The Chargers take a break from WCHA play with a two-game exhibition set with the U.S. National Under-18 Development Team. The puck drops at 2:07 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

All-time series: UAH has played the U-18 team six times, with Team USA is 5-0-1 all-time. Two seasons ago, the Chargers lost 6-2 and tied 1-1 in Huntsville. At the time, the U-18 squad was coached by former UAH head coach Danton Cole.

Chargers recap: UAH (7-16-3 overall, 6-12-0 WCHA) extended its home win streak to four games after a sweep of Northern Michigan last weekend.

The Chargers won 2-1 Friday night on goals by Jack Prince and Frank Misuraca. UAH was outshot 33-15 for the game and 14-2 in the third period to hold off the Wildcats. Carmine Guerriero made 32 saves.

UAH won another one-goal game Saturday night by a score of 3-2. Misuraca netted another goal in the first to give the Chargers the early lead, Chad Brears broke a 1-1 tie in the second, and Richard Buri got the game-winner at the 5:35 mark of the third. Guerriero stopped 25 of 27 shots.

Max McHugh’s team-leading 17 points is second among WCHA freshman, just one behind Minnesota State’s C.J. Franklin. He also leads the Chargers in goals with seven, and tied for the team lead with Brandon Parker in assists with 10.

Misuraca’s two goals for the weekend gives him six, one behind McHugh. Jeff Vanderlugt (5-6-11), Prince (4-7-11), and Brears (3-8-11) are tied for second in points.

About the U.S. National Under-18 Team: The Under-18 Team is 25-10-2 playing a schedule comprised of international teams, junior teams from the USHL, and NCAA Division I and III clubs, including Miami, Michigan, Providence College, Boston University, Cornell, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado College, North Dakota, and Michigan State.

Team USA has won three in a row, coming off a two-game sweep of the Dubuque Fighting Saints at their home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Auston Matthews of Scottdale, Arizona, is the team’s leading scorer with 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points. Jeremy Bracco (Boston College commit) has 51 points, leading the team in assists with 36. Matthew Tkachuk, son of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk, also has 20 goals.

Goaltending duties are split between Luke Opilka (Wisconsin commit), who has a 3.07 goals against average and an .883 save percentage with two shutouts, and Michael Lackey (Harvard), who has a 2.91 GAA and .891 save percentage.

Around the WCHA: Only two conference series this weekend, and a very interesting non-conference tournament up in Minnesota.

Sixth-ranked Bowling Green, coming off a split at Michigan Tech and looking to keep hot, hosts Lake Superior, which surprised Bemidji State with a sweep in the Soo last week. Tech, now at No. 10, entertains Alaska, which suffered a sweep in Fairbanks at the hands of their hated rivals from Anchorage.

The North Star Cup features four of the five Division I programs in Minnesota, and this year Bemidji State joins Minnesota State in the tournament. The Beavers play No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth on Friday afternoon, while No. 1 Minnesota State battles No. 17 Minnesota in the nightcap. The third place and championship games are Saturday.

Here’s the schedule for league teams the next two weeks. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Friday, January 23

* Lake Superior State at #6 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at #10 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State vs. #7 Minnesota-Duluth at St. Paul, Minn. (North Star Cup), 4 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Penn State, 6 p.m.
#1 Minnesota State vs. #17 Minnesota at St. Paul, Minn. (North Star Cup), 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 24

U.S. National Under-18 Team at UAH (exhibition), 2:07 p.m.
* Lake Superior State at #6 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at #10 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Penn State, 3:30 p.m.
North Star Cup third place game, 4 p.m.
North Star Cup championship game, 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 25

U.S. National Under-18 Team at UAH (exhibition), 2:07 p.m.

* WCHA game.

The Chargers’ last series of 2014 is at 12th ranked Nebraska-Omaha this weekend. Puck drop is at 7:07 p.m. Saturday and 5:07 p.m. Sunday.

All-time series: Omaha leads 10-2-2 in the series, which dates back to Omaha’s inaugural varsity season of 1997-98. The last meetings were in Omaha in November, 2012, and the Mavericks won 3-2 and 8-0. The last UAH victory came on Nov. 2, 2011, a 3-1 win in Nashville. The other Charger victory was Jan. 29, 2011 in Omaha, 2-1 in overtime.

Chargers recap: UAH (3-13-2 overall, 2-10-0 WCHA) has lost five straight following a two-game sweep at Alaska in Fairbanks.

In the Friday game, Max McHugh put UAH on top in the second period with his fourth goal of the season (and team-leading ninth point), but the Nanooks tied it up just 2:45 later and Tyler Munson scored the game-winner in overtime as Alaska won 2-1. UAH stayed in the game despite being outshot 46-17, thanks to Carmine Guerriero’s 44-save performance.

In the Saturday game, the Nanooks dominated in a 4-0 win. Matt Larose stopped 37 shots as Alaska had another favorable shots on goal disparity, but the Charger penalty kill — which had a streak of 17 straight kills — allowed three power play goals and could not muster much of a threat offensively.

Guerriero is now 10th in the Division I in save percentage at .934.

About the Mavericks: Omaha (10-4-2 overall, 6-3-1 NCHC) is ranked 12th in this week’s USCHO.com poll. Last week, they swept No. 12 St. Cloud State at home by scores of 3-2 and 5-3 to extend their winning streak to three games. At 20 points, the Mavericks are in third place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, one point behind co-leaders Miami and Minnesota-Duluth.

Sophomore right wing Austin Ortega leads UNO in goals (9) and points (18) this season. He leads the team by far in shots on goal (63), and six of his nine goals are game-winners. Sophomore left wing Jake Guentzel is on Ortega’s line, and has 16 points with 11 assists.

Freshman Jack Randolph leads Omaha in assists with 13, sitting on a line with sophomore Justin Parizek, who has seven goals.

Senior Ryan Massa is the Mavericks’ top goaltender, sporting a 2.06 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.

Around the WCHA: UAH is the only WCHA team in action this weekend, and UAH-UNO is the only regulation game in NCAA hockey. The Chargers are off next weekend, while most of the league’s Michigan schools are in holiday tournament play, notably the Great Lakes Invitational.

Here’s the schedule for league teams the next two weeks. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Saturday, December 20

UAH at #12 Omaha, 7:07 p.m.

Sunday, December 21

UAH at #12 Omaha, 5:07 p.m.

Sunday, December 28

Michigan Tech vs. Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit)
Ferris State vs. Michigan State, 6 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit)
Lake Superior State vs. Cornell, 6:30 p.m. (Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla.)

Monday, December 29

Great Lakes Invitational 3rd place game, 2:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Invitational championship, 6 p.m.
Lake Superior State vs. Miami or Notre Dame, 3 or 6:30 p.m. (Florida College Classic in Estero, Fla.)

The Chargers, after an off week for rest and final exams, are in Fairbanks this weekend to face the Alaska Nanooks at the Carlson Center. Puck drop both nights is 10:07 p.m. Central Time (7:07 p.m. Alaska).

All-time series: Alaska leads the series 14-6-1, and has won the last six games against UAH. The Nanooks 9-3 all-time against the Chargers in Fairbanks, where UAF won both of last season’s contests by 6-1 scores.  Last year’s series marked the first meetings between the two programs since 1992. Technically UAH hasn’t won in Fairbanks since the Nanooks forfeited a 9-5 win on Dec. 11, 1991 for using an ineligible player, but UAH won for real on Dec. 10, 6-3.

Chargers recap: UAH (3-11-2 overall, 2-8-0 WCHA) has lost three straight after being swept at home by then-No. 6 Michigan Tech two weeks ago.

In the Friday game, Craig Pierce put the Chargers ahead with a shorthanded goal just 1:06 into the game, but couldn’t hold off the Huskies in a 4-2 defeat. Jack Prince scored the other goal for UAH, and Carmine Guerriero made 30 saves in his fifth straight start.

In the Saturday game, Brandon Carlson and Frank Misuraca tallied goals, but it wasn’t enough as Michigan Tech won 5-2. Matt Larose stopped 32 shots in his return between the pipes.

The Chargers continued to fare well on the penalty kill, keeping the Huskies to 0-for-10 with the man advantage for the series. Opponents are 4-for-42 on the power play in the last six games. UAH leads the nation in combined special teams at 62.5 percent.

The Chargers now have five players with five points to lead the team: Max McHugh, Brandon Carlson, Jack Prince, Matt Salhany, and Brandon Parker. McHugh and Frank Misuraca each have three goals. UAH has 20 points from freshmen this season — a third of the team’s total.

Freshman Max McHugh leads the Chargers in scoring with eight points on three goals and five assists. Prince, Brennan Saulnier, and Brandon Parker each have seven points, while Misuraca and Jeff Vanderlugt lead UAH with four goals apiece.

Defensively, Carlson leads the nation in blocks with 41. Goaltender Carmine Guerriero now has a 2.49 goals against average and a .931 save percentage, which is fourth in the WCHA and 15th in Division I. Larose has a 3.79 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

About the Nanooks: Alaska (8-8-0 overall, 3-7-0 WCHA) has had a rather rocky season. The Nanooks won their first five games, then lost the next five while learning of their postseason ban this season for NCAA eligibility infractions. They have since righted the ship somewhat, going 3-3 in their last six, including a split last weekend in Mankato against No. 2-ranked Minnesota State. Alaska won 5-4 in overtime last Friday before losing 5-2 last Saturday.

Junior center Tyler Morley is Alaska’s leading scorer with 16 points, tied for third in the WCHA. Morley has been hot of late, with four of his five goals coming in the last four games, including three in the Minnesota State series.

Sophomore Marcus Basara leads the Nanooks with seven goals on the season, and junior defenseman Colton Parayko, a 3rd round pick by the St. Louis Blues in the 2012 NHL entry draft, joins him with 12 points. Freshman forward Austin Vieth has six goals, including two goals (one being the overtime game-winner) against the Mavericks last Friday.

Sophomore Davis Jones has become Alaska’s netminder, starting the Nanooks last five games while senior goalie Sean Cahill has been injured. Jones has a 3.06 goals against average and a .870 save percentage.

UAH alum Lance West is in his fifth season as assistant coach. He is 15th on the Chargers’ all-time varsity scoring list with 113 points on 45 goals and 68 assists, playing from 1991-95.

Around the WCHA: Three conference series are on this weekend’s schedule, but the big series is a non-conference affair in Houghton, where No. 4 Michigan Tech hosts No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth. No. 3 Minnesota State, tied with Tech atop the WCHA standings, hosts Princeton in another non-league series.

Here’s the schedule for league teams this week. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Friday, December 12

* UAH at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
* Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
* Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
#9 Minnesota-Duluth at #4 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Princeton at #3 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.

Saturday, November 15

* UAH at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
* Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
* Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#9 Minnesota-Duluth at #4 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Princeton at #3 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.

Idle: Alaska-Anchorage, #13 Bowling Green

UAH hosts Michigan Tech, ranked 6th in the USCHO.com poll and 5th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, in a Thanksgiving weekend series. Puck drop is 7:07 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The Huskies are the second-highest ranked team to visit Huntsville (St. Cloud State was No. 3 last season).

The first 1,000 fans to Friday’s game receive a free UAH mini hockey stick. The first 500 fans to Saturday’s game receive a set of UAH hockey trading cards. Kids 12 and under are admitted free to all home games. On Saturday, donations and unwrapped toys will be collected to support Toys for Tots.

All-time series: The Chargers and Huskies met for the first time in Houghton, Mich., last season, with Michigan Tech winning 4-1 and 10-4. This will be the first series in Huntsville. The teams meet again in Houghton on Jan. 30-31.

Chargers recap: UAH (3-9-2 overall, 2-6-0 WCHA) split a tough road series against Ferris State.

On Friday, Chad Brears scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in a 3-2 victory — UAH’s first-ever in Big Rapids, Mich. Alex Carpenter scored the other goal for the Chargers, and Carmine Guerriero stopped 35 of 37 shots. Brears’s first goal came just 1:46 into the game, and the Chargers held on despite being outshot 38-18.

On Saturday, UAH took another early lead thanks to Richard Buri’s goal, and Jeff Vanderlugt tied the game at 2-2 in the second, but UAH could not overcome penalties and three third-period Bulldog goals in a 5-2 loss. Guerriero made 30 saves in his fourth straight start.

Freshman Max McHugh had two assists over the weekend to take the UAH lead in points with seven (3-4-7). He is now tied for fourth in the WCHA in freshman scoring.

McHugh, Vanderlugt, and Frank Misuraca each have three goals. Brears, Jack Prince, Brennan Saulnier, and Brandon Parker each have six points.

Guerriero now sports a 2.43 goals against average (7th in the WCHA) and a .933 save percentage (5th in the WCHA and 12th in Division I).

About the Huskies: Michigan Tech (10-2-0 overall, 8-2-0 WCHA) was the No. 1-ranked team going into last week’s marquee series against No. 9 Minnesota State, but the Huskies were dealt their first two losses — both one-goal affairs — by the Mavericks. The Huskies are still atop the WCHA standings with 16 points, two ahead of  Minnesota State and Bowling Green.

Tech has been solid both offensively and defensively, scoring 3.08 goals per game (2nd in the WCHA) and allowing 1.42 goals per game (also 2nd in the WCHA and the nation). The Huskies lead the league in power play efficiency (22.4 percent) and are second in penalty killing (93.3 percent).

The Huskies have a potent line with senior Tanner Kero centering left wing junior Alex Petan and right wing junior Malcolm Gould. Kero leads the Huskies with 14 points, which is tied for the WCHA lead. Kero has four goals and 10 assists on the season. Petan has the most Husky goals with seven, which is tied for second in the conference. Gould is third on the team with 10 points on four goals and six assists.

Between the pipes, junior Jamie Phillips has played every minute for the Huskies this season. The 2012 seventh-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets is second in the WCHA in goals against average (1.42) and save percentage (.950).

Around the WCHA: Two other conference series are on tap this Thanksgiving weekend. Seventh-ranked Minnesota State hits the Upper Peninsula again with two at Lake Superior State. No. 19 Northern Michigan, after splitting at Alaska-Anchorage, continues their two-week excursion in Alaska to battle the Nanooks in Fairbanks.

In non-conference action, Ferris State travels to Wisconsin to play the suprisingly still-winless Badgers. Bemidji State, losers of six straight, hosts No. 16 St. Cloud State. The Beavers have not faced a non-ranked opponent yet this season.

Here’s the schedule for league teams this week. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Friday, November 28

* #6 Michigan Tech at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* #7 Minnesota State at Lake Superior State, 6:37 p.m.
* #19 Northern Michigan at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
#16 St. Cloud State at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.

Saturday, November 29

* #6 Michigan Tech at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* #7 Minnesota State at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
* #19 Northern Michigan at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
#16 St. Cloud State at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.

The Chargers are back home, resuming WCHA play and hosting Lake Superior State on Friday and Saturday.

It’s Military Appreciation Weekend, and all veterans and active personnel get free admission to both games. On Saturday, the first 500 fans will receive free camo rally towels. For all home games this season, kids 12 and under get in free courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

All-time series: The Chargers and Lakers have met eight times since 2005, with Lake Superior holding a 5-2-1 advantage in the series.

The Lakers have won all four meetings at the Von Braun Center, including two one-goal games (2-1 and 3-2) last season.

Chargers recap: UAH (1-7-2 overall, 0-4-0 WCHA) had its best weekend in quite a while at Air Force.

On Friday, Jost Kestner’s goal with 1:53 left in regulation was the game-winner in UAH’s 4-2 victory. Cody Champagne, Frank Misuraca, and Jack Prince (with the empty-net clincher) also scored, and Carmine Guerriero stopped 24 of 26 shots in net as the Chargers recorded their first win of the season.

On Saturday, UAH took a 3-0 lead in the second period with Max McHugh and Craig Pierce (twice) scoring in a span of 5:08. However, three power play goals in the third by the Falcons forced a 3-3 tie. Matt Larose made 36 saves.

It was the first weekend since Dec. 2012, a sweep of Division III Finlandia, where the UAH did not lose, and the first since the 2010 CHA Tournament against Division I opponents. It was also the first 3-point weekend on the road since the Chargers tied and beat Robert Morris on Dec. 4-5, 2009.

Friday night will be senior captain Doug Reid’s 100th game with the Chargers. He has two goals and 12 assists in his UAH career.

About the Lakers: Lake Superior State (1-9-0 overall, 1-5-0 Atlantic Hockey) is coming off an idle week. The Lakers’ last action came two weeks ago at Alaska-Anchorage, where a 3-2 overtime victory forced a series split and snapped a nine-game losing streak to start the season. LSSU is looking to rebuild under first-year coach Damon Whitten.

Like the Chargers, Lake Superior State has had problems scoring goals consistently, netting only 16 in 10 games (UAH has 17). Junior forward Bryce Schmitt leads the Lakers in goals and points so far with three and five, respectively. Senior Stephen Perfetto and junior Austin McKay each have two.

Defensively, the Lakers are last in the WCHA in goals allowed (3.80 per game). They have had to rely on two freshmen goaltenders: Gordon Defiel (eight starts, 3.41 goals against average, .908 save percentage), and Kevin Aldridge (two starts, 3.90 GAA, .845 save pct.).

Around the WCHA: Two other league series are on tap for the weekend. No. 5 Michigan Tech puts its perfect record on the line at Bemidji State, and Ferris State hosts Alaska-Anchorage in a Thursday-Friday series.

In non-conference action, Bowling Green has a home-and-home with in-state rival Ohio State. Friday night’s game is at Bowling Green and Saturday’s game is in Columbus.

Here’s the schedule for league teams this week. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Thursday, November 13

* Alaska-Anchorage at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.

Friday, November 14

* Lake Superior State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* Alaska-Anchorage at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
* #5 Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
Ohio State at #19 Bowling Green, 7:07 p.m.

Saturday, November 15

* Lake Superior State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* #5 Michigan Tech at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#19 Bowling Green at Ohio State, 6 p.m.

Idle: Alaska, #9 Minnesota State, #18 Northern Michigan