Alabama–Huntsville Chargers men's ice hockey

Alabama–Huntsville Chargers
Current season
University University of Alabama in Huntsville
Conference WCHA
Head coach Mike Corbett
5th season, 2610414 (.229)
Captain(s) Brent Fletcher
Arena Von Braun Center
Capacity: 6,600
Surface: 200' x 85'
Location Huntsville, Alabama
Colors Blue and White[1]
         
NCAA Tournament championships
1996 (DII), 1998 (DII)
NCAA Tournament appearances
1994 (DII), 1996 (DII), 1997, (DII), 1998 (DII), 2007, 2010
National Club championships
1982, 1983, 1984
Conference Tournament championships
CHA: 2007, 2010
Conference regular season championships
CHA: 2000–01, 2002–03

The Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey (commonly referred to as the UAH Chargers) are an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers.

The UAH Chargers are one of only two NCAA Division I ice hockey programs in the Sun Belt, the other being Arizona State.

The Chargers play their home games at Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center. In 1987, Alabama governor George Wallace declared Huntsville to be the "Hockey Capital of the South."[2]

UAH is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

History

Founding and club championships

The UAH ice hockey program began as a club team in the late 1970s. Joe Ritch organized the inaugural Charger team in 1979, and served as head coach. UAH defeated Emory University 11-4 in its first game on October 26, 1979.[2] UAH dominated opposition in its first three seasons, winning three Southern Collegiate Hockey Association championships. The Chargers won the first of their three National Club Hockey Championships in 1982, defeating Southern Methodist 14-2 in the title game.[2]

For the 1982-83 season, Doug Ross became head coach as the Chargers moved to the Central States Collegiate Hockey League. UAH lost the conference championship game in overtime to Marquette, but the Chargers hosted the U.S. National Collegiate Club Hockey Championships, where they defeated Auburn (16-2), Arizona (7-4), and Penn State (5-4) en route to their second consecutive national championship.[2]

UAH hosted the club national championship tournament again in 1984, and the Chargers claimed a third straight title with wins over Miami University (3-1), Indiana (13-4), and Ohio (12-1). UAH hosted the tournament a third time in 1985, but its bid for a fourth straight championship fell short with a 6-2 loss to North Dakota State.[2]

Varsity and Division II championships

UAH elevated the hockey program to varsity status for the 1985-86 season as a member of the NAIA. The school became a full NCAA Division II member in 1986. With no NCAA sponsorship of hockey at the Division II level, UAH moved its program to Division I as an independent beginning with the 1987-88 season.[2] The Chargers went 63-81-8 in their five seasons in Division I. UAH finished with a winning season twice in that span: 1988-89 (15-10-1) and the last season, 1991-92 (18-10-1).[2]

UAH returned to Division II hockey in 1992 with the NCAA resuming sponsorship of a national championship. In 1994, the Chargers hosted its first Division II national championship series, but lost to Bemidji State in overtime of a mini-game tiebreaker.[2] After narrowly missing a chance at the title in 1995, the 1995-96 UAH team went undefeated (26-0-3) in the 1995-96 season and beat Bemidji State 7-1 and 3-0 at the Von Braun Center to claim its first NCAA championship in any sport.[2] The Chargers traveled to Bemidji State for the 1997 finals, losing 4-2 and 3-2. The 1997-98 UAH team claimed its second Division II championship in 1998, beating Bemidji again 6-2 and 5-2 in Huntsville to finish 24-3-3.[2]

Return to Division I and CHA era

UAH moved ice hockey back to Division I for the 1998-99 season as an independent, and the team became a charter member of College Hockey America starting with the 1999-2000 season. The Chargers won CHA regular season championships in 2001 and 2003.[2]

The 2006-07 UAH team earned the school's first CHA tournament title and NCAA Division I tournament bid. The Chargers spotted Robert Morris a 4-0 first-period lead, but rallied to beat the Colonials 5-4 in overtime. At the Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich., UAH took No. 1 seed Notre Dame to double overtime before losing 3-2 in Doug Ross's final game as head coach before retiring.[2]

Danton Cole became UAH's third head coach in 2007.[2]

In 2009, with the CHA's demise imminent following the announced departures of Niagara, Robert Morris, and Bemidji State, UAH applied for membership to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The CCHA denied UAH's application on August 11.[3]

UAH won the final CHA tournament in 2010, beating Niagara 3-2 in overtime for its second berth in the Division I tournament. The Chargers lost to top-ranked Miami 2-1 at the Midwest Regional in Fort Wayne, Ind.[2]

Independence and survival

Cole left UAH in 2010 to become the head coach of the U.S. National Development Team.[4] Assistant Chris Luongo was promoted to head coach as the Chargers became the lone independent program in Division I.[2] The program struggled as an independent as scheduling and recruiting hurt without a championship to play for. UAH was a combined 6-54-3 in its first two independent seasons from 2010-2012.

Early into the 2011-12 season, interim UAH President Malcolm Portera announced that the 2011–12 season would be the school's final season competing at the NCAA Division I level, citing financial reasons. The program would be "realigned" as a club team, and the coaches' jobs would be eliminated.[5] New UAH president Dr. Robert Altenkirch reversed the decision after he and school administrators met with local supporters on December 6, 2011.[6] The school set up a campaign to raise funds for the program and have it join a conference.[7]

Despite the questions about its hockey future, UAH was the host institution for the 2012 Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.[8]

A week before the start of the 2012-13 season, UAH replaced Luongo and hired Kurt Kleinendorst to become the program's fifth head coach.[9]

On January 17, 2013, after months of discussions with conference officials and league member representatives, UAH formally applied to and was accepted to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Chargers began conference play in the 2013-14 season.[10]

Kleinendorst resigned on May 29, 2013.[11] UAH named Mike Corbett as its sixth head hockey coach on July 8, 2013.[12]

Season-by-season record

Players

2016–17 team

As of January 1, 2017.[13]

# S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 Massachusetts Knight, CamCam Knight Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1995-01-10 North Reading, Massachusetts Wichita Falls (NAHL)
4 Alberta James, ConnorConnor James Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1996-10-11 Wainwright, Alberta Spruce Grove (AJHL)
5 Connecticut Champagne, CodyCody Champagne Junior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1994-08-09 Brookfield, Connecticut Topeka (NAHL)
6 New Jersey Rappleyea, SeanSean Rappleyea Freshman D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1995-02-03 Sayreville, New Jersey Ottawa (CCHL)
7 Washington (state) McHugh, MaxMax McHugh Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1993-08-20 Seattle, Washington Dubuque (USHL)
8 Alaska Teets, JohnJohn Teets Sophomore D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1994-08-10 Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL)
9 Minnesota Anderson, HunterHunter Anderson Sophomore D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1994-03-01 Savage, Minnesota Langley (BCHL)
10 British Columbia Fletcher, BrentBrent Fletcher (C) Senior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992-05-09 New Westminster, British Columbia Merritt (BCHL)
11 Ontario Larson, JordanJordan Larson Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1995-05-13 Fort Frances, Ontario Carleton Place (CCHL)
12 British Columbia Soquila, ReganRegan Soquila Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1993-06-03 Maple Ridge, British Columbia Merritt (BCHL)
14 Alberta Dunn, MadisonMadison Dunn Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1995-10-04 Calgary, Alberta Brooks (AJHL)
15 Minnesota Gorowsky, HansHans Gorowsky Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1994-12-20 Lino Lakes, Minnesota Fairbanks (NAHL)
16 Alberta Houcher, JetlanJetlan Houcher Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1994-02-15 Paradise Valley, Alberta Fort McMurray (AJHL)
18 Florida Beaulieu, AustinAustin Beaulieu Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1996-10-21 Coral Springs, Florida Wichita Falls (CCHL)
19 Ontario Salerno, BrandonBrandon Salerno Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1995-07-31 Toronto, Ontario Pickering (OJHL)
20 Minnesota Parker, BrandonBrandon Parker Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1993-02-17 Faribault, Minnesota Brookings (NAHL)
21 Colorado Poulsen, TylerTyler Poulsen Sophomore F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1993-04-01 Arvada, Colorado Topeka (NAHL)
22 Rhode Island Salhany, MattMatt Salhany Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1993-01-08 Warwick, Rhode Island Boston (EJHL)
23 Minnesota Marooney, CodyCody Marooney Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1992-07-07 Chaska, Minnesota Brookings (NAHL)
24 Nova Scotia Saulnier, BrennanBrennan Saulnier Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1993-12-29 Halifax, Nova Scotia Fort McMurray (AJHL)
25 Georgia (U.S. state) Wilcox, AdamAdam Wilcox Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1994-04-25 Alpharetta, Georgia Fairbanks (NAHL)
26 Alabama Kestner, JoshJosh Kestner Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1993-11-08 Huntsville, Alabama Sarnia (GOJHL)
28 Michigan Gosselin, KurtKurt Gosselin Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1994-11-30 Brighton, Michigan Alberni Valley (BCHL)
30 British Columbia Larose, MattMatt Larose Senior G 6' 5" (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1992-08-15 Nanaimo, British Columbia Wellington (OJHL)
32 Michigan Uhelski, JordanJordan Uhelski Junior G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1993-08-04 Flint, Michigan Muskegon (USHL)
33 Slovakia Buri, RichardRichard Buri Junior D 6' 5" (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1994-01-12 Nitra, Slovakia Minnesota (NAHL)
35 Quebec Guerriero, CarmineCarmine Guerriero Senior G 6' 0" (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1992-02-20 Montreal, Quebec Hawkesbury (CCHL)
41 California Carlson, BrandonBrandon Carlson Senior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1992-06-15 Huntington Beach, California Dubuque (USHL)

Alumni who have played in the NHL

Varsity records

Since the 1985-86 season through the 2015-16 season.[15]

Career

Season

Individual

  • Most goals: 35 by Mario Mazzuca (1995–96)
  • Most assists: 42 by Shane Bowler (1994–95)
  • Most points: 62 by Graham Fair (1993–94)
  • Most penalty minutes: 186 by Shane Stewart (1998–99)
  • Most goaltending wins: 23 by Derek Puppa (1995–96)
  • Lowest goals against average: 1.79 by Cedrick Billequey (1997–98)
  • Highest save percentage: .932 by Derek Puppa (1995–96)
  • Most shutouts: 6 by Mark Byrne (2000–01)

Team

  • Most wins: 26 (1995–96)
  • Longest winning streak: 20 (February 1995–January 1996)
  • Longest undefeated streak: 34 (February 1995–March 1996)
  • Most goals: 201 (1997–98)
  • Lowest goals against average: 1.74 (1995–96)
  • Highest save percentage: .933 (1995–96)
  • Most shutouts: 7 (2000–01)

Game

Individual

  • Most goals: 5 by Mike O’Connor against Queens on February 27, 1988; Logan Lampert against Michigan-Dearborn on October 23, 1992; Mario Mazzuca against Nichols on February 11, 1995
  • Most assists: 6 by Jim Spanier against Upsala on February 27, 1987; Stuart Vitue against Michigan-Dearborn on Oct. 23, 1992; Tony Guzzo against New England on December 30, 1996
  • Most points: 7 on five occasions
  • Most penalty minutes: 31 by Shane Stewart against Bemidji State on February 5, 2000
  • Most saves: 76 by Carmine Guerriero against Michigan Tech on March 13, 2015
  • Most saves in a shutout: 39 by Derek Puppa against Minnesota State on February 17, 1995; Scott Munroe against Robert Morris on February 26, 2005

Team

  • Most goals: 23 against Sacred Heart on November 8, 1997
  • Most shots on goal: 91 against Villanova on November 22, 1986
  • Fewest shots on goal allowed: 8 against Stonehill on January 15, 1994 and against Southern New Hampshire on November 18, 1995

All-time coaching records

Tenure Coach Years Record
Club
1979–1982 Joe Ritch 3 79–4–1 (.946)
1982–1985 Doug Ross 3 75–17–3 (.805)
Totals 2 coaches 6 seasons 154–21–4 (.872)
Varsity (NAIA/NCAA)
1985–2007 Doug Ross 22 376–255–42 (.590)
2007–2010 Danton Cole 3 23–59–12 (.309)
2010–2012 Chris Luongo 2 6–54–3 (.119)
2012–2013 Kurt Kleinendorst 1 3–21–1 (.140)
2013–present Mike Corbett 4 26–104–14 (.229)
Totals 5 coaches 32 seasons 434–493–72 (.470)

See also

References

  1. "UAH Logo & Brand Guidelines". Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 UAH Sports Information. "Hockey History". Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  3. McLaughlin, Bud (August 11, 2009). "UAH denied admission to Central Collegiate Hockey Association". The Huntsville Times.
  4. Olsen, Becky. "Cole steps in to lead NTDP’s U-17 team". USAHockey.com.
  5. "Chargers athletic program to see changes following budget analysis". University of Alabama-Huntsville. October 24, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  6. Gattis, Paul (December 6, 2011). "UAH announces plan to bring back Division I hockey program". The Huntsville Times.
  7. Turner, John (2011-12-21). "Charging on: UAH launches official fundraising campaign for hockey program". The Huntsville Times.
  8. Pupello, Peter (April 4, 2012). "Tampa Bay’s role as Frozen Four host proved years in the making". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  9. McCarter, Mark (2012-09-25). "Ex-NHL coach Kurt Kleinendorst named new hockey coach at UAH". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  10. "WCHA Grants Full-Time Membership to University of Alabama in Huntsville". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  11. UAH Sports Information. "Kleinendorst Steps Down as Head Hockey Coach". Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  12. "UAH Tabs Mike Corbett to Lead Charger Hockey". UAHChargers.com. UAH Sports Information. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  13. "2016–17 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  14. "Ross goes from deep south to NHL". theahl.com - The Official Web Site of the American Hockey League. October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  15. UAH Sports Information. Hockey History & Records. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
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