Where: Sanford Center, Bemidji, Minn.
When: Friday, 7:07 p.m.; Saturday, 7:07 p.m.
Watch: FloHockey.tv (subscription required)
Charger update: UAH (1-13-0 overall, 1-7-0 WCHA) hits the road for the rest of 2018, starting with a two-game WCHA series at rival Bemidji State. This will be the 87th and 88th meetings between the two schools.
UAH was swept at home by 12th-ranked Bowling Green last week. The Chargers lost 6-2 on Saturday, as the Falcons pulled away with two early third-period power play goals. But the numbers in that game were closer than in Sunday’s 2-1 loss, in which UAH’s lone goal was given to them when the Falcons hit the puck into their own net on a delayed penalty.
Freshman Jack Jeffers got credit for the goal, giving him a team-leading four on the season for the freshman. He has five points along with senior Madison Dunn and sophomore Christian Rajic.
Despite the loss on Saturday, goaltender Mark Sinclair still sports a .919 save percentage, good for fifth in the WCHA, to go with a 2.81 goals against average. Jake Theut was good on Sunday, stopping 35 of 37 Bowling Green shots to raise his save percentage to .910.
The Charger penalty kill now sits at 11th in Division I at 85.9 percent.
After this week’s trip to Bemidji, UAH heads to Michigan Tech (Dec. 14-15) and the Catamount Cup in Vermont (Dec. 28-29). The Chargers’ next home series is Jan. 4-5 against Ferris State.
About the Beavers: Bemidji State (6-6-2 overall, 4-3-1 WCHA) is 1-4-1 in its last six after a 5-1-1 start. The Beavers currently sit sixth in the WCHA standings with 13 points.
Last week, the Beavers went on the road to Michigan Tech and tied a back-and-forth game 3-3, losing the extra point in the 3-on-3 second overtime. BSU lost handily in the second game, 7-2.
Goaltending in Bemidji still appears to be strong after the departure of Michael Bitzer. Henry Johnson has a .921 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average (both third in the WCHA) with a shutout in seven starts. Fellow sophomore Zach Driscoll has a .909 save percentage and 2.33 goals against (fifth in the WCHA) also in seven starts.
The Beavers are scoring 2.36 goals per game, and the goals have been well distributed. Sophomore Aaron Miller and junior Adam Brady each have five goals, with sophomore Charlie Combs and freshmen Owen Sillinger and Nick Cardelli each netting four.
Bemidji State 2018-19 statistics
Series notes:
Overall: Bemidji State leads 50-31-5.
In Bemidji: Bemidji State leads 28-9-2.
Last 10 meetings: Bemidji State leads 7-2-1.
Last season: Dec. 29-30, 2017 at Bemidji; BSU won 3-1 and 4-1. Jan. 26-27, 2018 at Huntsville; UAH won 5-1, BSU won 5-1.
This week in the WCHA: All times are Central. All WCHA home games can be seen on FloHockey.tv.
Friday, December 7
UAH at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#12 Bowling Green at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
#20 Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at #3 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, December 8
UAH at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#12 Bowling Green at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at #20 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at #3 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.