Series Preview: vs. Michigan Tech, Nov. 6-7

The Chargers are off to their best start since 2004, but they can take a big step foward this weekend at the Von Braun Center this weekend. Their opponent, Michigan Tech, who eliminated UAH in the WCHA quarterfinals last March, is expected to make another run toward the WCHA championship.

On Friday night at 7, the first 500 fans will receive a free set of UAH hockey trading cards, courtesy of Wells Fargo. On Saturday night at 7, the first 500 fans will receive a free UAH hockey puck, courtesy of SportsMed. All kids 12 and under get free general admission, courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

Matchup history: UAH has never beaten Michigan Tech in eight games since joining the WCHA in 2013.

Last season, the Huskies were 6-0 against the Chargers, sweeping all four regular-season matchups in Huntsville and Houghton and the WCHA quarterfinal series in Houghton.

In that playoff series, the Huskies won Game 1 in triple overtime 1-0 (when Carmine Guerriero had 76 saves) and Game 2 3-0. UAH lost 4-2 and 5-2 last November in the only games in the series played at the VBC.

Brennan Saulnier was named WCHA Player of the Month for October.

Charger recap: UAH (3-2-1 overall, 2-1-1 WCHA) had its first road sweep since 2009 with two wins at Lake Superior State last weekend.

On Friday, Brennan Saulnier scored two goals in the first 4:36 as UAH took a 2-1 lead. The Lakers scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead after two periods, but freshman Kurt Gosselin, playing his first UAH game after having mono, scored two third-period goals in the third to tie the game at 4-4. In overtime, Cody Marooney scored 1:07 in to give the Chargers a 5-4 victory.

On Saturday, it was all Chargers despite being outshot 31-19. Marooney, Brandon Carlson, Chad Brears, Adam Wilcox, and Tyler Poulsen netted goals as UAH cruised 5-0 for the sweep. Matt Larose stopped all 31 shots for UAH’s first shutout since Cam Talbot blanked Robert Morris on March 12, 2010.

Marooney’s two game-winning goals earned him WCHA Player of the Week honors, and Gosselin won WCHA Rookie of the Week.

Saulnier was named WCHA Player of the Month for his strong start despite missing Saturday’s game. He leads UAH with six goals and nine points in five games. His 1.20 goals per game is tops in the nation, and his 1.80 points per game is sixth.

Max McHugh is second on the team with eight points (three goals, five assists). Marooney also has three goals on the season. Brears has five assists among his seven points.

Goaltender Carmine Guerriero looks to regain his form from last season, currently only having an .885 save percentage in five starts.

	Tale of the tape (WCHA rank)
3-2-1 2-1-1 WCHA (T-3rd)	Record	3-3-0 3-3-0 WCHA (2nd)
3.67 (1st)	Goals/game	3.00 (3nd)
2.83 (7th)	Goals allowed/game	2.67 (T-4th)
10.7 (7th)	Pen. minutes/game	11.2 (5th)
12.5% (T-7th)	Power play	31.6% (1st)
85.7% (2nd)	Penalty kill	83.3% (T-4th)

About the Huskies: Michigan Tech (3-3-0 overall, 3-3-0 WCHA), which reached the WCHA championship game and earned an NCAA tournament berth last season, has played nothing but conference games to start, and saw a lot of Ferris State at that. The Huskies have split all three series: at Ferris State, a home-and-home with Northern Michigan, and at home against Ferris State.

WCHA Player of the Year and Hobey Baker finalist Tanner Kero may be gone, but the Huskies still have plenty of power to make a title run.

Senior all-conference goaltender Jamie Phillips has played every minute for the Huskies this season, posting a 2.64 goals against average and .917 save percentage.

Senior forward Malcolm Gould and junior forward Tyler Heinonen, who scored the winning goal in triple overtime against the Chargers in the playoffs, each have three goals to start the campaign. Another all-WCHA senior forward, Alex Petan, is 2-2–4, but did not play due to injury on Saturday against Ferris State and is questionable for this weekend. Freshman Brett Boeing and sophomore defenseman Mark Auk each have four assists.

Staying out the box would be wise for the Chargers, as Tech’s power play has been very effective so far at 31.6 percent, sixth-highest in Division I.

This week in the WCHA:

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

Friday, Nov. 6
Michigan Tech at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at #14 Bowling Green, 6:37 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Michigan Tech at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at #14 Bowling Green, 6:o7 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.