It wasn't supposed to be like this. The script had a totally different ending at the beginning of the year. The Chargers sought out to relieve Niagara of their tournament title from the year before. In the process, the Chargers hoped to earn a bid to the NCAA Division I playoffs. But, it was not to be.

Early on, it looked like the determined Chargers would be an unstoppable machine. UAH rolled out of the gate, winning eight of their first nine games. The only loss came to nationally ranked Western Michigan on the road.

The strong start put the Chargers on the doorstep to being ranked in the Top 15 for the first time in school history. Then, the wheels came off.

After knocking off Niagara 5-3 the Chargers went on a terrible slide. The Chargers dropped their next seven games, which included three straight to Niagara, and two to Minnesota State-Mankato on the road.

The salt in the wound came just after Christmas in the SCI Holiday Shootout. Losses to Canisius and UMass-Lowell in the Chargers' own tournament ruined the holidays and sent UAH into the New Year reeling.

What had begun as a fantastic campaign had gone right past tailspin into a full blown death dive. However, the New Year brought renewed hope. The Chargers still had a chance to salvage the season with a strong run in the CHA.

January began with a trip to Detroit and a date with Wayne State. The Chargers desperately needed a pair of wins, not only to stop the bleeding, but to climb out of fourth place in the CHA standings.

The Chargers responded with sweep of the Warriors 5-0 and 4-2. UAH returned home to knock off Findlay 5-1 in the first game of the two game series. However, in the second game, the Chargers went to sleep and the Oilers forced a 3-3 tie.

Determined not to be sidetracked, the Chargers regained their momentum and handed Air Force a pair of losses on home ice. In the first game of the weekend, Charger goalie Mark Byrne set a new UAH record for shutouts in a season with his fifth. The Chargers blanked the Falcons 4-0. The wins put the Chargers back in the thick of the CHA fight.

The next weekend, the Chargers took a trip to Colorado for a pair of games against the University of Denver. A pair of wins could have put the Chargers back on the national map and kept alive slim hopes for an at-large bid.

Well, the home team didn't cooperate. The Pioneers laid back-to-back shutouts on the Chargers. It was the first time in UAH history that the team had been blanked in consecutive games.

The Chargers got off the deck for the stretch run in the conference. The Chargers swept six straight games. During the streak, the Chargers had comeback wins over Wayne State and Air Force.

The Chargers finished the regular season splitting a pair at Findlay. In the first game of the series, the Chargers needed a win to lock up the CHA regular season title. But, the Oilers shocked the Chargers by coming from behind to beat UAH for the very first time. Fortunately, Niagara also lost, giving the Chargers the league title.

The Chargers came back in the regular season finale to blank Findlay behind freshman netminder Adam MacLean.

As the top seed in the CHA tournament, the Chargers earned a bye. UAH faced Air Force and CHA Player of the Year Marc Kielkucki in the semifinals.

The Falcons never stood a chance against the Chargers. Kielkucki was peppered unmercifully by the UAH attackers. The end result was a 7-0 blow out.

After the Air Force was grounded so severely, same said the Chargers couldn't be beaten playing like that. However, the Chargers should have saved some goals for the championship game.

Wayne State was fresh off of an overtime win over defending conference tournament champ Niagara. Many felt that since the Chargers had beaten the Warriors in all four meetings during the season, the trophy as good as locked up.

However, somebody neglected to inform Wayne State. The Warriors took an early 1-0 lead, but the Chargers tied the score on a goal by Jason Hawes. No one knew that the goal would be the last of the season for UAH.

Wayne State scored three unanswered goals to roll to the CHA Championship and end the UAH season at 21-12-1.

Darren Curry and Ryan McCormack were both named to the CHA All-Tournament team. During the season, several Chargers earned conference awards. Curry, Dwayne Blais and Mike Funk earned first team All-CHA honors, while Karlis Zirnis made the second team.

Nine Chargers, McCormack, Byrne, Hawes, Joel Bresciani, Tyler Butler, Steve Charlebois, David Halliwill, Jessi Otis and Gerald Overton made the CHA Academic All-CHA team.

Six different Chargers earned CHA Player of the Week awards during the year. Byrne was named Defensive Player of the Week twice. Curry, Zirnis and Ron Baker took Offensive honors, while Ian Fletcher was named Defensive Player and Adam MacLean captured Rookie of the Week during the season.

Final 2000-2001 Statistics