| 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.: UAH trading cards to first 500 Sat.: Mini shuttles to first 500 |
| Online video: | WCHA.tv (subscription) |
| Live stats: | UAHChargers.com |
| Twitter: | @weloveuahhockey, @uahhockey, @Alaska_Hockey |
Three points. That’s the magic number for the Chargers as they host Alaska this weekend as a WCHA playoff berth is in sight. Puck drop is at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights in the Chargers’ final home games of the season.
A minimum of a win and a tie puts UAH in the WCHA playoffs for the first time. Consequently, a loss and a tie for Alaska-Anchorage against Bowling Green also does the trick, or any combination of points for UAH and points against UAA totaling three.
Friday night, the first 500 fans receive a set of UAH hockey trading cards. Saturday night is Senior Night, and the first 500 fans receive a free mini space shuttle courtesy of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Kids 12 and under get in free to both games, courtesy Huntsville International Airport.
All-time series: The Chargers are 6-16-1 all-time against the Nanooks, and 3-4-1 in Huntsville. Alaska has won the last eight meetings, with UAH’s last victory coming on Jan. 11, 1992 — when Alaska forfeited a 8-3 win for using an ineligible player. The Chargers last “true” win came the day before, 6-1, at the Von Braun Center.
The two teams met in Fairbanks earlier this season, with the Nanooks taking both games: 2-1 in overtime and 4-0.
Jeff Vanderlugt scored his sixth goal of the season against Ferris State. (Photo by Chris Brightwell)
Charger recap: UAH (8-20-4 overall, 7-16-1 WCHA) lost a pair of one-goal games at home to Ferris State.
On Friday, Ferris State dominated the first period with two goals. Code Champagne’s goal early in the third period gave UAH life, but the Chargers ultimately fell 2-1 in front of a sparse crowd thanks to snow and ice in Huntsville.
The attendance was better Saturday as the snow melted, and so was UAH’s start, as Jeff Vanderlugt put the Chargers on the board first. But the Bulldogs answered with three straight goals and held on for a 3-2 win. Alex Carpenter had the other goal for UAH.
UAH goaltender Carmine Guerriero had 32 saves on Friday night and 26 on Saturday. His season save percentage of .928 is second in the WCHA, and he has a 2.46 goals against average this season.
Max McHugh continues to lead the Chargers in scoring with 19 points, which is tied for third among freshmen in the WCHA, and in goals with eight.
Other top scorers for UAH are Jack Prince (5-9-14), Chad Brears (3-10-13), Jeff Vanderlugt (6-6-12), and Brandon Parker. Frank Misuraca is tied with Vanderlugt for second on the team in goals with six.
| UAH | Tale of the tape (WCHA rank) |
UAF |
| 8-20-4 7-16-1 WCHA (8th) |
Record | 15-13-2 10-12-2 WCHA (7th) |
| 1.69 (9th) | Goals/game | 2.67 (5th) |
| 3.12 (8th) | Goals allowed/game | 2.47 (6th) |
| 15.8 (2nd) | Pen. minutes/game | 14.5 (3rd) |
| 16.3% (5th) | Power play | 16.4% (4th) |
| 83.0% (8th) | Penalty kill | 83.6% (7th) |
About the Nanooks: Alaska (15-13-2 overall, 10-12-2 WCHA) are ineligible for the WCHA playoffs because of an NCAA postseason ban announced earlier this season, but the Nanooks are enjoying the spoiler role.
Last weekend, UAF hosted top ranked and WCHA leader Minnesota State and earned a 1-1 tie and a 3-1 victory. The Nanooks are undefeated in their last four games.
However, those four games were in Fairbanks, where they are 10-5-1 this season. The Nanooks are 3-8-1 on the road, although one of those wins — their last road win on Dec. 5 — was at Minnesota State.
Junior center Tyler Morley is the engine behind the Nanooks’ offense. He leads the team in goals (13), assists (19), and points (32), and he had three goals against the Mavericks last weekend. Sophomore right wing Marcus Basara is Alaska’s other double-digit goal scorer with 10, and junior defenseman and St. Louis Blues prospect Colton Parayko has 16 assists.
Senior goaltender Sean Cahill has been back in action after missing 13 games due to injury. He has allowed only one goal in each of his last four starts, and he has a 2.06 goals against average and a .923 save percentage for the season. Sophomore Davis Jones, who shut out the Chargers in the second game in Fairbanks while Cahill was out, is the backup.
| WCHA Standings | Record | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State** | 19-3-2 | 40 |
| Michigan Tech** | 19-4-1 | 39 |
| Bowling Green* | 14-7-3 | 31 |
| Bemidji State* | 10-10-4 | 24 |
| Northern Michigan* | 10-10-4 | 24 |
| Ferris State* | 11-13-0 | 22 |
| Alaska^ | 10-12-2 | 22 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 7-16-1 | 15 |
| Lake Superior State | 6-17-1 | 13 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 4-18-2 | 10 |
| ** Clinched home ice in first round * Clinched playoff berth ^ Ineligible for postseason play |
||
Around the WCHA: Alaska’s three-point weekend against Minnesota State tightened the race for the MacNaughton Cup, which could be decided this weekend in a huge showdown in Mankato.
No. 2 Minnesota State leads No. 3 Michigan Tech by one point as the two top teams in the WCHA square off. Two wins by the Mavericks will clinch them their first regular-season league title.
No. 11 Bowling Green needs one win to clinch home ice in the first round as they head to Alaska-Anchorge. Bemidji State and Ferris State tussle in Big Rapids looking to host in the first round, while Northern Michigan has the same aspirations while hosting Lake Superior State.
Here’s the schedule for league teams this week. All times are Central. All games can be seen online on WCHA TV.
Friday, February 27
Alaska at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#3 Michigan Tech at #2 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
#11 Bowling Green at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, February 28
Alaska at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#3 Michigan Tech at #2 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
#11 Bowling Green at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.