Twice the Chargers have had home ice advantage in the CHA tournament finals, but both times UAH has added a runner-up trophy to its shelf. The goal for the blue and white in 2001-02 is to bring that trophy home to Huntsville after having it slip through their fingers the last two seasons.
Facing one of the toughest schedules in school history, the 2001-02 UAH Chargers face an uphill climb this season. Leading the way for UAH will be 19 returning letterwinners and six new recruits. Up front, UAH will lean heavily upon its upperclassmen including senior Jessi Otis and juniors Mike Funk, Joel Bresciani and CHA Pre-season co-Player of the Year, Karlis Zirnis. A second-team All-CHA pick last year, Zirnis returns after leading UAH in scoring as a sophomore netting 15 goals and 16 assists. The Latvian Olympic team hopeful should provide both the fans and coaches with plenty of excitement due to his speed, strength and work ethic making him one of the top returning players in the CHA.
Returning on defense this year are 5 of last years six starters from a squad that ranked fourth in the nation in penalty killing and tenth in scoring defense. There is no doubt that defense will be a strong point for UAH this year. The lone senior defenseman is team captain Kevin Ridgeway, the 6'2' 205 pound senior provides UAH with a physical presence and great leadership. The four junior defensemen returning include preseason all-conference selection Tyler Butler, along with Ryan Leasa, Ian Fletcher, and David Halliwill. Butler is a solid two-way player, and may posses one of the best shots in the conference. Leasa, who again this year is paired with Butler, is an excellent skater and offensive style defenseman. Fletcher combines both a very calm presence in the defensive zone and the ability to join the rush as the trailing defenseman. The coaches feel that any of these returning players could be all-conference performers. Also returning is junior netminder Mark Byrne, who set a record for both career and season shutouts last year. One of the top goaltenders in the conference, Byrne led the CHA in wins and winning percentage in 2000-01 as well as ranking second in goals against average.
Gone from the squad are three of the top five scorers on the last year's title squad including All-CHA first teamer Dwayne Blais, Ryan McCormack and Ron Baker. The Chargers were also dealt a blow when first team All-CHA member Darren Curry, who led all CHA defensemen in scoring last season, was denied another year of eligibility.
Hoping to fill those shoes are a talent-laden group of freshmen that include two former "Mr. Hockey" winner's from the state of Michigan as the top prep players in that state. Those two players, Keith Rowe and Jared Ross are expected to see the ice along with fellow newcomer Doug Watkins.
Opening Series: UAH vs. Bentley College, Oct. 12-13, 7:05, Von Braun Center
Jean-Marc Plante lived for hockey.
He played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and worked in the front office for the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League, the Birmingham Bulls of the East Coast Hockey League and the Huntsville Channel Cats of the Central Hockey League. He also served as a hockey ambassador for the 2001 NHL All-Star festivities in Denver.
Plante collapsed and died Sunday in Madison just after the start of a street hockey game. He was 31. The visitation will take place Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Laughlin's Funeral Home on Bob Wallace Avenue from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. at Laughlin's.
Affectionately known as "Frenchy," Plante also played in the adult hockey league at the Iceplex and had just started coaching one of the Huntsville Amateur Hockey Association's youth travel teams.
"Everybody liked him so much," UAH hockey coach Doug Ross said. "He was so glad to be a part of hockey anywhere. "I feel so bad for the family."
Plante came to UAH in 1988 as a freshman from Laval, Quebec. His four years with the Chargers included the team's first stint as a NCAA Division I program. He later earned a master's degree in sports management from the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, near Mobile.
He was part of two championships during his career, first in the IHL as an assistant to the general manager of the Grizzlies and then as general manager of the Channel Cats in 1999. Plante left the Cats after that season and joined UAH as director of athletics marketing and promotions.
"He represented the University well," said Ross, who was Plante's coach from 1988-92. "He was respected throughout the community. He's someone we're all going to miss."
Plante, whose wife, Valerie, is from Huntsville, also served as director of the College Hockey America (CHA) tournament for the last two seasons. He had planned to work at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
But it was his work with the community that he enjoyed, taking part in golf tournament fund-raisers around the area. "He was real involved in the community," Ross said. "All the people he came in contact with enjoyed being with him."
One of those was a player on Plante's youth team. Ross said the player had a new pair of gloves and was going to ask Plante to autograph them for him. "That's the kind of affect he had on people," said Ross.
Plante's death leaves a void in Ross' life. Ross said Plante would stroll into his office nearly every morning and the two would chat until Plante had to go to one of his countless meetings.
"He'd always stop in at 10 to 9," Ross said. "I'm going to miss that."
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