Series Preview: at Colorado College, Oct. 10-11

Welcome to the 30th varsity season of UAH Chargers hockey, the 36th season overall and the second season in the WCHA! The Blue and White open the 2014-15 campaign in Colorado Springs on Friday and Saturday against Colorado College of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Season series: This will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Chargers and the Tigers. Colorado College has won all five previous meetings, all in Colorado Springs. The last series came in the 2010-11 season, when the Tigers won 7-0 and 4-1.

Season openers: The Chargers have lost the last four straight season openers, the last victory coming in 2009 at then fifth-ranked Notre Dame (3-2). UAH is 4-10-1 in season openers during the modern Division I era, which started in 1999, and 11-16-2 as a varsity program.

Chargers recap: UAH finished the 2013-14 season being swept at home against Northern Michigan. The Chargers went 2-35-1 last season.

About the Tigers: Colorado College has a rich history with two national championships and 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, but the Tigers have had a rough time last season. Their 7-24-6 campaign in 2013-14 was the worst in 21 years, and it led to the resignation of Scott Owens, who had helmed Colorado College for 15 seasons. In his place is Mike Haviland in his first Division I coaching job.

It’s not expected that Haviland will turn the Tigers around right away. Colorado College, which placed seventh in the NCHC last season while finishing 56th out of 59 Division I clubs in offense, was picked to finish last by both league coaches and the media.

The Tigers’ top returning scorer is a defenseman, sophomore and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jaccob Slavin (5-20-25). Alex Roos, also a sophomore, scored 10 goals in his rookie campaign. Sophomore forward Sam Rothstein finished with six goals and 20 points in 2013-14. Chase Perry (freshman) will be called upon between the pipes.

Last week, the Tigers played to a 4-4 exhibition regulation tie against McGill University of Montreal (which won in a shootout).

Around the WCHA: Seven teams from the WCHA are in action in the first full week of college hockey action. Last week, Michigan Tech opened conference play with a pair of wins at Lake Superior State, and No. 9 Ferris State held off No. 8 Michigan 4-3 in a big win in Big Rapids.

Here’s the schedule for league teams this week. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.

Friday, October 10

UAH at Colorado College, 8:30 p.m.
#11 Miami at Bowling Green, 6 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Robert Morris, 6 p.m.
Bemidji State at #2 North Dakota, 7:30 p.m.
#13 Minnesota State at Nebraska-Omaha, 7:30 p.m.
#10 Wisconsin vs. Alaska, 8 p.m. (Kendall Hockey Classic)
Maine at Alaska-Anchorage, 11 p.m. (Kendall Hockey Classic)
Wilfred Laurier at #9 Ferris State, 6 p.m. (exhibition)

Saturday, October 11

UAH at Colorado College, 8 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Robert Morris, 6 p.m.
#2 North Dakota at Bemidji State, 7 p.m.
#13 Minnesota State at Nebraska-Omaha, 7 p.m.
Maine vs. Alaska, 7 p.m. (Kendall Hockey Classic)
#10 Wisconsin at Alaska-Anchorage, 10 p.m. (Kendall Hockey Classic)

Sunday, October 12

Bowling Green at #11 Miami, 4 p.m.