Series Preview: at North Dakota, Jan. 1-2

The Chargers ring in 2016 — and complete its non-conference slate — with a challenge: Face off with No. 2-ranked North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.

Matchup history: UAH and North Dakota have met in only one series, and it was a while back. UND cruised to 12-6 and 11-5 wins in Grand Forks on Oct. 13 and 14, 1989.

Adam Wilcox scored a goal in each game against Colorado College. (Photo by UAH Athletics/Doug Eagan)

Charger recap: UAH (4-12-2 overall, 2-10-2 WCHA) finally ended an 11-game winless streak two weeks ago in Huntsville, getting a split with NCHC foe Colorado College.

On Friday, Dec. 18, Colorado College scored four unanswered goals in the second and third periods and pulled away with a 5-2 win. Adam Wilcox and Chad Brears scored the goals for UAH. Brears has scored five goals in the last eight games.

On Saturday, Dec. 19, Wilcox scored again in the second period to tie the game at 1-1, then Richard Buri netted the game-winner at 2:56 of the third for a 2-1 Charger victory. Matt Larose made 35 saves.

UAH extended its streak of power plays killed to 32 as the Tigers went 0-for-11 for the series with the man advantage.

LEADING SCORERS: Max McHugh (So., 4-12–16, 18 GP), Brennan Saulnier (So., 6-9–15, 17 GP), Chad Brears (Sr., 7-6–13, 16 GP), Brandon Parker (So., 2-5–7, 18 GP), Jetlan Houcher (Fr., 4-2–6, 14 GP), Adam Wilcox (3-3–6, 17 GP)

GOALTENDING: Carmine Guerriero (Jr., 2.96 GAA, .903 SV%, 12 GP), Matt Larose (Jr., 2.40 GAA, .918 SV%, 7 GP)

	Tale of the tape (NCAA rank on 12/29)
4-12-2 2-10-2 WCHA (10th)	Record	16-2-2 9-1-0 NCHC (1st)
2.33 (45th)	Goals/game	3.50 (T-9th)
3.06 (37th)	Goals allowed/game	1.70 (3rd)
14.9 (5th)	Pen. minutes/game	13.2 (11th)
13.2% (47th)	Power play	18.2% (29th)
86.7% (13th)	Penalty kill	84.0% (22nd)

About the Fighting Hawks: North Dakota (16-2-2 overall, 9-1-0 NCHC) is ranked No. 2 in the latest USCHO.com poll and No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll, riding a six-game win streak. The Fighting Hawks, who have reached the Frozen Four the last two seasons and six of the last 10, stand on top of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference standings.

The Fighting Hawks boast two of the top 15 point scorers in Division I, with senior forward Drake Caggiula 11th at 27 points, and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Schmaltz 15th with 26. Schmaltz is third in the country with 1.15 assists per game.

Between the pipes, sophomore Cam Johnson is 3rd in the nation in goals against average at 1.20 and 2nd in save percentage at .955. He has been as hot as a goaltender can get, posting three straight shutouts in UND’s last three games, while doing work making 96 saves in that stretch. Johnson has allowed one goal or fewer in his last six starts.

LEADING SCORERS: Drake Caggiula (Sr., 13-14–27, 19 GP), Nick Schmaltz (So., 3-23–26, 20 GP), Brock Boeser (Fr., 13-8–21, 20 GP), Troy Stecher (Jr., 3-10–13, 20 GP), Tucker Poolman (So., 2-11–13, 16 GP)

GOALTENDING: Matt Hrynkiw (Jr., 2.11 GAA, .911 SV%, 12 GP), Cam Johnson (So., 1.20 GAA, .955 SV%, 10 GP)