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.
| CATCHING THE GAMES | |
| Times: | 7:07 p.m. Sat, 5:07 p.m. Sun |
| Online video: | NCHC.tv (subscription): Sat | Sun |
| Online audio: | KZOT |
| Live stats: | Click here |
| Twitter: | @weloveuahhockey, @uahhockey, @UNO_Hockey |
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.
| UAH | Tale of the tape NCAA rank in parentheses |
UNO |
| 3-13-2 2-10-0 WCHA |
Record | 10-4-2 6-3-1 NCHC |
| 1.78 (53rd) | Goals/game | 3.19 (T19th) |
| 3.22 (47th) | Goals allowed/game | 2.44 (T24th) |
| 16.4 (6th) | Pen. minutes/game | 12.4 (24th) |
| 17.0% (29th) | Power play | 15.9% (34th) |
| 84.6% (25th) | Penalty kill | 86.2% (T20th) |
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.
| WCHA Standings | Record | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Tech | 10-2-0 | 20 |
| Minnesota State | 10-2-0 | 20 |
| Bowling Green | 8-1-1 | 17 |
| Ferris State | 6-4-0 | 12 |
| Northern Michigan | 5-5-2 | 12 |
| Alaska | 5-7-0 | 10 |
| Bemidji State | 3-6-3 | 9 |
| Lake Superior State | 3-11-0 | 6 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 2-6-2 | 6 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 2-10-0 | 4 |
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.)