COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 29, 2001) -- College Hockey America will join the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), Hockey East Association (HEA), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) as the sixth Division I college hockey conference to be eligible for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA recognized September 1999 as the official start date of College Hockey America and subsequently determined that the CHA is eligible for the automatic bid under the pre-existing NCAA bylaws, effective for the 2003
NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. CHA members include Air Force Academy, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State (Minn.), Findlay (Ohio), Niagara (New York) and Wayne State (Mich.).
The 2003 NCAA Tournament culminates in the Frozen Four at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y, April 10 & 12 with CHA member Niagara University serving as co-host. The 2003 East Regional will take place at the Centrum Centre in
Worcester, Mass., March 28-29, while the West Regional will be held at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich., on March 29-30.
"The membership of College Hockey America (CHA) is extremely pleased to receive confirmation from the NCAA for conference membership retroactive to September 1999," said R.H. "Bob" Peters, CHA commissioner. "The growth and
development of collegiate hockey over the past decade is unprecedented, and College Hockey America (CHA) is an example of the ever expanding interest and participation in hockey at all levels.
"Indeed, the CHA is grateful for the support and encouragement from the Division I hockey constituency," Peters continued. "We are particularly thankful to commissioner Bruce McLeod and the WCHA for providing direction and leadership since our inception in 1999." The NCAA selection process for the 2002 Tournament awards five automatic bids, one to each hockey conference, and seven at-large bids. In the CHA's inaugural season, Niagara University earned an at-large bid to the 2000 NCAA
Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight, defeating 1999 NCAA runner-up New Hampshire before falling to eventual national champion North Dakota in the quarterfinals.
For the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the six Division I conferences, including the CHA, will be eligible for an automatic bid. The remaining NCAA Tournament field will be determined by at-large selections. College Hockey America, formed on June 15, 1999 with members Air Force Academy, Alabama-Huntsville, Army (now in the MAAC), Bemidji State, Findlay, Niagara and Wayne State, is now in its third season. Niagara University earned the inaugural CHA regular season and tournament titles, while the University of Alabama-Huntsville won the 2000-01 CHA regular season
championship and Wayne State University captured the 2001 CHA Tournament crown.
The Chargers entered the weekend on the heels of sweeping Bentley College 6-1 and 3-2 in their opening series on home ice at the Von Braun Center. UAH headed to Buffalo, N.Y. to face the Golden Griffins of Canisius College.
Friday night's matchup was a toe to toe battle. Canisus drew first blood a mere four minutes into the game as Marc Bouffard slipped a shot past Charger netminder Adam MacLean. In what was foreshadowing of things to come, freshman Craig Bushey knotted things up at one in the 15th minute of the first period with assistance from fellow rookies Keith Rowe and Jared Ross. The Griffs answered back with two goals of their own in the second frame before the Charger offense got back on track with Jason Tinwick pulling UAH back within one at 3-2. Gerald Overton tied the game at three from a pass from Tyler Butler getting a shot by Canisius goaltender Sean Weaver with 12:12 remaining in the second frame.
With the slate wiped clean on the scoreboard the UAH offense kicked things into overdrive as Jason Hawes put the Chargers up 4-3 with an assist by Ryan Leasa. The freshman trio added the Chargers an insurance measure in the 17th minute of the second period as Ross put the blue and white up 5-3 with assistance from Rowe and Bushey. That goal would be the game winner, as the Griffs' Rob Martin tightened things up with a third period goal.
MacLean turned away 35 Golden Griffin shots in the series-opening match for the Chargers.
The game on Saturday night was a tale of three periods. The first period saw the Golden Griffins take a 4-2 lead in the game despite being outshot 15-12 in the frame. The second period was all Canisius as the Griffs scored five goals and outshot UAH 18-3. The Chargers finally woke up in the third period and played some hockey outshooting Canisius 17-5 in the final stanza but the blue and white could manage only one goal scored by the rookie line with Rowe netting the goal and Bushey and Ross assisting. The nine goals allowed by the Charger defense were the most since a 9-3 loss against Mercyhurst in 1993 on UAH's home ice.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
