Four-goal third period leads Chargers to come from behind victory

Jamie Gilliam, UAH Sports Information

	Steve Canter	Shawn Arvai

Behind an amazing four-goal third period, the Alabama-Huntsville hockey team came from three goals down to top Niagara 5-4 in the Chargers home and College Hockey America opener on Friday night in Huntsville.

The Purple Eagles wasted little time cashing in on their first power play and shot on goal of the evening when NU’s Ted Cook went glove side on Charger senior netminder Scott Munroe (Moose Jaw, Sask.) from just inside the right faceoff dot at 8:35. Niagara made UAH pay again later in the opening frame from nearly the same spot on the ice as Sean Bentivoglio notched a power play tally from Cook and Justin Cross in the 14th minute.

The NU lead stretched to 3-0 just a few minutes later when Shaw Dennis cashed in on a rebound to beat Munroe at 16:12 of the opening stanza. The Chargers finally got on the board just a few minutes later at 18:27 when junior Steve Canter (St. Louis, Mo.) ended Jeff Van Nynatten’s shutout bid with assists from freshman Matt Sweazey (Toronto, Ont.) and junior Shaun Arvai (West Lorne, Ont.).

The Niagara power play unit continued its hot streak early in the second period when Vince Rocco scored from Matt Caruana and Jason Williamson on UAH’s Marc Narduzzi (Vancouver), who took over in net for the Chargers at the start of the second frame. The Charger penalty kill finally got on track later in the period as they killed off a five minute major that was assessed to senior center Todd Bentley (Livonia, Mich.) for checking from behind in the sixth minute of the frame.

The Chargers pulled to within two goals early in the third period when junior Brett McConnachie (Ajax, Ont.) scored a tally from seniors Bruce Mulherin (Red Deer, Alb.) and Jeff Winchester (Dalhousie, N.B.) at 4:37. Freshman defenseman Scott Kalinchuk (Bowsman, Man.) pulled the Chargers within a goal at 4-3 in the ninth minute of the third from Arvai and David Nimmo (St. Albert, Alb.).

UAH gained a five-on-three advantage at 9:16 when NU’s Bentivoglio was whistled for a five minute major for checking from behind. The Charger power play made the Purple Eagles play when junior Mike Salekin (Castlegar, B.C.) put home a power-play tally as Arvai assisted on his third of the night along with Canter to knot the contest at four.

The Bentivoglio power play led to the Chargers taking a 5-4 lead when Canter slipped around the back of the net and sent a soft wrister that went five-hole on VanNynatten with helpers from Arvai and Nimmo with 12-plus minutes remaining.

Munroe, who returned between the pipes for UAH at the start of the third, was solid down the stretch making seven saves in the final frame to pick up the win in net. The win improves UAH’s record to 3-2-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the CHA while Niagara drops to 4-4-1 overall and 1-1-1 in league play.

The two foes battle again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Von Braun Center to conclude the series.

UAH-Niagara Box Score