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.
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.
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.
It was still a better third-period effort for UAH (0-2), which allowed five goals in the final frame in Saturday. The young Chargers will carry this into their next action on December 4, a non-conference game at Ferris State.
Early on, it looked like RMU (2-0) would keep their momentum from Saturday into Sunday. The Colonials scored quickly, just 22 seconds in, as Nick Prkusic deflected a shot from the right point by Nick Jenny and hogtied Derek Krall.
Krall made his first college start Sunday. He started to settle after the first goal, and finished with 25 saves on 29 shots.
Bauer Neudecker evened the contest up at 1-1 with his second goal of the series. With 8:38 left in the first, his wrister from the left circle beat Reid Cooper high. Tyrone Bronte and Tyr Thompson got the assists.
UAH took a 2-1 lead with a power play goal at the 6:22 mark of the second period.
Following a Nolan Schaeffer boarding penalty, Dayne Finnson’s shot from the left circle hit Cooper’s glove, and the puck went up, over, and in behind him. Lucas Bahn had the assist.
UAH had another power play chance that didn’t do much, and right after it expired Robert Morris scored on a 2-on-1 to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:28 remaining in the second. Aidan Spellacy got the tally.
Each team had a power play goal in the final two minutes of the second period.
The Chargers took a 3-2 lead when Thompson poked in a loose puck on Cooper’s doorstep with 1:21 remaining. Then, following a Brian Scoville interference penalty, RMU leveled it up again on a Santeri Hartikainen one-timer from the left circle.
UAH got the penalty bug again in the third period, and it cost the Chargers with 7:11 to go. The Colonials crashed the net on their third advantage of the frame, piling on Krall. A review checked to see if the net had come off its mooring before the puck crossed the goal line was inconclusive and the call stood, giving RMU a 4-3 lead.
The Chargers had one power play chance with five minutes to go to equalize, but nothing came of it. They went 2-for-4 with the advantage.
Saturday’s starting goaltender, David Fessenden, was listed as Krall’s backup. Fessenden was removed after getting hurt in warmups before the third period Saturday.
The Chargers allowed five goals in the third period, losing their season opener 5-2 at Robert Morris in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
UAH was up 1-0 after two periods, but it seemed to all go downhill after goaltender David Fessenden left the game after getting hurt in warmups before the third.
Fessenden had stopped all 20 shots he faced to keep the Chargers in contention after Bauer Neudecker put UAH on the board first at the 2:52 mark. Neudecker backhanded in a loose puck in the crease that had trickled through RMU goaltender Dyllan Lubbesmeyer.
It was a great start for the new captain Neudecker, who was shut out of the net last season after a seven-goal freshman year. Dayne Finnson and Peyton Francis got the assists.
The Chargers (0-1-0) had a chance to pad their lead when RMU’s Darcy Walsh plowed UAH freshman Josh Corrow into the boards at 3:47. Walsh got five minutes for boarding and a game misconduct, but while UAH got four shots on net, the Chargers couldn’t convert on the ensuing power play.
The Colonials (1-0-0) had a five-minute power play of their own with 2:48 left in the period after Garrett Clegg skated into Connor Merkley’s arm. Merkley was assessed a major contact to the head penalty and a game misconduct.
UAH kills about half the penalty to end the first and the other half to start the second.
Then the Chargers had to kill another penalty, a Brian Scoville holding call, immediately afterward. UAH killed a third penalty with 7:59 left in the second.
Robert Morris used the power play time and overall increased pressure to outshoot the Chargers 12-4 in the second period, but David Fessenden’s saves and 13 blocked shots to keep RMU off the scoreboard.
The wheels fell off to start the third after Fessenden hurt himself during warmups.
The training staff worked on him from the bench for several minutes, but eventually he was escorted to the locker room. In came sophomore George McBey, making his college debut in sub-optimal circumstances.
The Colonials quickly pounced, scoring three goals in the first eight minutes of the third period. Jordan Timmons sneaked one in between the post and McBey, Nick Jenny scored as a power play expired, and Grant Hebert scored from the slot as McBey never saw the puck.
Nick Lalonde made it 4-1 with 5:23 to go.
Tyr Thompson cut RMU’s lead to 4-2 with a nice rebound goal with 3:37 left, but Timmonds scored on a breakaway just eight seconds later for the final three-goal margin.
Tyrone Bronte was credited with the assist on Thompson’s goal for his first point as a Charger.
RMU outshot UAH 43-13 for the game, including a 23-3 advantage in the third period.
Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. Central Time.
UAH at Robert Morris WHERE: Clearview Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa. WHEN (CST): Saturday, 6:05 p.m.; Sunday, 3:05 p.m. WATCH: FloHockey.tv (subscription)
The 2020-21 UAH hockey season finally begins this weekend in Pittsburgh with a non-conference series against Robert Morris.
With the season delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chargers have had an extended time to practice with uncertain circumstances.
“They’re more than ready to play a game,” said Lance West, who will be making his debut as UAH head coach. “The grind of practice for that long, you can really wear them down. Not physically, but just mentally with everything that’s gone on. You need to take that into consideration. Work hard and get ourselves prepared, but understand what a grind that is and give them breaks when needed to mentally regroup. They’re ready to go.”
Under WCHA protocols, the team is tested three times a week on nonconsecutive days, and they must be tested 72 hours prior to the start of the last game of a series.
“(Head athletic trainer) Jeff (Kinard) and the training staff have done a great job,” West said.
The Chargers will leave Thursday night. Of course, aspects of travel has changed.
“The hotel rooms have to be a certain way, as well as all the meals, depending on what state you’re in,” West said. “Some states you can’t do dining, so everyone’s having to do boxed dinners and lunches, pick them up and go. And you’re adapting every day.
“The teams that don’t let it become a distraction and deal with it the best are going to have an advantage. And there’s no excuses for anybody because they’ve all dealt with it.”
Last season, Robert Morris finished a 13-19-5 overall record. They finished seventh in the Atlantic Hockey standings, advancing to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament before the pandemic ended the college hockey season early.
Head coach Derek Schooley has a familiar face assisting him: Mike Corbett, who was the head coach for the Chargers the past seven seasons.
The Colonials were tied for sixth in the Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll. They return their leading scorer, senior Nick Prkusic, who had 11 goals and 28 points.
“I know they’re going to be a big, strong, physical, competitive team, so we’re going to have to battle.” West said. “The reality is with everything that’s gone on and the circumstances, you expect a pretty simple game. Expect the teams to just manage the puck, play simple, not trying to do too much. I think that it will be a series that you have to grind out.”
West reiterated Wednesday that the Chargers will be a scoring by committee team, looking to Bauer Neudecker to be one of the leaders. Neudecker has been named captain, with seniors Connor Merkley and Connor Wood being the alternate captains.
“I think more of what you’re going to see is a balanced attack,” West said. “I think you’re going to see more rotating four lines, a little bit of balance and play a certain type of structure and simple game of getting pucks deep and doing it by committee.”
In goal, sophomore David Fessenden will get the nod early, but George McBey and freshman Derek Krall will get looks. “It’s going to be a battle,” West said of UAH’s goaltending. “We’re not going to set anything in stone.”
Robert Morris and UAH have met 36 times before, mostly as members of College Hockey America. The last series against the two programs occurred in Dec. 2010, right after the CHA men’s league folded.
Series notes: UAH leads 16-15-5. First meeting: Nov. 5-6, 2004 in Huntsville. UAH won 4-1 and 7-2. Last meeting: Dec. 10-11, 2010 in Huntsville. RMU won 4-3 and 2-1. Last meeting at RMU: Jan. 15-16, 2010. RMU won 3-2 and 4-2.
This week in the WCHA:
Saturday, Nov. 21 UAH at Robert Morris, 6:05 p.m. Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State, 4:07 p.m. #19 Bowling Green at Adrian, 6:05 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22 UAH at Robert Morris, 3:05 p.m. Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State, 2:07 p.m. #5 Minnesota State at #16 Bemidji State, 5:07 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23 #5 Minnesota State at #16 Bemidji State, 3:07 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 25 Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
After the most tumultuous offseason in program history, the UAH Chargers finally get back to the business of playing hockey.
The Chargers enter the abridged 2020-21 campaign with half the roster turned over, necessitated by the week in May when the program was cancelled and then revived. Several players from last season’s squad transferred, meaning new head coach Lance West had spots available for 13 hungry freshmen.
“You’ve heard coaches in the league talk about players that were on our roster last year that are now on teams that are favored at the top.” West said. “Those were tough losses, but our approach has been to move on and upward and fight with the kids we have.
“The kids here are doing an outstanding job. They’re young, but sometimes when you’re young, you don’t know things. Their energy level and commitment has been exactly what we’ve wanted. They’re working every day. Clearly we know we’ve got something to prove. That chip is as big as you could probably find.”
With this much change, it’s hard to predict how this season, which starts Saturday at Robert Morris, will turn out.
Expectations are not high after the Chargers finished last season with only two wins and all the aforementioned changes. UAH finished last in the WCHA media and coaches’ preseason polls.
Complicating matters is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already cancelled the season for eight Division teams (including Alaska Anchorage). UAH’s schedule has been reduced to 21 games (16 WCHA games), with only seven at the Von Braun Center, which will be limited to 30 percent capacity and other restrictions.
“I don’t think that there’s any secrets to where we’re at, but we’re thankful for the opportunity,” West said. “We know the challenge that’s ahead of us. When we recruited all these young men we told them that. They’re taking it face on and we’re excited to try and prove something and set a culture in the program back to where we believe it should be.”
Here is a look at the 2020-21 UAH Chargers.
Forwards
Bauer Neudecker (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography)
Scoring was a chore last season, as the Chargers averaged just 1.68 goals per game (last in the WCHA). The top seven point scorers from 2019-20 are gone.
So for this season, the Chargers will be looking for, as West puts it, “scoring by committee.”
“I don’t think we’re going to be talking about guys who lead the league, but I think we’re going to be a committee,” West said. “I think they guys have bought into that.”
Committees still need leaders, starting with Bauer Neudecker, who is looking for a rebound junior year. He was shut out of the net last season after a seven-goal freshman campaign.
“Just a smart hockey player,” West said. “He’s an impressive young man, one of the kids who came every day. Never quit, never changed how he approached things. He had to have surgery in the offseason, came back and just every day is a professional.”
The same goes for the team’s two seniors, Connor Merkley and Connor Wood. Merkley, one of the top returning scorers, had eight points, while Wood scored four goals last season, showing continued growth heading into his senior year.
“They’re committed to this program and helping us change and grow the culture,” West said.
Tyr Thompson, who had six goals last season, and Ben Allen, who scored a goal in 16 games, are the other juniors.
“Those two guys have shown a lot in practice that they are going to be able to step up and help us score by committee this year, which is what we’re going to have to do,” West said.
Among sophomores, Peyton Francis worked his way into the lineup as a freshman last season and netted a couple of assists. Adrian Danchenko, like Allen, also had a goal in 16 games.
There are more freshmen (eight) than returning players (seven), which means they will have plenty of opportunities to contribute immediately.
Tyrone Bronte, an Australian, posted over a point per game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (NAHL) before the pandemic stopped the season.
Jonah Alexander was a first-team OJHL all-star after a 78-point season with the St. Michael’s Buzzers. Frank Vitucci also comes from the OJHL, scoring 67 points with Wellington.
“I think they can really add some offense to us,” West said. “Obviously as freshmen you know they’ll have some ups and downs and struggles, but we’re excited about what they can bring. They’ve had the right attitude.”
Noah Finstrom had 42 points in 54 games with Jamestown (NAHL) last season. Quinn Green comes to Huntsville after back-to-back 39-point seasons with Topeka of the NAHL. Bennett Stockdale, the alternate captain for Johnstown (NAHL), had 42 points in 50 games last season. Conor Witherspoon was second leading scorer (35 points) for Shreveport. Nick Michel had seven goals in 32 games with Janesville of the NAHL last season.
Returning (7): Ben Allen (Jr.), Adrian Danchenko (So.), Peyton Francis (So.), Connor Merkley (Sr.), Bauer Neudecker (Jr.), Tyr Thompson (Jr.), Connor Wood (Sr.) Losses (7): Austin Beaulieu (graduated), Liam Izyk (transferred to Boston College), Jack Jeffers (transferred to Lake Superior State), Daneel Lategan (transferred to Alberta), Josh Latta (transferred to UMass Lowell), Christian Rajic (transferred to Long Island), Brandon Salerno (graduated) Newcomers (8): Jonah Alexander, Tyrone Bronte, Noah Finstrom, Quinn Green, Nick Michel, Bennett Stockdale, Frank Vitucci, Conor Witherspoon
Defensemen
Dayne Finnson (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography)
The Chargers also struggled on defense last season, allowing a WCHA-worst 4.26 goals per game. UAH lost its top four shot blockers, but have retained some experience and added some size.
“There’s three guys returning who have played a lot of minutes,” West said. “They’re extremely quiet and calm, the kind of guys you don’t notice.”
West referred to two returning juniors in Dayne Finnson (a goal and six assists) and Drew Lennon (two assists) to provide some experience. Tennessee-native Lucas Bahn became a lineup regular as a freshman last year, scoring a goal and three assists.
“They have all played a lot of minutes the last couple of years. We have those guys to lean on and I think they’re solid contributors and will be really good Division I defensemen. They will surprise some people in my opinion.”
West said that freshmen Ayodele Adeniye and Brian Scoville bring size to the back end. Adeniye, the only commit to stay a commit when the dust settled, is a highly-rated 6-foot-5 freshman joining Carleton Place (CCHL) alums Francis and Merkley. Scoville clocks in at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.
“They’re going to be hard, they’re going to be heavy, and they’re going to be tough to play against,” West said. “I think they give us at least as solid foundation on the backend to build with.”
Mick Heneghan, another freshman, had 37 points with the Northeast Generals last season. Josh Corrow was most recently the alternate captain for the Whitecourt Wolves of the AJHL, notching 15 assists in 57 regular-season games. Another Tennessean, junior Jay Powell, is the tallest Charger at 6-foot-7.
Returning (4): Lucas Bahn (So.), Dayne Finnson (Jr.), Drew Lennon (Jr.), Jay Powell (Jr.) Losses (6): Max Coyle (transferred to Bowling Green), Tanner Hickey (transferred to Arizona State), Connor James (graduated), Bailey Newton (transferred to Western Ontario), Sean Rappleyea (graduated), Teddy Rotenberger (graduated) Newcomers (4): Ayodele Adeniye, Josh Corrow, Mick Henegan, Brian Scoville
Goaltenders
David Fessenden (Photo by UAH Athletics)
Mark Sinclair, who made 30 starts in net for the Chargers in 2019-20, has transferred to Michigan Tech, meaning UAH will have a new No. 1 between the pipes.
“That’s clearly going to be one of our biggest challenges,” West said. “David Fessenden returns as sophomore, a big 6-foot-6 kid that has a lot of athletic ability and upside, and has to prove it.”
Fessenden (4.44 goals against average, .869 save percentage) was the only other goalie to see action last season. He played in seven games and started four, with his best outing being a 37-save performance at UMass Lowell.
Freshman Derek Krall had a .917 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average in 30 regular-season games in the BCHL last year.
“Derek Krall was the MVP of his team in Powell River and spent a couple of years in Pentincton where he was behind really high-end goaltenders,” West said. “I believe (Krall) can push and will develop into a really solid Division I goaltender for us, so I’m a bit more excited about that position and the competition that’s there.”
George McBey, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, is the other returning netminder who did not see action last season.
Top photo by UAH Athletics: Defenseman Ayodele Adeniye is one of 13 freshmen on this year’s team.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville re-affirmed its long-term commitment to its Division I hockey program on Wednesday, collaborating with alumni on a massive pledge while setting goals for conference membership and an on-campus facility.
“This is not a band-aid. This is here long term,” UAH alumnus Taso Sofikitis said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
“The UAH hockey program has a long and cherished history,” UAH president Darren Dawson said in the school’s press release. “We are truly grateful for the vital support from our alumni and community as we work together to ensure that the legacy of UAH hockey continues.”
The university, in a partnership with an alumni group headed by Sofikitis and Sheldon Wolitski, are pledging $17 million over 10 years to turn the program into a sustainable model that will compete for championships.
Assisting the alumni group is an advisory committee featuring prominent members of the hockey community, including Nashville Predators president and chief executive officer Sean Henry, Tampa Bay Lightning executive vice president of communications Bill Wickett, and Minnesota Wild goaltender and UAH alumnus Cam Talbot.
“We’re the faces, but there’s a big tribe behind us,” said Wolitski, who along with Sofikitis were defensemen for the Chargers from 1992-96. “My vision expands over the next 10-20 years for not only just Huntsville hockey but hockey in general. My goal is to continue to grow it, because I know it’s going to make a big impact on kids, youth hockey and college hockey, like it’s made for me.”
“That’s the first step: The long-term financial stability,” UAH head coach Lance West said during the WCHA’s preseason teleconference. “There’s been a lot of older guys that have fought for years and now some of the younger guys are stepping up because they can financially. It’s been a very impressive thing to see everybody come together. It’s extremely exciting.”
UAH is about to begin its final season as a member of the WCHA, which will dissolve after this season as seven members are leaving for form the new CCHA, leaving UAH, Alaska Anchorage, and Alaska Fairbanks.
Nevertheless, Smith says he has gotten advice and support from schools such as Minnesota State and Bowling Green, who have been perennial contenders in the WCHA.
“Part of the reason why we’re in this situation is our own fault from the WCHA, and to their credit, some of those people in that league have had really open conversations with me about how things should’ve been done and what needs to be done in the future,” Smith said.
UAH has had conversations with the CCHA and Atlantic Hockey about potentially joining. Atlantic is currently the most likely candidate, and Smith said he has been talking with administrators from across college hockey about what it would take to land a spot. The timeline is secure membership sometime this season.
“We think that this news helps us in that step,” Smith said.
“We have to have a home,” Sofikits said. “We have to have a conference. We’re looking at college hockey. They can see we are committed. Whatever I touch and Sheldon touches, we have to make it a success. Failure is not an option. So we need to show we can be a very valued partner to a conference.”
The new on-campus arena is part of UAH’s master plan, which involves developing a mixed-use area in the 58-acre Executive Plaza along University Drive just west of the campus.
The facility, which would also be a new home for UAH basketball and volleyball, would be subject to approval from The University of Alabama System board of trustees based on “achieving fundraising goals, developing a sustainable business plan, and aligning with UAH’s budget parameters.” UAH announced the proposal in April of 2019 and added to the master plan later that summer.
In the meantime, the Von Braun Center has been helpful by renegotiating their revenue sharing to help UAH. The Huntsville Havoc, which shares the VBC with the Chargers, have also been helpful in game operations and scheduling.
Beyond that, UAH must work on building a program that sustains itself without putting too much of a burden on donors. That will require increasing attendance and corporate sponsorships, and overcoming any perception that nothing has changed from when the hockey program was saved eight years ago.
“There are things already in place that we think are going to generate a lot more revenue,” Smith said. “Any revenue generated from ticket sales, merchandise, or corporate sponsorships, that takes the place of what has been private donations. We don’t want (our donors) to have to foot the bill. That’s not fair. We want this to be a true partnership and working together to where this is something that generates revenue for itself.”
“I’ve been asked, ‘How is it any different than the last time we raised money?’ We have to overcome that,” Wolitski said. “We have a road map to success. It’s not a silver bullet, but there’s a number of things we need to do to prove to the hockey world that we are serious about hockey.”
“There are donors out there that haven’t donated because we haven’t had a strategic plan in place, and we do now. They need to have trust when they donate that it’s going to a good cause, and that’s my job.”
“We’re gonna do whatever it takes to become relevant in college hockey,” Sofikitis said. “If it takes more money, we’re gonna get it done. That’s how passionate we are to take UAH to the next level.”
UAH and the WCHA released a new 2020-21 schedule on Wednesday, setting a course for a shortened college hockey season while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chargers will play 23 games, with 18 conference games and five non-conference games. UAH will play nine home games (all WCHA contests) at the Von Braun Center.
“In addition to state and local health and safety guidelines in force at each WCHA campus, the 2020-21 schedule will play out under the WCHA’s Return to Competition protocols,” the WCHA said in its press release. “Those protocols will include COVID-19 testing for student-athletes, coaches, staff and game officials as well as social-distancing requirements at all WCHA arenas.”
Every team in the WCHA will play 18 conference games, two against each of the other nine. Because of the restrictions on non-conference games for other conferences, most WCHA teams will play non-conference games against WCHA foes. UAH and Bowling Green are the only two that have any non-conference games against teams outside the WCHA.
The WCHA has set aside the weekend of March 5-6 for any games that may be postponed because of the pandemic. The conference tournament format has yet to be revealed, but it is scheduled for the weekends of March 12-13 and March 19-20.
The Chargers open the season in the Pittsburgh area on Nov. 20 and 21 at Robert Morris. It would be the first time since 2010 that UAH has played RMU, which hired former UAH head coach Mike Corbett over the summer. RMU, now with Atlantic Hockey. and UAH were both members of College Hockey America through 2010.
That will be the only non-conference series against a true non-conference opponent. UAH will visit Ferris State (Dec. 4) and Lake Superior State (Dec. 6-7) for three games that will not count in the WCHA standings.
The true start to the Chargers’ WCHA season is Jan. 2-3 at Michigan Tech. UAH’s first home series at the Von Braun Center will be Jan. 8-9 against Ferris State.
UAH hosts Northern Michigan (Jan. 22-23), Alaska Anchorage (Feb. 5-6) and Minnesota State (Feb. 11-12). The Chargers and travel partner Bowling Green will finish the regular season with a home-and-home series in Ohio (Wednesday, Feb. 24) and Huntsville (Saturday, Feb. 27).
This is expected to be the last season of the WCHA. Seven schools will be forming the new CCHA next season, with UAH still looking for a new conference home.
2020-21 UAH Hockey Schedule Nov. 20-21 at Robert Morris Dec. 4 at Ferris State Dec. 6-7 at Lake Superior State Jan. 1-2 at Michigan Tech* Jan. 8-9 vs. Ferris State* Jan. 15-16 at Bemidji State* Jan. 22-23 vs. Northern Michigan* Jan. 29-30 at Alaska* Feb. 5-6 vs. Alaska Anchorage* Feb. 11-12 vs. Minnesota State* Feb. 19-20 at Lake Superior State* Feb. 24 at Bowling Green* Feb. 27 vs. Bowling Green*
Home games in bold. Game time is 7 p.m. for all home games except for Feb. 27 (2 p.m.). *WCHA contest
The restart of Charger hockey is officially on hold because of COVID-19.
In a joint statement on Thursday, all Division I conferences announced that there will be a delay to the 2020-21 college hockey season due to the pandemic. Each conference will announce its own plans for the season, with the WCHA unveiling its revised schedule later in the fall.
“With 10 teams in five states, WCHA member institutions are currently operating under multiple state, local, university system, institutional and NCAA COVID-19 mandates,” the WCHA said in its statement. “Delaying the start of the season will provide league and member administrators the opportunity to continue detailed discussions regarding the implementation of a return to play plan that addresses the diverse guidelines all WCHA institutions must adhere to and recognizes the rapidly-evolving medical and safety environments that exist today.”
“It would be tough for us to play before January,” UAH athletic director Cade Smith said. “We’ll go with whatever the WCHA decides.”
Smith said teams traveling in buses and airplanes and going into locker rooms spreading the virus is the big concern.
Most fall sports at UAH and its primary league, the Gulf South Conference, have been cancelled. Charger basketball will not start before January.
The Huntsville Havoc, which shares the Von Braun Center with the Chargers, won’t begin their SPHL season until December. Venue limitations and capacity at the VBC will need to be worked out, Smith said.
“The University of Alabama system requires all athletes be tested every week, which is stricter than the NCAA guidelines,” Smith said. “How do we trace positives, how do we quarantine — these have taken much of administrative bandwidth.”
Smith said out of 150-160 tests this week, there were only eight positives. He feels that the protocols are working, and UAH head coach Lance West says his players are doing what needs to be done.
“The guys have been good at handling and protecting themselves and others,” West said. “They are preparing themselves as well as they can for when they can go.
“It’s been the hardest on the freshmen,” West said. “Their social interactions are limited and they are away from home. The veterans have been good at keeping them focused on what they can do as opposed to what they expected to do when they got to college.
“If you want to play, there are certain things they have to give up and choices they have to make.”
The Chargers are expected to have 13 freshmen this season, according to our commitment list, as West and his staff worked to build back the roster following the cancellation and restoration of the program. UAH is expected to announce the full roster soon once everyone has been cleared.
“That’s just the situation we were dealt,” West said. “We accepted the challenge together and found a way to get it done. You’ll see a team of hungry guys with something to prove.
“Everyone has a piece of where we’re headed. We will empower the guys that will set the tone for the future of the program. When we hit the ice, we will have the old-school, simple mentality of getting better every day.”
Meanwhile, the search for a conference home for the 2021-22 season continues. The primary target is now the Atlantic Hockey Association.
“I had a good call with the commissioner of the AHA (Robert DeGregorio, Jr.) about a month ago,” Smith said. “He laid out everything. I sent him a letter of interest, trying to gain an audience with their league about the application process.”
Atlantic Hockey currently has 11 teams, meaning UAH could become the 12th.
Smith says we could know by the time the Chargers play their first game this season, whenever that is, whether UAH has landed a spot in the conference.
The other option, the Central Collegiate Athletic Association, is now a long-shot at best. The CCHA announced the addition of the St. Paul-based University of St. Thomas as its eighth team on July 29, and it appears the new conference, comprising of seven WCHA programs, will be satisfied with eight entering its first season in 2021-22.
Guerriero played in 77 games for the Chargers from 2013-17. His .910 career save percentage was second best in UAH’s modern Division I era and fourth best all-time. His 3.19 career goals against average was fifth best in the D-I era and ninth all-time.
Last season, Guerriero was a volunteer goaltending coach at St. Lawrence.
Another former UAH netminder, Scott Munroe, has been named a player development coach at Total Package Hockey of Phoenix. Munroe, who played at UAH from 2002-2006, is the schools all-time leader in save percentage (.918) and helped the Chargers win the College Hockey America regular-season title in 2003.
Around the WCHA: Alaska Anchorage was given a chance to save its program after the Board of Regents voted Thursday to cut it following this season. The Seawolves must raise $3 million — two years of operating expenses — by February for the Board to consider reinstating the team. … The Alaska Nanooks team was quarantined as of August 30 after a player tested positive for COVID-19 following an on-campus gathering.
