Series Preview: vs. Alaska Anchorage, Oct. 23-24

The Chargers begin WCHA play in a special Homecoming weekend. UAH hosts Alaska Anchorage on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7 p.m.

On Friday, the first 500 fans receive the season’s first set of UAH hockey trading cards, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

On Saturday, the 1995-96 UAH Chargers will be honored for the 20th anniversary of their NCAA Division II national championship season. The first 500 kids 12 and under receive a free UAH 1996 replica jersey courtesy of Maynard’s and Total Package Hockey.

All season, kids 12 and under get free general admission courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

All-time series: Alaska Anchorage leds the all-time series 18-4-1. UAA is 5-4-1 all-time in Huntsville, but UAH is 2-1-1 over the last four meetings at the VBC, including a sweep of the Seawolves by scores of 3-2 and 2-1 last season.

Hans Gorowsky makes it 5-2 UAH in the Chargers’ win vs. UConn (Photo by UAH Athletics)

Charger recap: UAH (1-1-0) defeated Alabama’s club team 11-1 on Saturday in exhibition play, with Cody Marooney and Brent Fletcher each netting two goals to pace nine Charger scorers.

Two weeks ago, UAH split the season-opening series at home against Connecticut. In the first game, the Chargers got two first-period goals from Brennan Saulnier and Max McHugh, but that would be it in a sloppy 5-2 defeat.

UAH played much better in the second game and earned a 5-2 win of its own. Saulnier scored twice and assisted on two other goals, giving him five points on the weekend and earning him WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors. McHugh had the game-winning goal, and Hans Gorowsky scored his first UAH goal on a shorthanded breakaway to seal the deal. Carmine Guerriero made up for a shaky opener by saving 29 of 31 UConn shots on net.

It was the first time UAH got a win in its opening series since 2010.

About the Seawolves: Alaska Anchorage (3-1-o) split its two games at its home tournament two weeks ago, defeating Arizona State 3-2 in overtime and losing to St. Cloud State 6-2. Last week, the Seawolves won both games at the Alaska Goal Rush in Fairbanks, beating Rensselaer 4-3 and American International 6-2.

Despite its strong start, UAA has to guard against a drop similar to last season, when the Seawolves started 3-0-1 after the Alaska tournaments but only won five games the rest of the season. UAA finished 8-22-4 overall and 5-21-2 in the WCHA, which put the Seawolves in last place and out of the WCHA playoffs. The Seawolves are not expected to make the playoffs this year according to the preseason polls, picked to finish ninth in the coaches poll and 10th in the media poll.

That’s not to say Anchorage doesn’t have some weapons. Senior forward Blake Thatchell, last year’s leading scorer, is off to a good start with two goals and three assists through four games. Sophomore Tad Kozun, who had six goals in his rookie season, already has three, as does freshman defenseman Wyatt Ege, who was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Between the pipes, Olivier Mantha made 29 starts as a freshman last season and posted solid numbers. Through three starts this season, Mantha has a 3.29 goals against average and .881 save percentage.

Around the WCHA: Including Chargers-Seawolves, there are three conference series this week, with two non-conference series against Big Ten programs. Alaska and 12th-ranked Bowling Green are off this weekend.

All times Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Lake Superior State at Michigan State, 6:05 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23
* Alaska Anchorage at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* #16 Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
* Minnesota State at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Michigan State, 6:05 p.m.
Wisconsin at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24
* Alaska Anchorage at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
* #16 Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
* Minnesota State at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Wisconsin at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.