Category Archives: 2020-21

Chargers come up short against Tech

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Michigan Tech scored twice in the first five minutes and held on for a 2-1 win over UAH on Sunday.

UAH played better defensively after the early deficit, with goaltender David Fessenden making 28 saves.

However, Michigan Tech goaltender Mark Sinclair stopped 19 of 20 shots against his former team as the Huskies (6-3-1, 2-0-0 WCHA) won their fifth straight game. MTU completed the series sweep after defeating UAH 4-0 on Saturday.

BOX SCORE

UAH (0-5-1, 0-2-0 WCHA) hosts Ferris State on Friday and Saturday for its first home games of the season.

The Chargers were in a 2-0 hole early. First at the 3:14 mark, Tyler Rockwell scored on a low shot from the high slot on the power play following a Adrian Danchenko cross-checking penalty, and then Chris Lipe found the net from the right point at 4:41.

UAH finally got on the board for the first time this weekend when Noah Finstrom’s pass in front hit Justin Misiak’s stick and past Sinclair. Finstrom’s first college goal and point cut Tech’s lead to 2-1 at the first intermission.

That would also be the score at the second intermission. The Chargers played more time in the Huskies’ end, getting a few extra scoring chances despite only getting four shots on goal for the period.

UAH had a number of chances again in the third period, and outshot Tech 9-6 for the period.

Fessenden was pulled for the extra attacker in the final 1:30, the Chargers couldn’t find the equalizer against Sinclair, who transferred to Michigan Tech after UAH had temporarily cancelled the hockey program.

Chargers fall 4-0 at Michigan Tech

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UAH had a rough return to play to start 2021, falling 4-0 at Michigan Tech on Saturday to begin WCHA play in Houghton.

The Chargers were outshot 30-18 as the Huskies applied constant pressure and created their own puck luck.

UAH (0-4-1 overall, 0-1-0 WCHA) will try for a split Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CST. MTU improved to 5-3-1 and 1-0-0 with its fourth straight win.

BOX SCORE

David Fessenden made 26 saves for the Chargers, who felt the Huskies’ persistent pressure, particularly in the first two periods.

At the end of one, the Michigan Tech outshot UAH 9-4, but no goals were scored. Quinn Green had UAH’s best chance with a breakaway in the last 10 seconds.

The Huskies continued to apply the pressure hard to start the second period and it finally paid off. Brian Halonen scored on an open net, converting a 2-on-1 with Nick Nardella to put Michigan Tech up 1-0 at the 6:42 mark.

The Chargers killed a penalty (with Fessenden making four saves), but fell behind 2-0 as a puck hit Quinn Green’s skate and past Fessenden with 7:49 left in the second.

UAH had a solid power play of their own, but failed to convert after three shots on Blake Pietila, who made 18 saves for his second shutout of the season. The Chargers were 0-for-2 with the power play, where they were able to put some pressure back on the Huskies.

Trenton Bliss made it 3-0 Tech on the power play with 1:28 left in the second. Tyler Rockwell scored from the high slot with 6:38 left in the third for a 4-0 MTU lead.

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UAH begins ’21 and WCHA play at Michigan Tech

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UAH at Michigan Tech
WHERE: John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Houghton, Mich.
WHEN (CST): Saturday, 3:07 p.m.; Sunday, 1:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)

It’s a new year and a new start for the Chargers, who face Michigan Tech in Houghton this weekend to begin conference play in the WCHA’s final season.

UAH (0-3-1) enters 2021 with a new commitment to the program, and a search for a new league to play in after this season. In the meantime, the Chargers are searching for their first win after a handful of close contests.

They’ll be playing a Michigan Tech squad (4-3-1) that’s won three games in a row. Most recently, the Huskies swept a home-and-home series against their most fierce rival, Northern Michigan, on December 18-19.

The Chargers haven’t played since December 6, when they lost at Lake Superior State 3-2 to finish a non-conference series. UAH and LSSU tied 2-2 in the first game.

The Chargers could face their former goaltender in Mark Sinclair. The senior transferred to Michigan Tech over the summer after UAH temporarily canceled the program. Sinclair played in 65 games over three years at UAH, posting a career .903 save percentage and three shutouts.

The last time the Chargers were in Houghton, in 2018, Sinclair had a 39-save shutout against the Huskies to open the series with a 1-0 UAH victory.

But Sinclair hasn’t played during the Huskies’ three-game winning streak. He got a 21-save shutout in a scoreless tie at Lake Superior State to start the season, but has played in only two games since.

Instead, sophomore Blake Pietila has gotten the hot hand, and has started in five of Tech’s last six games. He has a 1.43 goals against average and .955 save percentage.

In the UAH net, David Fessenden has been strong in two starts with a 1.14 goals against average and .957 save percentage. He stopped 25 of 27 shots in his last outing, the 2-2 tie at Lake Superior.

Freshman Tyrone Bronte leads the Chargers in scoring with four points. Bauer Neudecker and Tyr Thompson each have two goals.

Junior forward Trenton Bliss has eight points in eight games for the Huskies. He’s tied with Brian Halonen for the team lead in goals with three. Colin Swoyer, who has taken the last two WCHA defenseman of the week honors, has five assists.

Next weekend, the Chargers have their home opening series against Ferris State.

Series notes vs. Michigan Tech:
Michigan Tech leads 17-3-2, starting in the 2013-14 season.
Last 10 meetings: MTU leads 6-3-1.
Last series: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2020 in Huntsville. MTU won 4-1, UAH won 3-1.
Last series at MTU: Dec. 14-15, 2018. UAH won 1-0, MTU won 2-1 in OT.

Chargers pick up defenseman: Alaska Anchorage freshman defenseman Josh Martin has transferred to UAH, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Martin is one of nine players who have left UAA after the school opted out of playing this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Seawolves program may not play again unless it can raise $3 million by mid-February. Because of the pandemic, players can transfer and be immediately eligible instead of sitting out a season.

Martin played the last three seasons with the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL. Last year, he had 15 points in 49 games as an alternate captain. Martin played with current Charger Drew Lennon during his first season with Lone Star.

This week in the WCHA: All times Central.

Saturday, January 2
UAH at Michigan Tech, 3:07 p.m.
#7 Bowling Green at Ferris State, 2:07 p.m.
#5 Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 5:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #19 Lake Superior State, 4:07 p.m.*

Sunday, January 3
UAH at Michigan Tech, 1:07 p.m.
#7 Bowling Green at Ferris State, 2:07 p.m.
#5 Minnesota State at Northern Michigan, 3:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #19 Lake Superior State, 2:07 p.m.*

*Non-conference game.

Hoof Beats: Kestner, Knight playing well in Europe

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While the pro seasons are gearing up late here in North America, some leagues in Europe are well under way, and a couple of Charger alumni are making their mark.

Josh Kestner is off to a hot start with TPS in Finland’s Liiga. Kestner had 11 goals and 19 points in 20 games. He’s tied for fifth in the league in both goals and points.

Defenseman Cam Knight is also playing well in Denmark. He has nine points in his last 10 games with Esjberg, and has 13 points total in 25 games played.

Domestically, the NHL is planning to start a 56-game regular season on January 13. The Minnesota Wild, Cam Talbot’s new team, opens the season at Los Angeles on January 14.

The ECHL has just started this season, although some teams have opted out. Among those affected by cancellation are Kurt Gosselin (Cincinnati), Tyler Poulsen (Worcester), and Matt Salhany (Adirondack).

Brennan Saulnier’s Rapid City Rush is playing, however, and the third-year pro has a goal in three games.

In the SPHL, Cody Dion signed with the Birmingham Bulls after his previous team, the Peoria Rivermen, opted out of the 2020-21 season. The SPHL season will start Saturday with five teams, including the Huntsville Havoc. Also, goaltender Jake Theut joined the Macon Mayhem after his ECHL team, the Norfolk Admirals, opted out.

Charger alumni in the pros

Ross, Sofikitis to join new UAH Hall of Fame: UAH announced its inaugural class of the UAH Athletics Hall of Fame on Monday. Two of the 10-member group represent the hockey program.

Doug Ross coached the Chargers from 1982-2007. His teams won the 1996 and 1998 NCAA Division II national championships, the 2001 and 2003 College Hockey America regular-season titles, and the 2007 CHA tournament, earning UAH’s first berth in the Division I tournament.

Ross coached the Chargers to 376 wins in the 22 seasons since UAH hockey became a varsity program in 1985.

Taso Sofikitis was a defenseman for the Chargers from 1992-96. He was a member of the 1996 NCAA Division II national champions and a CoSIDA first-team All-American in 1995-96.

Sofikits scored 17 goals and 56 assists over 103 career games played.

The induction ceremony is not yet scheduled.

Four games added to schedule: UAH has four non-conference games against WCHA opponents added to this season’s schedule.

The Chargers will go to Minnesota State on January 28-29. Michigan Tech comes to Huntsville the following weekend, February 5-6.

The additions fill the gaps created when Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks opted out of playing the 2020-21 season.

Ferris State game cancelled; Green named ROTW

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COVID-19 concerns have led to the first cancellation on UAH’s 2020-21 hockey schedule. After a tie and loss at Lake Superior State last weekend, the Chargers were scheduled to play a single game at Ferris State, but it was officially cancelled Wednesday.

The game was originally scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, but a positive COVID-19 test in the Ferris State program forced a postponement to Tuesday. Then a presumptive positive test on the Chargers forced another delay to Wednesday, pending results of follow-up testing. When those tests proved inconclusive, the game was officially cancelled under the WCHA’s return to competition protocols.

The Ferris State game, like the Lake Superior State series, was a non-conference game. It will not be rescheduled.

UAH’s next games are January 1 and 2 at Michigan Tech to open official WCHA play. The Chargers can finally play Ferris State at the Von Braun Center on January 8 and 9.

Green takes WCHA rookie award: For already the second time this season, a Charger has gotten the WCHA’s rookie of the week honors.

Quinn Green had two assists to lead conference freshmen, one in each game against Lake Superior State over the weekend, in the first two games of his college career. He also had a +1 rating.

Tyrone Bronte earned the award two weeks ago.

Conference search update: ESPN’s John Buccigross tweeted Tuesday an update on UAH’s continued push for future conference membership.

Notable is that UAH is talking with both Atlantic Hockey and the CCHA. UAH is offering $25,000 in subsidies to any team traveling to Huntsville, according to Buccigross’s sources.

Subsidies to other programs for travel would not be new for UAH. In the WCHA, UAH, Alaska Anchorage, and Alaska Fairbanks pitched in to subsidize the other seven schools for the extra travel to them.

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UAH comes up short in 3-2 loss at LSSU

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The Chargers’ first victory still proved elusive Sunday, as they fell to Lake Superior State 3-2 in Sault Ste. Marie. Brian Scoville and Frank Vitucci scored their first collegiate goals for UAH.

The Chargers (0-3-1), who took their second one-goal loss of the season, will head to Ferris State for a single game on Tuesday to finish non-conference play and the calendar year 2020.

BOX SCORE

UAH dodged a bullet with 6:54 left in the first period. The Lakers’ Yuki Miura had a short-handed breakaway, and the Chargers’ Lucas Bahn tripped him up as the UAH power play was expiring.

Miura was awarded a penalty shot, the first against UAH in three years, but Krall was able to make the save to keep the game scoreless.

UAH goaltender Derek Krall makes the save on the penalty shot by Lake Superior State forward Yuki Miura. Photo by Mike Barrett/Laker Hockey Blog
UAH goaltender Derek Krall makes the save on a penalty shot by Lake Superior State’s Yuki Miura. (Photo by Mike Barrett/Laker Hockey Blog)

But the Lakers would get the first goal a minute later. Their leading scorer, junior Ashton Calder, put in a rebound on an open net in front for his fourth goal of the season.

Lake Superior scored in the final minute as Brandon Puricelli slipped one through the legs of Derek Krall, who was making his second start in goal. The Chargers faced the same situation as Saturday’s game, going down 2-0 after one period.

Like Saturday, which ended in a 2-2 tie, UAH came out strong and started a rally in the second period, even though the Chargers found themselves short handed for a bit of it.

During a Scoville cross-checking penalty in the first minute, Vitucci had a shorthanded breakaway that hit the crossbar. Then Tyrone Bronte and Bauer Neudecker had a 2-on-1 break with Ayodele Adeniye getting a shot on new LSSU goaltender Seth Eisele backing them up.

Scoville would put the Chargers on the board during a 4-on-4 situation with 11:02 remaining in the second period. He scored on a rebound as Quinn Green was taken down while taking the initial shot.

The second period was the most penalty-filled. There were nine infractions called, with five on UAH and four on Lake Superior.

The Chargers outshot the Lakers 10-1 in the second at one point, finishing with an 11-6 advantage in the frame.

This time, though, UAH would not find the equalizer in the second, and allowed an early goal in the third. Miroslav Mucha one-timed a face-off win past Krall for a 3-1 Laker lead at the 1:36 mark.

But the Chargers answered two minutes later. Vitucci’s rifle wrister from the slot beat Ethan Langenegger high. Conor Witherspoon got the assist for his first point.

With not nearly as many penalties and stoppages, most of the third period breezed by. Before you knew it, the Chargers were pulling Krall with 2:07 remaining for the extra attacker.

However, UAH could not get the equalizer.

Krall had 16 saves in the contest.

The Lakers used all three of their goaltenders in the game. Senior Mareks Mitens (8 saves) started, Eisele (10 saves) played the second period, and Langenegger (3 saves) the third.

Second-period rally brings UAH 2-2 tie at LSSU

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The Chargers rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit and held on for a 2-2 tie against Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. on Saturday night.

UAH (0-2-1) got second-period goals from Adrian Danchenko and Tyrone Bronte and 25 saves from goaltender David Fessenden.

Game two of the series, which does not count toward the WCHA standings, is Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.

BOX SCORE

UAH started the game by getting some penalty killing work with two penalties, but the Chargers were solid and not allowed a shot on goal.

However, the Lakers (3-0-2) later would burst ahead with two quick even-strength goals. With 6:04 remaining in the first, Miroslav Mucha pounced on a rebound in the slot and beat goaltender David Fessenden stick-side and high for a 1-0 LSSU lead. Twenty seconds later, Chase Gremlin did the same from about the same spot to make it 2-0.

UAH came right back hard in the second period.

First, at the 4:30 mark, Danchenko, on a 2-on-1 with Quinn Green, put in the rebound past LSSU goaltender Mareks Mitens on Green’s shot for this first goal of the season.

Green, who missed the first two games at Robert Morris, tallied his first college point with an assist. Ben Allen, also making his season debut, got the other helper.

Then the Charger power play went to work after a Will Reidell cross-checking penalty. Bronte, who was named WCHA and HCA national rookie of the month, buried a rebound in front off a Bauer Neudecker shot to tie the game with 14:21 left in the second. Lucas Bahn got the second assist.

It was already UAH’s fourth power play goal through three games. The Chargers are 4-for-8 with the advantage this season.

Fessenden didn’t see much action until the second half of the period, when he saw plenty of action. His biggest saves occurred during the Lakers’ power play with about four minutes to go, when the sophomore made a stick save and a glove save on a Hampus Eriksson rebound attempt within two seconds to keep the game tied at the second intermission.

The third period saw a lot of frantic action on both ends. Lake Superior had their best chance to take the lead and possibly the win on a power play with 13:32 to go, pinning the Chargers back the entire time. The Lakers did everything but score, while the Chargers did everything but clear.

LSSU finished 0-for-4 on the power play for the game and is 0-for-13 this season.

UAH’s best chance came with 7:42 left, when Danchenko was denied his second goal of the game at the Laker net by Mitens.

This season, all NCAA games go to a five-minute, sudden-death, 3-on-3 overtime period when tied after regulation. There was non-stop action for the first 4:20 of OT, but no goals were scored, and the game ended at a tie.

Lake Superior outshot UAH 27-25. Mitens finished with 23 saves.

If this were a WCHA league game, the 3-person shootout would have been used to determine which team got two points in the standings. But as this was a non-conference game, the 5-round shootout (which LSSU won 2-1) meant nothing.

Bronte named National and WCHA rookie of the month

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He’s only played two games, but UAH freshman Tyrone Bronte has already earned some accolades.

The Melbourne, Australia native was named the WCHA Rookie of the Month for November on Thursday morning. In the afternoon, he was named the Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Month.

Bronte is the first conference and national rookie of the month in UAH’s WCHA era. He is the second Charger to get a WCHA player of the month award, with Brennan Saulnier earning the offensive player of the month title for October 2015.

Bronte notched three assists and had a +2 rating in the Chargers’ opening series at Robert Morris on November 21-22.

3 games in 4 days for UAH at Lake State, Ferris

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UAH at Lake Superior State
WHERE: Taffy Abel Arena, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
WHEN (CST): Saturday, 4:07 p.m.; Sunday, 2:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)

UAH at Ferris State
WHERE: Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Mich.
WHEN (CST): Tuesday, 4:07 p.m.
WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)

Only this season could have UAH play two WCHA opponents in three non-conference contests over four days. Also, the Chargers are playing on a Tuesday.

At least, that’s the current plan at the time this is posted. Remember, no games are given as college hockey tries to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Chargers (0-2) are set to be in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. on Saturday and Sunday to play Lake Superior State (3-0-1), then head south about 250 miles to Big Rapids to face Ferris State for a single game on Tuesday.

Originally, UAH was to visit Ferris State first on Friday and then play LSSU on Sunday and Monday. But the pandemic had already affected the seasons for both Ferris and Lake Superior State.

The two clubs were scheduled to play each other last weekend, but a positive test at FSU forced a cancellation. Lake Superior State played a home-and-home series with Division III Adrian instead, winning both games.

This weekend will finish UAH’s non-conference schedule. UAH’s next action will be Jan. 1-2 at Michigan Tech to officially start WCHA league play.

The Chargers opened their season two weeks ago at Robert Morris. The first game was going fine with UAH leading 1-0 after two periods before RMU rolled in the third to take it 5-2. UAH played a more complete second game, but lost 4-3 on a power-play goal in the third.

There were some bright spots: Bauer Neudecker and Tyr Thompson each had two goals, with Thompson’s three points giving him the WCHA Forward of the Week award. Freshman Tyrone Bronte’s three assists earned him WCHA Rookie of the Week honors, and Dayne Finnson’s perfomance made him WCHA Defenseman of the Week.

Goaltender David Fessenden held the Colonials scoreless through the first two periods of the first game before being pulled for injury. He backed up freshman Derek Krall in the second game.

Add that UAH didn’t have its full complement of players in Pittsburgh, and it could be said that the Chargers may have yet to reach their full potential.

Lake Superior State is led by junior Ashton Calder, who has been dazzling in scoring three goals and two assists through four games. Jack Jeffers, a junior who scored six goals for UAH last season, has two so far for the Lakers in 2020-21.

Senior goaltender Mareks Mitens has a .939 save percentage and a 1.74 goals against average this year. He has one shutout, a scoreless tie against Michigan Tech to start the season.

Ferris State has yet to begin their campaign following up its 7-26-2 record last season. The Bulldogs are led by sophomore defenseman Jake Willets, who led FSU in scoring last season with 22 points (19 assists) and is a preseason all-WCHA selection. Senior Marshall Moise had 10 goals last year.

The last time the Chargers played hockey on a Tuesday: The second game of a very odd Monday-Tuesday series at the VBC against Robert Morris on December 18, 2007.

Series notes vs. Lake Superior State:
Lake Superior State leads 15-7-4, starting in 2005.
Last 10 meetings: LSSU leads 7-1-2.
Last series: Feb. 14-15, 2020 in Sault Ste. Marie. Tied 0-0 and LSSU won 4-1.

Series notes vs. Ferris State:
Ferris State leads 18-9-2, starting in 1985.
Last 10 meetings: FSU leads 5-4-2.
Last series: Dec. 13-14, 2019 in Big Rapids. Tied 2-2 and FSU won 3-1.

This week in the WCHA: All times Central.

Friday, December 4
#6 Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.

Saturday, December 5
UAH at Lake Superior State, 4:07 p.m.
Mercyhurst at #18 Bowling Green, 12:30 p.m.
#6 Minnesota State at Michigan Tech, 5:07 p.m.

Sunday, December 6
UAH at Lake Superior State, 2:07 p.m.
#18 Bowling Green at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, December 8
UAH at Ferris State, 4:07 p.m.

Three Chargers get POTW honors

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For the first time, three Chargers earned WCHA Player of the Week awards in the same week. The honors were announced by the conference on Monday.

UAH had some notable individual contributions despite two losses at Robert Morris over the weekend.

Tyr Thompson (Sherwood Park, Alberta) won the WCHA Forward of the Week award with two goals and an assist. The junior scored a goal in each game, and assisted in UAH’s first goal on Sunday. Thompson’s second-period goal on Sunday had put the Chargers up 3-2.

Dayne Finnson (Arborg, Manitoba) won the WCHA Defenseman of the Week award. The junior scored on the power play on Sunday, putting the Chargers up 2-1, and assisted on UAH’s first goal on Saturday. He also blocked three shots.

Tyrone Bronte (Melbourne, Australia) won the WCHA Rookie of the Week award. The freshman had three assists, one on Saturday and two on Sunday in his first two college games.

It was the first conference player of the week award for all three. Last season, UAH garnered only one player of the week award.

Mareks Mitens of Lake Superior State was the WCHA Goaltender of the Week.

The Chargers’ next action includes three games in four days on the road in non-conference games against WCHA foes. They play at Ferris State on Friday, December 4, and at Lake Superior State on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7.