Where: Slater Family Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio
When: Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Saturday, 6:07 p.m. (CST)
Watch: WCHA.tv
Team stats: UAH | Bowling Green
Tyler Poulsen leads the Chargers with 10 assists. (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCatPhotography)
Charger update: UAH (6-9-1 overall, 5-4-1 WCHA) earned its third straight series split last week at Northern Michigan. The Chargers are tied for fifth place in the WCHA with 16 points.
On Friday, Christian Rajic scored the game’s first goal, the seventh of the season for the freshman, but NMU scored two straight shorthanded goals and held off the Chargers, 3-1. Tyler Poulsen had his team-leading 10th assist.
On Saturday, Josh Kestner scored the game-tying goal late in the second period and the game-winner early in the third as UAH won 3-2. The senior Huntsville native now has 10 goals to lead the team. John Teets scored his third goal of the season, and Madison Dunn pitched in two assists.
Jordan Uhelski started both games in net, making 51 saves on 56 shots.
This is the second of six straight road series for the Chargers.
Charger leaders:
Josh Kestner (Sr., F, 10 goals-4 assists-14 points in 16 games played)
Tyler Poulsen (Jr., F, 3-10-13 in 15 GP)
Brennan Saulnier (Sr., F, 7-4-11 in 16 GP)
Christian Rajic (Fr., F, 7-4-11 in 16 GP)
Kurt Gosselin (Jr., D, 3-5-8 in 16 GP)
Jordan Uhelski (Sr., G, 2.85 goals against average, .907 save percentage in 13 starts)
 |
Tale of the tape |  |
| 6-9-1 | Overall record | 7-5-5 |
| 5-4-1 | WCHA record | 6-2-4 |
| 3.30 (2nd) | Goals/game | 2.67 (6th) |
| 3.10 (T-7th) | Goals allowed/game | 2.25 (3rd) |
| 15.1 (4th) | Pen. minutes/game | 16.3 (2nd) |
| 25.0% (1st) | Power play | 18.0% (7th) |
| 80.4% (7th) | Penalty kill | 81.8% (T-4th) |
| WCHA rank in parentheses, conference games only | ||
About the Falcons: Bowling Green (7-5-5 overall, 6-2-4 WCHA) earned four points at home against Bemidji State last week, winning 3-1 and tying 3-3 (losing the point after in a shootout). The Falcons moved ahead of idle Minnesota State atop the WCHA standings with 24 points.
Mitch McLain, a first-team all-WCHA forward last season, leads the Falcons with six goals. He got the empty-netter to cinch BGSU’s win over Bemidji State last Friday.
Sophomore goaltender Ryan Bedard, a Florida Panthers prospect, leads the WCHA and is ranked ninth in Division I in both save percentage (.927) and goals against average (2.02). The Falcons also have freshman Eric Dop, who earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for last week’s 24-save, one-goal-allowed performance in the win over Bemidji State.
Players to watch:
Cameron Wright (Fr., F, 5-10-15 in 17 GP)
Stephen Baylis (Jr., F, 5-9-14 in 16 GP)
Alec Rauhauser (So., D, 4-10-14 in 17 GP)
Mitchell McLain (Sr., F, 6-3-9 in 17 GP)
Ryan Bedard (So., G, 2.02 GAA, .927 SV% in 9 starts)
Series notes: Bowling Green holds a 21-4-1 advantage in the all-time series with UAH dating back to 2000, and is 11-1-1 at BGSU. Since both programs joined the WCHA, Bowling Green has won 14 of 16 meetings, including the last five. The last two games were in Huntsville to end the 2016-17 season, with the Falcons winning 7-0 and 2-0. The last Charger win was a 7-5 decision in Huntsville on March 4, 2016.
This week in the WCHA: All times are Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.
Friday, Dec. 8
UAH at Bowling Green, 6:37 p.m.
#8 Minnesota State at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9
UAH at Bowling Green, 6:07 p.m.
#8 Minnesota State at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
Ferris State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.