Series Preview: vs. Minnesota State, Feb. 12-13

The Chargers are back at the Von Braun Center for the first time in over a month, hosting 17th-ranked Minnesota State for a WCHA series this Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is 7:07 p.m. both nights.

It’s Military Appreciation Weekend, as all veterans, active military personnel, and their families get free admission to both games. Kids 12 and under also get free general admission.

On Friday, the first 500 fans receive a free set of UAH Hockey trading cards. On Saturday, the first 1000 fans receive a free UAH Hockey team photo.

Matchup history: Minnesota State leads the all-time series 27-19-5, and has not lost to the Chargers in the last 18 meetings. Back in December at Mankato, the Mavericks swept UAH by scores of 2-1 and 4-1. UAH has a 13-10-1 advantage over MSU in Huntsville, but UAH’s last win came on Jan. 4, 2002.

Regan Soquila scored twice in UAH’s last game at Alaska Anchorage. (File photo by UAH Athletics/Doug Eagan)

Charger recap: UAH (6-17-3 overall, 4-13-3 WCHA) was idle last week after splitting a series at Alaska Anchorage, winning and losing one-goal games despite not having Chad Brears and Brennan Saulnier, two of the Chargers’ leading scorers. The Chargers find themselves five points out of eighth place and playoff positioning in the WCHA.

On Friday, Jan. 29, the Chargers won 2-1 on a UAA own goal with 4:39 remaining in the game. Matt Salhany got credit for the game winner, and Adam Wilcox put UAH on top early. Matt Larose withstood a third-period barrage, making 13 saves in the period and a total of 29 in the game.

On Saturday, Jan. 30, UAH managed only 12 shots on goal, but was never out of it in a 4-3 loss to the Seawolves. Regan Soquila scored his first two goals of the season for the Chargers, with Tyler Poulsen also tallying a goal.

Max McHugh is currently tied for second in the WCHA in assists (15) and eighth in points (21).

Larose has posted a .944 save percentage since Dec. 18, the second-highest among WCHA goaltenders and seventh-highest in the nation. His season save perentage of .925 is fourth highest in the league.

LEADING SCORERS: Max McHugh (So., 6-15–21, 26 GP), Chad Brears (Sr., 9-8–17, 22 GP), Brennan Saulnier (So., 6-10–16, 22 GP), Kurt Gosselin (Fr., 2-7–9, 21 GP), Jetlan Houcher (Fr., 4-4–8, 20 GP), Brandon Parker (So., 2-6–8, 26 GP),

GOALTENDING: Carmine Guerriero (Jr., 3.10 GAA, .903 SV%, 16 GP), Matt Larose (Jr., 2.32 GAA, .925 SV%, 11 GP)

	Tale of the tape (WCHA rank)
6-17-3	Overall record	15-10-5
4-13-3 (10th)	WCHA record	13-4-5 (1st)
2.23 (9th)	Goals/game	2.63 (4th)
3.04 (8th)	Goals allowed/game	2.20 (3rd)
13.5 (4th)	Pen. minutes/game	9.9 (9th)
11.4% (10th)	Power play	15.1% (5th)
85.0% (3rd)	Penalty kill	84.8% (5th)

About the Mavericks: Minnesota State (15-10-5 overall, 13-4-5 WCHA) is still on top of the WCHA standings. The Mavericks hold a two-point lead over Bowling Green, whom they split a big series with last weekend in Mankato, and Michigan Tech. MSU beat BGSU 5-1 on Friday before losing 3-1 on Saturday.

The Mavericks lead the WCHA in shots on goal per game (32.9), and shots on goal allowed per game (21.8). Against UAH in December, MSU outshot the Chargers 32-9 and 41-15.

Senior Teddy Blueger, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, is the leading point scorer in the WCHA right now with 26 points, and his 18 assists is also tops. C.J. Franklin (Winnipeg) has 12 goals, tied for third in the league, and Bryce Gervais’s 10 goals are tied for ninth. Gervais scored twice in the Mavericks’ win over Bowling Green on Friday.

Casey Nelson’s 15 assists are tied for second in the WCHA, and his 19 points lead all defensemen.

Freshman Jason Pawloski has a 1.85 goals against average, good for second in the WCHA.

LEADING SCORERS: Teddy Blueger (Sr., 8-18–26, 30 GP), Casey Nelson (Jr., 4-15–19, 29 GP), C.J. Franklin (So., 12-6–18, 30 GP), Michael Huntebrinker (Jr., 7-10–17, 30 GP), Bryce Gervais (Sr., 10-6–16, 30 GP)

GOALTENDING: Jason Pawloski (Fr., 1.85 GAA, .901 SV%, 17 GP), Cole Huggins (Jr., 2.36 GAA, .905 SV%, 15 GP)

Around the WCHA: 

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

Friday, Feb. 12
#17 Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Lake Superior State, 6:37 p.m.
Miami at #19 Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 13
#17 Minnesota State at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Lake Superior State, 6:o7 p.m.