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Chargers earn CHA Regular Season title
Mike Anderson, UAH Sports Information
It was homecoming weekend, it was senior day, and it was the Chargers who got just enough help last weekend to clench the Peters Cup for the second time in three years. The results on the ice were less than expected, as the Chargers picked up a split against a depleted Findlay squad who came with something to prove.
It was Scott Munroe and Jamie VandeSpyker in the nets Friday night, a night which could have easily been subtitled "The Mark Bastl Show." Bastl, who up to this weekend had not put a puck in the net, started the scoring for the Oilers at 16:30 of the first period unassisted with a two-on-one break created by a turnover in neutral ice and never looked back.
The first period closed out with a 1-0 Findlay lead, despite the Chargers outshooting them 14-8.
Jared Ross answered back midway through the second period with his 15th goal of the season, taking it from Karlis Zirnis and Ryan Brown to even it at one. Bastl came back with two power play goals in 1:20, with Jason Tinwick serving a major penalty and Joel Bresciani in the box for a cross-check.
The third period was more back and forth hockey. Keith Rowe stuffed a rebound home at the 2:09 mark for his seventh tally of the year from Todd Bentley. Bastl tied a CHA conference record with his fourth goal of the contest at 16:43 of the period, icing the game for the Oilers. Bresciani would bring it within one, scoring on a rebound from Jason Hawes and Steve Charlebois with just over two minutes remaining, but it wasn't enough.
The Oilers won their third conference game of the season, despite being outshot 34-32 on the game. Jamie VandeSpyker's 31-save performance earned him third star. Jared Ross's goal in the second period got him the second star. Mark Bastl earned first star honors with his four goal night. For Munroe, it was his fifth loss on the season (11-5-1) and his first in conference play (8-1-1).
Saturday was Senior Day, and the seniors showed up in force for their final game in the Von Braun Center. Mark Byrne would get the nod from head coach Doug Ross, while VandeSpyker was back in the net for the Oilers.
The Chargers drew first blood Saturday, as Ian Fletcher notched his first goal of the season on a big slap shot at 14:15 of the first period. Todd Bentley and Doug Watkins assisted on the tally. Jared Ross would make it a 2-0 score less than a minute later with his second of the weekend from Ryan Leasa and Tyler Butler.
The second period came around, and with Fletcher and Jeff Winchester, D.J. Vogt tallied his ninth of the season on the power play to cut the difference to 2-1. Mike Funk would respond at 17:13, knocking home a loose puck in the slot from Leasa and Butler to put it back to a two-goal game.
Jared Ross started the third period with a power play goal at the 1:46 goal to seal the deal for the Chargers. Funk and Karlis Zirnis assisted on the marker. Funk would tally another at 5:01 of the third, this on the power play from Butler and Ross. Mark Bastl and Lee Arnold answered for the Oilers to cut the lead to 5-3. With twenty seconds remaining, the Oilers pulled VandeSpyker to get the extra attacker, but it was unsuccessful, as Jason Hawes swatted home an empty-netter at 19:52 to put the nail in the coffin and put the Chargers up with a victory, 6-3.
Tyler Butler received the third star for a three assist night. Jared Ross got second star honors with two goals and an assist. Mike Funk's three point night (2g, 1a) earned him first star honors.
Mark Byrne's win vaulted him to a 7-5-2 record (5-2-1 in conference). Jamie VandeSpyker took a split to fall to 6-11-4 (3-7-4 in conference) on the year.
Thanks to some help from the Bemidji State Beavers in taking three points from Niagara (2-2, 6-1), the Chargers were able to clench the College Hockey America Peters Cup Championship for the second time in three years. This guarantees the Boys in Blue the first seed in the CHA Conference Tournament March 14-16, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal game between the #4 and #5 seeds that Friday night at 7:00 pm.
The Chargers next head up to the Falls to take on the Purple Eagles of Niagara on March 7-8, who currently sit in second place in the conference standings. The series looks to be a preview of what is to come at The Great Faceoff in the Great Plains. Games both nights will be held at 6:05 pm. Fans can listen in to live on the internet at http://www.eyecentric.com or http://www.sportsjuice.com/providers/uah with pre-game set to begin at 5:30. Both games will be aired on tape-delay on ESPN 1450-AM. Saturday night's game may be broadcast live on ESPN 1450, dependent on the men's basketball team's performance at the Gulf South Conference.
Next Series: Niagara, March 7-8
Charger hockey broadcasts move to ESPN 1450
Charger Radio is on the air, after a manner of speaking. Charger Radio will be moving the second half of its UAH men’s ice hockey schedule to WTKI-AM, ESPN 1450, where it will broadcast up to 13 of the remaining 18 regular season contests and all post-season play live for the city of Huntsville.
Not only will this affect listeners in the Huntsville area, but internet listeners will be able to listen to a higher quality audio stream at ESPN 1450’s website, http://www.espn1450.com. All games will still be available live via SportsJuice (http://www.sportsjuice.com/providers/uah), as they were in the first half of the season.
“This move will be beneficial for everyone involved,” said play-by-play announcer Mike Anderson. “We are excited to get the games out to the public in an easier to access format, and we’ve had many fans at home games wanting to listen in the arena, so bring your radio to the game!”
UAH hockey broadcasts on ESPN 1450 will begin on January 3 when UAH takes on Fairfield University from the Von Braun Center. Pre-game starts at 6:30 pm, with a face-off at 7:05.
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