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Penalties costly as Chargers tie Falcons
Hungry for their first win of 2006-07, the Alabama-Huntsville hockey team scored three goals in the first four minutes of action but 16 penalties were too much to overcome as the Chargers allowed four power-play goals en route to a 5-5 tie to Bowling Green State at the Bowling Green State Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The Chargers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard scoring in the first minute of action when sophomore winger Dominik Rozman (Wallaceburg, Ontario) lit the lamp a mere 56 seconds into the tilt . Senior winger Brett McConnachie (Ajax, Ontario)then gave the Chargers their first two-goal margin of the season before even three minutes had elapsed putting a shot home at 2:07 from fellow seniors David Nimmo (St. Albert, Alberta) and Grant Selinger (Regina, Saskatchewan).
UAH then made it three goals on three shots in the contest as freshman defender Brennan Barker (Long Sault, Ontario) connected with sophomore Josh Murray (Terrace, British Columbia), who scored his first of the season with 3:29 gone in the first.
A pair of Charger penalties just a few minutes later gave the Falcons a five-on-three power play and Bowling Green made UAH pay ending sophomore netminder Jordan Erickson's (Port McNeil, British Columbia) shutout bid at 5:53 to make it a 3-1 contest. The two-goal UAH lead evaporated later in the period when BGSU's Derek Whitmore scored his second of the afternoon as he put home a rebound past Erickson after the initial save was made in the 17th minute.
Clinging to the 3-2 lead, the second period saw the Chargers discipline go out the window as the "Boys in Blue" were whistled for 9 penalties in the period and the Bowling Green power play unit made UAH pay for their sins scoring a pair of goals with the man advantage to take a 4-3 lead into the final stanza.
After spending nearly all of the second period and the first half of the third killing off penalties the Chargers were able to play some five-on-five hockey in the middle of the third period and the results were clear as senior winger Steve Canter (St. Louis) scored with help from sophomore Matt Sweazey (Toronto) and senior co-captain Shaun Arvai (West Lorne, Ontario) to tie the contest at four at 12:51 of the frame. Just over a minute later sophomore center Kevin Galerno (Kitchener, Ontario) connected with freshman winger Tom Train (Hurst, Texas) to give UAH a 5-4 lead at 13:57.
It would be yet another penalty that would cost the Chargers in the end though. With 1:10 remaining on the clock, senior right wing A.J. Larivee (Dublin, Ontario) was whistled for hooking opening the door for the Falcons. BGSU pulled Eddie Neville, who came on after UAH's barrage in the first four minutes, out of the net for an extra attacker and the 6-on-4 advantage worked to their success as Todd McIllrath scored to tie the game at five and send it to overtime.
The five-minute overtime frame saw the Chargers only manage two shots in the period with neither being on net while the Falcons put five shots in on Erickson, but the sophomore stood tall to earn the draw. With the tie, UAH's record moves to 0-3-1 while Bowling Green is now 1-0-1. Ironically, the teams entered the game with a 2-2-0 lifetime series with one another.
The Chargers open up home play as well as College Hockey America play next weekend hosting Wayne State on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Von Braun Center.
No. 5 Michigan too tough for Chargers
Taking on the fifth-ranked team in their own barn proved to be a mountain too tall to climb for the Chargers, as the Alabama-Huntsville hockey team fell 8-1 to No. 5 Michigan on Friday night in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as T.J. Henick lit the lamp for the home team a mere 50 seconds into the contest. Michigan stretched that to a two-goal lead with a power-play tally at 6:33 of the first after senior center David Nimmo (St. Albert, Alberta) was whistled for holding. That ended the night for senior netminder Marc Narduzzi (Vancouver, British Columbia) as the Chargers opted to bring in sophomore Jordan Erickson (Port McNeil, British Columbia) to try and stop the bleeding.
The Wolverines quickly devoured Erickson as Hensick scored his second of the night at 7:41, only 1:08 after UAH made the switch. The Chargers had good scoring chances in the first with four power-play opportunities but failed to get a shot off with the man advantage.
The second period saw Michigan blow the game open with a pair of goals in the first four minutes of play to take a commanding 5-0 lead. The UAH power play finally got things on track midway through the period when senior winger Steve Canter (St. Louis) scored his first of the season with assists from fellow seniors Grant Selinger (Regina, Saskatchewan) and Nimmo.
The Wolverine power-play unit then went to work in the third period netting goals in the second and 19th minutes of action before UM scored an even-strengthed measure with 21 seconds remaing to round out the scoring. Michigan's Billy Sauer and Steve Jakiel were perfect in net in the third despite the Chargers holding a 14-10 shot advantage with four power-play tries. For the game, the Charger managed the lone goal in the second period on 11 attempts with the man advantage.
Narduzzi took the loss in net making one save while Erickson made 27 stops in relief. The loss drops UAH's record to 0-3-0 while Michigan picks up their first win in their season opener.
The Chargers venture to coach Doug Ross' alma mater Bowling Green on Sunday afternoon for a matinee matchup against the Falcons at 2:05 p.m. UAH opens home play next weekend hosting College Hockey America foe Wayne State on Friday and Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Von Braun Center.
Free club-level tickets to Lightning College Hockey Classic with season ticket purchase
Here is a special offer for all Charger Hockey fans. As you may already know by now, the UAH Hockey team will be playing in The Lightning College Hockey Classic at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on Friday and Saturday, October 27th and 28th. The Charger hockey team will be joined in the tournament by Notre Dame, Army and Air Force.
The UAH Athletics Department is making a special offer to all Charger Hockey fans now by offering a Club Level ticket to all four games of the Lightning College Hockey Classic in Tampa, Florida for anyone who buys a 2006-2007 UAH hockey season ticket. For each season ticket purchased, fans, if interested in attending the tournament, will be given a Club level ticket to this great college hockey event. All tournament tickets must be held at Will Call at the St. Pete Times Forum until the first day of the tournament.
2006-2007 UAH Charger Hockey season tickets are $90 for adults and $72 for children. This year's home schedule includes 12 home dates at the VBC, including a weekend series against Princeton. To order your Charger Hockey season tickets stop by the VBC ticket office and ask for the Special Season ticket offer to receive your tickets for the Lightning College Hockey Classic. If you have any questions about Charger Hockey season tickets or tickets to the tournament in Tampa you can also call the UAH Athletics Department at (256) 824-6584.
Travel packages to the tournament are available in conjunction with the UAH Alumni and Advancement offices by contacting Kim Morgan at 1-800-876-3331
Embassy Suites Official Team Hotel Special Rates!!!
More info on the Lightning College Hockey Classic
