Paying a visit to the Colorado rockies has been compared to a religious experience. The majestic snow-capped mountains are simply breathe-taking. After this weekend, the Charger hockey team may beg to differ.
The Chargers played the 12th ranked Denver Pioneers even in every area except the scoreboard. UAH couldn't find the back of the net, and the Pioneers sent them home with a 4-0, 3-0 sweep.
The back-to-back shut outs snapped a 6-game unbeaten streak for the Chargers. It was the first time in Pioneer history that the team had served up back to back shut outs. It also marked the first time this season that the Chargers would be blanked in a two game series.
During the weekend, the two teams were almost mirror-images of each other. The Chargers outshot Denver 56-55. The Pioneers were tagged with 17 penalties, while the Chargers were sent to the box 15 times. The glaring difference, Denver 7 goals, UAH no goals.
On Friday night, each team had 25 shots on goal. Goalie Mark Byrne stopped 21 of Pioneers' shots, but four got by him. The Pioneers outshot the Chargers 21-16 in the first two periods and built a 3-0 advantage. One of the goals was off of a power play.
The Chargers outshot Denver 9-4 in the final period. But Pioneer netminder Adam Berkhoel turned the Chargers away each time. Meanwhile, Denver put one more goal in for good measure.
The Chargers struggled on the power play in the opening game, coming up empty on five attempts.
UAH matched that effort in the second game, finishing 0-for-5 on the power play. For the game, the Chargers outshot Denver 31-30. However, the Pioneers No. 2 goalie Wade Dubielewicz stopped every shot. Byrne stopped 27 shots for the Chargers, but without any offense, the effort went up in smoke. The Pioneers scored a goal in each period, two of which came on the power play.
From this point on the Chargers can concentrate on chasing the College Hockey America title. The Chargers last eight games are against CHA opponents. It begins with the Chargers taking on Bemidji State on Homecoming weekend. The Chargers swept the Beavers 5-4 and 4-2 in their series in Minnesota earlier this season.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
Next Series: Homecoming vs. Bemidji State, at the Von Braun Center on February 2-3..Faceoff on both nights is at 7:05 P.M. The homecoming court will be presented at the game on Friday night. Friday's game will be broadcast live on the Internet via www.liveonthenet.com.
