Series preview: vs. Northern Michigan, Dec. 4-5

The Chargers host Northern Michigan this weekend, trying to end their six-game losing streak.

On Fridayy night at 7, the first 500 fans will receive a free set of UAH hockey trading cards, courtesy of Spirit Coach. On Saturday night at 7, the first 500 fans will receive UAH hockey thunder sticks, courtesy of SportsMed. All kids 12 and under get free general admission, courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

Matchup history: Northern Michigan leads the all-time series 8-2-2. Those two Charger wins came last season, as UAH beat the Wildcats 2-1 and 3-2 at the Von Braun Center in January. UAH went 2-1-1 against NMU last season.

Chad Brears has scored a goal in each of his last two games. (Photo by UAH Athletics/Doug Eagan)

Charger recap: UAH (3-8-1 overall, 2-7-1 WCHA) was swept at home by Bemidji State last week, seeing its losing streak extended to six games following a 3-2-1 start. The Beavers won both games by a score of 4-1 to send UAH to the bottom of the WCHA standings.

On Wednesday, Brandon Carlson scored just 1:36 into the contest to give UAH a 1-0 lead, but the Chargers could not muster any more goals. Bemidji scored in the second period to tie the game, then three more in the third (including two in the final minute). Matt Larose made 20 saves on 23 BSU shots on net.

On Friday, Chad Brears‘s goal at 7:04 of the third period tied the game at 1-1, but the Beavers retook the lead 15 seconds later, and a 3-1 lead less than two minutes after that. Carmine Guerriero stopped 22 of 25 shots in the loss.

Brennan Saulnier and Max McHugh each registered an assist on Wednesday, and both still lead the team with 11 points each. Saulnier still has six goals, and McHugh has three. Brears’s tally was his fourth of the season.

Larose’s 2.48 goals against average is seventh in the WCHA, while his .918 save percentage is sixth. Guerriero now has a 2.99 goals against average and .891 save percentage.

	Tale of the tape (WCHA rank)
3-8-1 2-7-1 WCHA (10th)	Record	4-5-3 3-4-3 WCHA (5th)
2.67 (2nd)	Goals/game	2.36 (8th)
3.17 (10th)	Goals allowed/game	2.36 (3rd)
14.1 (4th)	Pen. minutes/game	15.3 (1st)
13.5% (9th)	Power play	20.7% (3rd)
79.2% (8th)	Penalty kill	82.0% (4th)

About the Wildcats: Northern Michigan (4-5-5 overall, 3-4-3) has seen a lot of ties this season.

The Wildcats wish they could have had one more after last Saturday night, when they lost at Bowling Green with six second left in overtime to finish a sweep by the Falcons. NMU is winless in its last four games, and is currently in fifth place in the WCHA.

Senior forward Darren Nowick leads the Wildcats with eight points on four goals and four assists. Junior John Siemer has five goals this season, and Shane Sooth and Robbie Payne each have four goals.

The real star for NMU has been a freshman goaltender by the name of Atte Tolvanen, who took over starting duties from injured star netminder Mathias Dahlström. The 6-0 native of Finland has won the WCHA Rookie of the Week award three times (including Rookie of the Month for October), and Defensive Player of the Week one other time. In 14 games, he has a .930 save percentage and a 2.25 goals against average.

This week in the WCHA:

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

Friday, Dec. 4
Northern Michigan at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at #14 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at #17 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5
Northern Michigan at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Minnesota State at #14 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at #17 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.