It appears the visiting Air Force Falcons were just what the doctor ordered to snap the Chargers seven-game losing streak, as UAH swept AFA 4-2, and 5-2 to open CHA play.
Having gone scoreless in the first period of each of the previous six games the Chargers were hoping to get on the board early in their home opener but when the horn sounded at the end of the first period their were goose eggs on both sides of the scoreboard. The Falcons picked up the first goal of the evening just under three minutes into the second frame before sophomore Keith Rowe netted the first home goal of the season for the Chargers to even the game at one at the 6:21 mark.
After receiving a laceration above his eye, senior Joel Bresciani gave UAH the first lead of 2002-03 with assists going to linemate and fellow senior Jason Hawes along with sophomore Doug Watkins at the 13:23 mark of the period. The Chargers kept the one-goal lead heading into the final intermission where UAH team doctors would give Bresciani six stitches above his eye. With a Frankenstein look upon his forehead, Bresciani returned for the third and was a nemesis for the Falcons in the third period. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native put home two more goals in the final stanza to claim his first hat trick of his collegiate career and lead UAH to its first win of the season.
Senior netminder Mark Byrne picked up the win between the pipes with a 32-save night.
After picking up the win on Friday night, the Chargers came out with some fire and finally got on the board in the first period as senior Steve Charlebois put a Jeremy Schreiber rebound past the outstretched mitt of the Falcons' Mike Polidor. UAH took a two-goal lead just before the close of the period as Rowe picked up his second goal in as many nights to make it 2-0 Chargers.
The Falcons' Spanky Leonard ended freshman Scott Munroe's shutout bid just under seven minutes into the second period but Watkins gave UAH a two-goal advantage again at the 18:16 mark.
After leading all CHA defensemen in scoring last season, senior Tyler Butler had yet to find the back of the net but the Kanata, Ontario native finally got his first goal of the season just over three minutes into the third period as UAH capitalized on the power play for the second time on the night. With a three-goal lead, the Chargers settled in to play solid defense. Air Force's Andy Berg pulled the Falcons back within two goals at the 9:49 mark of the period but the star of the weekend, Bresciani beat Polidor as senior Jason Hawes picked up his third assist of the night on the play.
In the fifth-straight home sweep of Air Force, Munroe picked up his first collegiate win stopping 38 of Air Force's 40 scoring attempts.
Series: at Wayne State Warriors, Friday, Nov. 22nd-23rd , 6:05 p.m.
HUNTSVILLE - Charger Radio is proud to announce its partnership with SportsJuice.com to provide online broadcasts of UAH Men's Ice Hockey for the 2002-2003 season.
Fans will be able to log in to the Charger Radio website at http://www.sportsjuice.com/providers/uah/ or click on the logo and follow the Chargers as they embark on their most difficult schedule in the 23 year history of the team.
Mike Anderson and Geof Morris will anchor the first broadcast team to cover all Charger hockey contests, home and away. "This is a great opportunity for fans both in Huntsville and around the world to follow Charger hockey like never before," said Anderson. "We've assembled a dedicated team who will work hard to present all of the action on the ice."
Anderson and Morris will be assisted by George Olden on location and Jim Chaloupka in the studio for all 34 regular-season contests and post-season contests.
During the 2001-2002 season, Charger Radio was able to provide internet broadcasts of some UAH games, including the College Hockey America tournament. Due to technical difficulties, fans had problems listening in to games last season. "SportsJuice.com is going to enable us to overcome the technical hurdles that limited our broadcasts last year," said Morris of the partnership. "That will make for a much more enjoyable experience, not only for our fans, but for Mike and I, since we know that we'll be getting our broadcast out to as many listeners as we can."
The Charger hockey season begins October 18 when the Chargers travel to Madison, Wisconsin to face the Wisconsin Badgers. Fans can tune in to the pre-game show 30 minutes prior to face off.
Charger Radio is a student-run radio station at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The station is funded by student activities fees and outside underwriting. Charger Radio plans to begin its full broadcast schedule in January 2003.
