The Chargers went into the nest of the Purple Eagles of Niagara looking for the first road win against NU in the history of the series. After the two teams split their series earlier this year, UAH was looking for the first regular season split with NU in school history as well. This series would also have an impact on the College Hockey America standings as the two teams battled for the first place position.
The blue and white came out ready to play on Friday night and the result was a 4-1 shelling that kept the Chargers atop the CHA standings thus far into the season. Junior goaltender Mark Byrne and the UAH defense stifled the Purple Eagles' offense with the Nepean, Ontario native turning away 28 NU shots for the Charger's first-ever win at Niagara.
Junior center Jason Tinwick broke the scoreless tie just under six minutes into the first period putting the puck past NU netminder Rob Bonk after a great pass from fellow junior Karlis Zirnis, CHA's Offensive Player of the Week.
UAH would net another goal to make it a 2-0 contest when Joel Bresciani scored off of a scramble with only 46 seconds remaining in the first period. The period would come to a close with Niagara skating to the locker room trailing by two goals, something that they have done only one other time this season.
Freshman winger Craig Bushey pushed the Charger's lead to 3-0 at the 12:51 mark of the second period as he turned the Niagara power-play on its head and scored an unassisted short-handed goal. The Purple Eagles would attempt a comeback finally ending Byrne's shutout bid 36 seconds into the third period before junior Jason Hawes slammed the door shut at 10:15 in the third pushing the lead back to three goals.
On Saturday night, the Chargers were slapped with four first-period penalties and Niagara took advantage and kept UAH out of rhythm. NU's John Heffernan would net two power-play goals in the first nine minutes of play before the Charger's Ryan Leasa netted his first score of the year to pull within 2-1 of Niagara. Niagara would finish the period with a trio of goals including Heffernan's third for his hat trick giving NU a 5-1 lead after one period of play.
Not willing to give up, the Chargers swapped goaltenders at the period bringing in sophomore Adam MacLean in relief of Byrne. UAH's Zirnis scored for the blue and white at the nine minute mark of the second before Heffernan added his fourth netter of the night 29 seconds later pushing the Purple Eagles' lead to 6-2. Junior Steve Charlebois pulled the game to within three at the 15:02 mark of the second period snapping a seven-game scoring drought for the Carbon, Alberta native.
The CHA's leading scoring defenseman, Tyler Butler, netted his fourth power-play goal of the year at the 16:31 mark of the second to pull the Chargers within two at 6-4. Three-time CHA Rookie of the Week winner, Jared Ross, pulled Alabama-Huntsville to within one goal of the lead with under ten minutes remaining in the contest before NU would add two late goals to seal the win at 8-5.
