| CATCHING THE GAMES | |
| Times: | 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday |
| Tickets: | Ticketmaster: Friday | Saturday Complete ticket information |
| Promotions: | Kids 12 & under get free admission Fri.: UAH trading cards to first 500 Sat.: UAH pucks to first 500 |
| Online video: | WCHA.tv (subscription) |
| Live stats: | UAHChargers.com |
| Twitter: | @weloveuahhockey, @uahhockey, @NMUHockey |
| More previews: | UAHChargers.com |
The Chargers are back home, searching for some momentum and some goals as they face off with the Northern Michigan Wildcats this weekend.
Despite being shut out in both games at Bemidji State, UAH is still in sole possession of eighth place in the WCHA standings. Northern Michigan is heating up, taking three points from No. 8 Michigan Tech last weekend to move into a tie for fourth.
Puck drop is 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The first 500 fans to Friday’s game get a free set of UAH hockey trading cards, and the first 500 on Saturday get a free UAH hockey puck. All kids 12 and under get free admission.
Max McHugh leads UAH with 15 points. (Photo by Doug Eagan)
All-time series: Northern Michigan is unbeaten (8-0-2) in 10 meetings with UAH. One of the two ties came earlier this season in Marquette, when the Chargers and Wildcats battled to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 31. The next night, NMU won the second game of the non-conference series 4-1, finishing a contract signed before both programs joined the WCHA. This will be the third series all-time in Huntsville, where NMU is 3-0-1.
Chargers recap: UAH (5-16-3 overall, 4-12-0 WCHA) lost both games at Bemidji State last weekend by 4-0 scores. That’s all there is to say, really.
Goaltender Carmine Guerriero allowed four goals in Friday night’s game and made 29 saves. His .931 save percentage is third in the WCHA and his 2.42 goals against average is eighth. Matt Larose also let in four goals and made 29 saves on Saturday.
Max McHugh leads the Chargers with 15 points. Jeff Vanderlugt, Jack Prince, and Chad Brears each have 10 points. Brandon Parker has nine assists to lead UAH.
| UAH | Tale of the tape (WCHA rank) |
NMU |
| 5-16-3 4-12-0 WCHA (8th) |
Record | 9-6-5 6-6-4 WCHA (T-4th) |
| 1.71 (9th) | Goals/game | 2.20 (7th) |
| 3.08 (9th) | Goals allowed/game | 2.10 (T-4th) |
| 15.6 (2nd) | Pen. minutes/game | 11.7 (7th) |
| 16.9% (4th) | Power play | 22.4% (2nd) |
| 83.6% (6th) | Penalty kill | 85.5% (4th) |
About the Wildcats: Northern Michigan (9-6-5 overall, 6-6-4 WCHA) is unbeaten in four of its last five. Last weekend, they took three points from their rivals, Michigan Tech, drawing 3-3 at home in Marquette before winning on the road in overtime at Houghton, 5-4. The Wildcats are tied with Ferris State for fourth place in the WCHA.
Talk about NMU starts with goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom. The junior had an incredible start to the season, posting four shutouts. He allowed only two goals to the Chargers in the two games in Marquette. Dahlstrom missed a month due to injury before returning last weekend against Michigan Tech, allowing three and four goals in the two games against the 8th-ranked Huskies.
Brock Maschmeyer, a defenseman, leads NMU this season in goal scoring with seven. Two of those goals game against the Chargers in the 4-1 win on November 1. Forwards Dominik Shine lead all point scorers with 15 points, followed by Darren Nowick’s 14 (both have five goals).
| WCHA Standings | Record | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State | 13-2-1 | 27 |
| Michigan Tech | 10-3-1 | 21 |
| Bowling Green | 9-1-2 | 20 |
| Ferris State | 8-6-0 | 16 |
| Northern Michigan | 6-6-4 | 16 |
| Alaska* | 7-8-1 | 15 |
| Bemidji State | 5-6-3 | 13 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 4-12-0 | 8 |
| Lake Superior State | 3-13-0 | 6 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 2-10-2 | 6 |
| * Ineligible for postseason play | ||
Around the WCHA: Another full league schedule this week with some very intriguing matchups.
Bowling Green is surging, unbeaten in its last nine and moving up to No. 7 in this week’s USCHO.com poll. They’ll be in Houghton to face 11th-ranked Michigan Tech.
Minnesota State is No. 1 in all the land for the first time, and the Mavericks look to pad their six-point lead in the WCHA standings against C.J. Motte and Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich. Last season, the series between the two teams got contentious as they battled for the MacNaughton Cup.
Bemidji State visits Lake Superior State, and Alaska-Anchorage goes to Fairbanks to battle their hated rivals, the Alaska Nanooks.
Here’s the schedule for league teams the next two weeks. All times are Central. Games involving WCHA teams at home can be seen online on WCHA TV.
Friday, January 16
Northern Michigan at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
#1 Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
#7 Bowling Green at #11 Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Lake Superior State, 6:37 p.m.
Alaska-Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, January 17
Northern Michigan at UAH, 7:07 p.m.
#7 Bowling Green at #11 Michigan Tech, 4:07 p.m.
#1 Minnesota State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
Alaska-Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.