Where: Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Mich.
When: Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Saturday, 6:07 p.m.
Watch: FloHockey.tv (subscription required)
Charger update: UAH (6-24-2 overall, 6-16-2-2 WCHA) can clinch a WCHA playoff spot by earning at least four points against Ferris State in Michigan this weekend.
The Chargers, who were idle last week, are in eighth place and hold the final conference playoff berth, four points ahead of the ninth-place Bulldogs with four games left in the regular season. UAH is nine points behind seventh-place Alaska, which hosts first-place Minnesota State.
UAH had a 2-2 tie (with a 3-on-3 OT win) and a 6-3 loss against Northern Michigan two weeks ago in the Chargers’ final home series of the season. Winless in their last six games, UAH last won on Jan. 19 against Alaska Anchorage.
Hans Gorowsky scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season against NMU. Freshman Jack Jeffers is second at seven goals, the last coming in the tie against NMU.
About the Bulldogs: Ferris State (8-21-3 overall, 5-16-3-0 WCHA) gained four points on the idle Chargers last week with a win and a tie at last-place Alaska Anchorage. The Bulldogs were 1-7-1 in the nine games prior.
Last month in Huntsville, FSU and UAH battled to a series split with both games going to overtime. In the first game on Jan. 4, the Bulldogs scored with 8:52 left in the 3rd and 56 seconds into overtime to win 6-5. The Chargers turned the tables the next night, rallying with two goals in the third, including Brandon Salerno’s score with 11 seconds left in regulation, to tie the game before Austin Beaulieu scored in OT to win 4-3.
Freshman defenseman Cooper Zech leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 27 points on seven goals and 20 assists. The favorite to win the WCHA Rookie of the Year award had two goals against the Chargers in Huntsville last month.
Freshman goaltender Roni Salmenkangas played both games in Anchorage. He has a 3.44 goals against average and .883 save percentage in 24 games.
Ferris State 2018-19 Statistics
Series notes:
Overall: Ferris State leads 16-8-1 (first meeting: Oct. 25, 1985).
In Big Rapids: FSU leads 8-3-1.
Trend: UAH leads 5-3-0 over the last three seasons.
Last series: Jan. 4-5, 2019 in Huntsville. FSU won 6-5 in OT, UAH won 4-3 in OT.
Friday, Feb. 22
UAH at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
#18 Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#15 Bowling Green at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#4 Minnesota State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23
UAH at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
#18 Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#15 Bowling Green at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
#4 Minnesota State at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.