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.
| CATCHING THE GAMES | |
| Times: | 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday |
| Tickets: | Ticketmaster: Friday | Saturday Complete ticket information |
| Promotions: | Kids 12 & under get free admission Fri.: Mini-hockey sticks to first 1,000 Sat.: UAH trading cards to first 500 |
| Online video: | WCHA.tv (subscription) |
| Live stats: | UAHChargers.com |
| Twitter: | @weloveuahhockey, @uahhockey, @mtuhky, @TechHockeyGuide |
| More previews: | UAHChargers.com MichiganTechHuskies.com |
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).
| UAH | Tale of the tape WCHA rank in parentheses |
MTU |
| 3-9-2 2-6-0 WCHA (T-7th) |
Record | 10-2-0 8-2-0 WCHA (1st) |
| 1.93 (T-9th) | Goals/game | 3.08 (2nd) |
| 3.07 (8th) | Goals allowed/game | 1.42 (2nd) |
| 17.3 (2nd) | Pen. minutes/game | 14.7 (4th) |
| 18.2% (3rd) | Power play | 22.4% (1st) |
| 84.5% (8th) | Penalty kill | 93.3% (2nd) |
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).
| WCHA Standings | Record | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Tech | 8-2-0 | 16 |
| Bowling Green | 7-1-0 | 14 |
| Minnesota State | 7-1-0 | 14 |
| Northern Michigan | 4-2-0 | 8 |
| Ferris State | 4-4-0 | 8 |
| Lake Superior State | 3-7-0 | 6 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 2-6-0 | 4 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 2-6-0 | 4 |
| Bemidji State | 2-6-0 | 4 |
| Alaska | 1-5-0 | 2 |
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.