Wood stand out on the ice: His flowing golden hair and getting under the skin of his opponents.
The Buford, Georgia native has also been looked at as one of the leaders to this season’s roster and its 14 freshmen.
“It was really weird at first with so many new faces, but as time went on it’s really interesting how fast we got close,” Wood said. “Some of my best friends on the team this year are freshmen. I really like that about our team, that we have that kind of dynamic where it doesn’t matter what year you are, we’re all friends. It’s really cool for me to see them learn things that I also learned as a freshman. You see them understand as the year goes on what we talk about and them grow as players.”
“As you grow up playing games, you get more confident,” Wood said, comparing his game today to his own freshmen experiences. “You feel more confident with the puck at this level. In my freshman year, I’d probably be more panicky with the puck on the wall, whereas you get older you settle in and know what to expect.”
That confidence has carried through a tough year with the salvaging of the program and the pandemic.
“Going back to last summer, that was definitely an emotional week,” Wood said. “For me, being a senior, I didn’t want to have to go anywhere else. I was very excited to finish out my college career here.
“Getting two weekends cancelled and then having to make those up, which resulted in four games in five days on the road, aren’t usually things you have to worry about. It’s difficult, but we battled through it.”
Wood has played 96 games as a Charger, scoring six goals and 13 points. Some of his favorite moments as a Charger have come recently, namely the sweep of Ferris State at the VBC in January and snatching a win over then 15th-ranked Bowling Green on the road two years ago. Sometimes the best memories are also your first.
“My very first college game was pretty exciting at Notre Dame,” Wood said. “Really good team, cool rink. Just a very cool experience to get to play in your very first one.”
Wood is a two-time member of the WCHA all-academic team, majoring in business marketing. Last season, he was named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete. He too isn’t sure what the future holds for him. He might exercise the fifth year of eligibility the NCAA is allowing all winter-sport athletes because of the pandemic, go for a master’s degree, or continue playing in Europe or wherever the opportunity presents itself.
Whatever he wants to do, he knows he has the support from the network of Charger hockey alumni.
“That’s one of the more special things about UAH: It’s very close-knit,” Wood said. “I had an alum after we swept Ferris — I hadn’t talked to him I don’t think — he found my number and he texted me and reached out. Guys who graduated 20 to 30 years ago still just care so much and will help anyone who has come through the program. I think that’s really special, because I don’t think a lot of programs really have that.”
Wood is also confident UAH will get into a conference after this season because of that alumni push.
“Our alumni are doing an outstanding job of doing whatever they can to make sure we stay around and have a competitive team,” Wood said. “I have a lot of trust and faith in those guys and I think they’re going to come through big time for us and get us a place to play and keep UAH hockey alive.”
For now, Wood is grateful for his time in Huntsville.
“I just want everyone to know how thankful I am, to the school itself for giving me an opportunity, all the friends I’ve made, the memories I have made. They gave me an opportunity to play college hockey and a lot of chances to grow as a player, especially the coaches this year seeing me as a leader. I’m really thankful for everything I’ve gotten at UAH and getting an education along the way.”
Bowling Green scored four second-period goals and never looked back to defeat UAH 5-0 on Wednesday in Ohio in the first game of a home-and-home series.
Game two is Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Von Braun Center, the final home game of the season for the Chargers.
UAH fell to 3-13-1 overall and 3-8-0 in WCHA play as it finished an 9-day, 5-game road trip. The 13th-ranked Falcons improved to 18-8-1 and 7-5-1.
After a scoreless first period, Bowling Green broke the stalemate almost halfway through the second. Connor Ford beat David Fessenden high with a wrister from the right circle.
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead when Max Johnson’s shot up the middle deflected high off a Charger defender and just under the crossbar with 8:25 left in the second. A minute later, Brandon Kruse put BG up 3-0.
Anton Malmstrom made it 4-0 at the second intermission when he scored during an extended delayed penalty on UAH. Ford added a goal late in the third period.
David Fessenden made 36 saves for the Chargers, who were outshot 41-11.
UAH (3-12-1, 3-7-0 WCHA) vs. Bowling Green (17-8-1, 6-5-1) WHERE: Wednesday, Slater Family Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio; Sunday, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala. WHEN: Wednesday, 6:07 p.m.; Sunday, 3:07 p.m. WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription) LISTEN:Penalty Box Radio (Sunday)
UAH has an actual home-and-home series. Only in this strange season could it happen.
The Chargers play Bowling Green this week, with the first game in Ohio on Wednesday night and the second game in Huntsville on Sunday afternoon. Because UAH is not very close to any other NCAA program, having a home-and-home series isn’t practical. Then again, this season, shortened and shaken-up by COVID-19, has been anything but practical.
Wednesday’s game at Bowling Green is the third and final stop on UAH’s long road trip. The Chargers headed to Ohio directly from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where they visited Northern Michigan and Lake Superior last week.
Sunday is likely UAH’s final home game of the season, and the final game at the Von Braun Center for seniors Connor Merkley and Connor Wood.
The Chargers are coming off a series at Lake Superior State that they would like to have back. They held a 1-0 lead in both games, with the Lakers rallying for a 2-1 win on Friday (scoring the game-winning goal with 9.2 seconds left in regulation) and a 4-1 win on Saturday.
Bowling Green is ranked 13th in this week’s USCHO.com poll and 14th in the USA Today/USA Hockey coaches poll. The Falcons had been in a rut in recent weeks, as their 6-2 win on Sunday snapped a five-game winless streak. They come into their final regular-season series in second place in the WCHA standings, nine points behind Minnesota State.
The Falcons have one of the top offenses in the WCHA, led by three senior forwards: Vegas Golden Knights prospect Brandon Kruse (10 goals, 19 assists, 29 points), Cameron Wright (12-14-26), and Connor Ford (12-12-24).
Goaltending has also been strong for Bowling Green. Senior Eric Dop (2.24 goals against, .924 save percentage) has been the No. 1, starting the last four games and 17 overall, but sophomore Zack Rose has been posting good numbers as well (1.86, .914).
Bronte named league’s top rookie again: Tyrone Bronte earned his third WCHA rookie of the week award on Monday.
The freshman from Melbourne, Australia had three points in the Chargers’ four games last week. He scored a goal and an assist at Northern Michigan and had another assist at Lake Superior State.
Bronte’s 13 points leads the Chargers and is second in the WCHA for freshman. He leads the league and is 11th nationally among freshmen in points per game (0.81).
Bemidji series pushed a day: The Chargers’ final regular-season series at Bemidji State next weekend has been moved back a day. The games are now scheduled for Saturday, March 6 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m.
The series was originally scheduled for January 15-16, but was postponed to March because of COVID-19 protocols.
This week in the WCHA: All times Central.
Tuesday, February 23 #18 Lake Superior State at #20 Michigan Tech, 1:07 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24 UAH at #13 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Thursday, February 25 #19 Bemidji State at #3 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Friday, February 26 #18 Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m. Northern Michigan at #20 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Saturday, February 27 #20 Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 5:07 p.m. #3 Minnesota State at #19 Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m.
Sunday, February 28 #13 Bowling Green at UAH, 3:07 p.m.
Tuesday, March 2 #18 Lake Superior State at #19 Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m.
Wednesday, March 3 #18 Lake Superior State at #19 Bemidji State, 4:07 p.m.
UAH took the early lead again, but Lake Superior State scored four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 victory Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The Chargers (3-12-1 overall, 3-7-0 WCHA) took a 1-0 lead with their first power-play goal since January 9. Quinn Green appeared to deflect Dayne Finnson’s snipe from the left circle for his third goal of the season at the 5:33 mark. (Finnson was credited with the goal as of publish time.)
Tyrone Bronte got his team-leading ninth assist on the goal, which ended a 0-for-17 streak for the UAH power play.
Lake Superior State (12-4-3, 6-3-0) tied the game with a seeing-eye goal with 9:18 left in the first. Mitch Oliver’s shot from the right point went through all sorts of traffic and David Fessenden could not see it.
Hampus Erikkson put the Lakers up 2-1 with a singular effort. He circled around the UAH zone to the left side and beat Fessenden high from the circle at 4:16 of the second period.
Three minutes later, Lake Superior went up 3-1 when Louis Boudon slipped the puck between the pipe and Fessenden’s extended right pad right after a power play expired.
Brandon Puricelli just about sealed the deal with a steal and a breakaway, tucking the puck past Fessenden with a back-hander for a 4-1 Laker lead early in the third.
Fessenden finished with 17 saves on 21 Laker shots. UAH put 20 shots on freshman goaltender Ethan Langenegger, who stopped 19 of them.
UAH’s next stop on this week-long road trip is Bowling Green, Ohio, to face the Falcons on Wednesday in the first part of a home-and-home series. The Chargers host Bowling Green next Sunday in their home season finale.
Lake Superior State scored two third-period goals, including the game-winner with 9.2 seconds remaining, to beat UAH 2-1 on Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
UAH (3-11-1 overall, 3-6-0 WCHA) held a 1-0 lead after two periods thanks to more strong goaltending by David Fessenden (26 saves) and a goal by Bennett Stockdale.
Stockdale drove along the goal line made a move around a defender and slipped the puck through Mareks Mitens’s five-hole for his second goal of the season.
Defensemen Josh Martin and Drew Lennon got the assists. It was the first collegiate point for Martin, who joined the Chargers last month.
Lake Superior (11-4-3, 5-3-0) got a 4-on-4 goal by Jacob Nordqvist with 9:45 remaining. Norqvist scored on a rebound at point-blank range following Hampus Eriksson’s shot.
The 20th-ranked Lakers went on the power play after a slashing penalty was called on Connor Wood with 21.8 seconds left in the third period. Will Riedell then scored with 9.2 remaining with a blast up the middle.
The Lakers outshot the Chargers, 28-10. Almost half of the Lakers’ shots came in the first period as the Chargers started closing shooting lanes in the second period.
Game two of the series is Saturday at 4:07 p.m. Central Time.
UAH (3-10-1, 3-5-0 WCHA) at Lake Superior State (10-4-3, 4-3-0 WCHA) WHERE: Taffy Abel Arena, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. WHEN: Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Saturday, 4:07 p.m. WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)
The Chargers continue their tour of the Upper Peninsula this weekend with a return trip to Lake Superior State.
UAH is coming off an up-and-down series at Northern Michigan, grinding out a 3-1 win on Tuesday before being grounded in an 8-2 loss on Wednesday.
The Lakers, winners in their last three games, are ranked 20th in this week’s USCHO.com poll. They won at Michigan Tech 3-1 on Tuesday after an impressive sweep at Bowling Green last weekend.
UAH and LSSU currently sit fifth and sixth in the WCHA standings. The Lakers have 11 points in seven league games while the Chargers have eight points in eight games.
The Chargers and Lakers met in Sault Ste. Marie in a non-conferernce series back on December 5-6. The teams tied 2-2 before Lake State took the finale, 3-2.
LSSU is led by junior Ashton Calder, who has 18 points in 17 games, with an even split of nine goals and nine assists. Pete Veillette has been hot as of late, with five of his 13 points and three of his seven goals coming in his last four games.
The Lakers have two senior defensemen who have double-digit points. William Riedell has 12 points with nine assists. Lukas Kaelble had three of his team-leading 10 assists against the Chargers in December.
Mareks Mitens is the Lakers’ No. 1 between the pipes, sporting a 1.79 goals against average and .939 save percentage with a shutout. He stopped 23 of 25 UAH shots in the tie in the first meeting.
Next week, UAH has a home-and-home series with Bowling Green. The Chargers visit Ohio on Wednesday and host the Falcons next Sunday.
WCHA postseason format unveiled: All eight participating WCHA teams will play in the conference’s final postseason.
The top four teams will host a best-of-3 quarterfinal series on March 12-14. The highest remaining seed will host single-game semifinals on March 19 and the championship game on March 20.
The winner of the tournament will get the WCHA’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
This week in the WCHA: All time Central.
Friday, February 19 UAH at #20 Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m. Bemidji State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m. Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.*
Saturday, February 20 UAH at #20 Lake Superior State, 4:07 p.m. Bowling Green at Northern Michigan, 5:07 p.m. Bemidji State at Michigan Tech, 5:07 p.m. Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Sunday, February 21 Bowling Green at Norhtern Michigan, 3:07 p.m.
Tuesday, February 23 Lake Superior State at Michigan Tech, 1:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan got revenge in a big way Wednesday, trouncing the Chargers 8-2 to split the mid-week series in Marquette, Michigan.
After falling 3-1 to UAH on Tuesday, the Wildcats scored four times in the first period and never looked back. NMU added two goals in both the second and third periods and outshout UAH 29-20.
UAH’s first goal came in the second period. Bauer Neudecker’s fifth goal of the season came with a feeder from Tyrone Bronte, who notched his eighth assist of the year.
The second goal was with 1:47 left in the contest. Quinn Green’s wrister from the right dot was his second goal of the season.
Derek Krall (21 saves) got the start in net as the Chargers (3-10-1 overall, 3-5-0 WCHA) rested David Fessenden during this span of four games in five days. Fessenden was hurt late in Tuesday’s win.
NMU improved to 8-12-0 overall and 6-4-0 in WCHA play.
The Chargers next head to Lake Superior State for games Friday and Saturday to finish the road trip.
