Series Preview: vs. Alaska, Jan. 8-9

The second half of the Chargers’ WCHA schedule begins this weekend as they host the Alaska Nanooks on Friday and Saturday at the Von Braun Center. Game time is 7:07 p.m. both nights.

The series is crucial for UAH, which finds itself needing some victories to move back into playoff position. The Chargers are four points behind the Nanooks for ninth place in the WCHA and six points behind Alaska Anchorage and Lake Superior State for seventh.

On Friday, the first 500 fans receive a free set of UAH Hockey trading cards. The game will be televised by American Sports Network, and carried on WHNT2 in Huntsville and regional sports network MASN on satellite systems.

On Saturday, the first 500 fans receive a free UAH Hockey foam mini hockey stick. Kids 12 and under get free general admission to both games, courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

Matchup history: Alaska leads the all-time series 18-6-1 dating back to the first meeting in 1987, and is 6-3-1 all-time in Huntsville. The Nanooks are 6-0-0 against the Chargers since both programs joined the WCHA, including winning all four games last season. Alaska won 4-2 and 4-3 in overtime at the VBC last February. The last time UAH beat Alaska was in 1992.

Carmine Guerriero (Photo by UAH Athletics/Doug Eagan)

Charger recap: UAH (4-14-2 overall, 2-10-2 WCHA) lost two games at No. 2 North Dakota last weekend to finish its non-conference schedule.

On Friday, the Chargers were shut out for the first time all season by a 1-0 score. A power play goal by the Fighting Hawks in the second period ended a string of 34 straight penalties killed by UAH. Carmine Guerriero stopped 38 of 39 shots.

On Saturday, Richard Buri scored UAH’s lone goal in a 4-1 loss. Guerriero made another 34 saves in net.

The Chargers have killed 39 of their opponents’ last 40 power plays, lifting them up to second in the WCHA in penalty killing efficiency at 86.6 percent for the season.

Max McHugh is currently tied for sixth in the WCHA in scoring with 16 points, while Brennan Saulnier is tied for eigth with 15. McHugh is tied for second in assists with 12.

LEADING SCORERS: Max McHugh (So., 4-12–16, 20 GP), Brennan Saulnier (So., 6-9–15, 18 GP), Chad Brears (Sr., 7-6–13, 18 GP), Brandon Parker (So., 2-5–7, 20 GP), Jetlan Houcher (Fr., 4-2–6, 16 GP), Adam Wilcox (3-3–6, 19 GP)

GOALTENDING: Carmine Guerriero (Jr., 2.83 GAA, .911 SV%, 14 GP), Matt Larose (Jr., 2.40 GAA, .918 SV%, 7 GP)

	Tale of the tape (WCHA rank)
4-14-2 2-10-2 WCHA (10th)	Record	5-11-4 3-9-4 WCHA (9th)
2.15 (9th)	Goals/game	2.35 (T-6th)
3.00 (10th)	Goals allowed/game	2.95 (9th)
14.1 (3rd)	Pen. minutes/game	15.0 (1st)
12.5% (10th)	Power play	12.8% (8th)
86.6% (2nd)	Penalty kill	75.6% (10th)

About the Nanooks: Alaska (5-11-4 overall, 3-9-4 WCHA) has been playing plenty of bonus hockey as of late. The last three games for the Nanooks have gone to overtime, including both games last week against Bemidji State in Fairbanks. Alaska lost the first game 6-5 on Friday and tied the second game 1-1 on Saturday. Before the holiday break, the Nanooks won and tied at their arch-rival Alaska Anchorage, making for a 2-1-1 run over their last four.

Senior forward Tyler Morley is the big spark on the Nanooks’ offense, currently tied for the WCHA lead with 19 points. His 10 goals are tied for second in the league. Morley is coming in hot, scoring five points in the series against Bemidji State last week.

Alaska’s goaltending duties have been split by junior Davis Jones and freshman Jesse Jenks.

LEADING SCORERS: Tyler Morley (Sr., 10-9–19, 19 GP), Peter Krieger (So., 2-12–14, 20 GP, Zach Frye (So., 2-10–12, 20 GP, Tyler Munson (So., 6-4–10, 19 GP), Nolan Huysmans (Sr., 3-7–10, 20 GP)

GOALTENDING: Davis Jones (Jr., 3.19 GAA, .895 SV%, 10 GP), Jesse Jenks (Fr., 2.33 GAA, .924 SV%, 10 GP) 

This week in the WCHA:

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

Friday, Jan. 8
Alaska at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
#16 Bowling Green at Lake Superior State, 6:37 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #18 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech vs. Connecticut at Glendale, Ariz., 6 p.m. (Desert Hockey Classic)

Saturday, Jan. 9
Alaska at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
#16 Bowling Green at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #18 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech vs. #12 Yale or Arizona State at Glendale, Ariz., 1 or 4 p.m. (Desert Hockey Classic)