UAH dropped its season opener on Saturday, falling 5-1 to Miami in Oxford, Ohio.
Austin Beaulieu scored the lone goal for the Chargers, who will look for adjustments after being outshot 38-18 and allowing eight power plays. Game two of the series is Sunday at 2 p.m. CDT.
A familiar face was between the pipes for Miami, as Jordan Uhelski, the Chargers’ top netminder the last two seasons, made his first start for the RedHawks as a graduate transfer. It was the first time UAH faced a former Charger.
Uhelski stopped 17 of 18 shots as Miami starts the season 1-0-0.
After a few minutes of feeling each other out, three goals were scored in short order.
Miami started the scoring with a goal at 4:48, as Carter Johnson took the puck down the right side and beat UAH sophomore goaltender Mark Sinclair, who made a career-high 33 saves.
The Chargers responded 60 seconds later. Beaulieu scored UAH’s first goal of the season with a right-wing blast by Uhelski, assisted by Cam Knight and Kurt Gosselin.
The RedHawks regained the lead at 6:30, as Karch Bachman capitalized on a Charger turnover, slipping the puck past an extended Sinclair.
Most of the action was in the Charger end, compounded by three UAH penalties. However, all three were killed to keep UAH in the game after one period.
Things got desperate for UAH early in the second period. Three minutes in, Johnson had a breakaway opportunity for Miami, and Gosselin in pursuit laid a hard hit to Johnson’s head with his shoulder. Gosselin was assessed a game misconduct penalty as Johnson needed a few moments to get up.
Update (11 a.m. 10/7/18): Gosselin has been suspended one game by the WCHA for the contact to the head penalty. He’ll miss Sunday’s game against Miami.
The RedHawks went up 3-1 on the ensuing major power play when Gordie Green put in a rebound at the 4:42 mark.
The Chargers withstood the rest of the penalty, and finally got their first power play. UAH was able to put some pressure on Uhelski in the second period, getting 10 shots on goal, but couldn’t put a dent in the deficit.
UAH couldn’t convert a power play early in the third period, finishing 0-for-2 with the advantage for the night. The Chargers could only muster four shots on goal in the final frame.
With 9:46 remaining, the RedHawks put the game away at 4-1 with a right-point blast by Derek Daschke. Miami added a Grant Hutton goal with 3:06 to go for the final 5-1 score.