Saturday, Oct. 8, 3:05 p.m.
Listen: WHUS-FM
Twitter: @weloveuahhockey, @uahhockey
Both games shown at UAH’s CU Theater
Coming off their first 2-0 start in 15 years, the Chargers look to get a streak going in their first non-conference series of the season. UAH visits Connecticut at the XL Center in Hartford on Friday and Saturday.
All-time series: The Chargers are 9-3-0 against Connecticut dating back to 1988. The teams opened last season in Huntsville, with each team winning a 5-2 decision. Only once has UAH gone to UConn, beating the Huskies 3-0 at the UConn Classic in 1998.
Charger recap: UAH started a season 2-0 for the first time since 2001-02 after going to Big Rapids and beating 20th-ranked Ferris State 2-1 and 4-3. It was the WCHA opening series.
In game one, Max McHugh opened the scoring with a goal at 5:21 of the first period. Ferris State tied the game shortly after, but Hans Gorowsky got the game-winner with 10:41 left in the game. Matt Larose stopped 37 of 38 shots, making 20 saves in the third period alone.
FSU scored first in game two, but Matt Salhany quickly equalized. Ferris State retook the lead in the second period, but UAH scored three unanswered goals (Brent Fletcher and McHugh in the second, Brennan Saulnier in the third) to take a 4-2 lead. Larose finished with another 30 saves as the Bulldogs make a final push.
It was the first time UAH swept a series from a ranked team.
About the Huskies: This is Connecticut’s season opener. Last week, the Huskies lost 4-3 to St. Francis Xavier in an exhibition.
Last season, UConn went 11-21-4 overall and 6-12-4 in Hockey East, finishing in eighth place and losing to Vermont in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs. The Huskies were picked to finished seventh in their league according to the preseason coaches’ poll.
UConn is led by two sophomores who tore it up in their rookie campaigns. Max Letunov, an Arizona Coyotes prospect, was a Hockey East All-Star last season after scoring 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points to lead the team. Letunov scored a hat trick against the Chargers in the season opener last year.
Joining Letunov is Tage Thompson, who went 14-18-32. These two accounted for 34 percent of UConn’s goal production last season.
Rob Nichols is the lead man between the pipes, now in his senior year. In 2015-16, he posted a .911 save percentage and 2.93 save percentage in 29 starts.
Around the WCHA: Two conference series are on the docket: League favorite Bowling Green visits Bemidji State, while co-MacNaughton Cup champions Michigan Tech and Minnesota State meet in Mankato.
All times Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.
Thursday, Oct. 6
Western Michigan at #20 Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7
UAH at Connecticut, 6:05 p.m.
#14 Bowling Green at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#17 Michigan Tech at #19 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
#20 Ferris State at Western Michigan, 6:05 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Northern Michigan at Green Bay, 7:07 p.m.
#13 Minnesota at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8
UAH at Connecticut, 3:05 p.m.
#14 Bowling Green at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#17 Michigan Tech at #19 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Northern Michigan at Green Bay, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage (non-conference), 10:07 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9
#13 Minnesota vs. Alaska at Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.