Post game reaction from Max McHugh, Chad Brears and head coach Mike Corbett:
Overall, the effort from the University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers was noticeably better than last weekend’s games against Bemidji State University, but in the end, UAH started off their series with Northern Michigan with a 4-3 loss.
It what was one of the most exciting home games the Chargers have played all season, where UAH tallied 21 shots in the first period alone. That’s more than the team sometimes musters for a total in a game, let alone a period. Center Max McHugh led the team with nine shots on goal throughout the game, and he finished with three points (1G-2A).
For the second straight week, when UAH was able to tie the game, the opponent tallied a go ahead goal less than a minute later. This happened in the first period following McHugh’s rebound goal off the backhand at 15:11. Just 11 seconds later, Northern Michigan’s Robbie Payne got one past goaltender Matt Larose to put NMU back up 2-1.
The game grew in physical play as the game progressed. Two five-minute majors were called on the Chargers. Brandon Carlson was whistled for kneeing in the first period, which also included a game misconduct, and Tyler Poulsen for checking from behind in the waning seconds of the third period, which included a disqualification that will keep him out of Saturday’s game.
UAH dominated the second period where they tied the game off a goal from Chad Brears right after the five-minute penalty kill from Carlson’s penalty expired. They even took the lead with a power play goal from Jetlan Houcher at 13:36 of the second.
The Wildcats came out firing in the third period however, and they tied the game at 3-3 just over four minutes into the final stanza. The Chargers thought they regained the lead just 30 seconds later, but after a review by officials, it was determined that goaltender Atte Tolvanen was interfered with and the goal was waved off.
In the final two minutes of the third period, UAH had a tremendous opportunity to get the win as they went on the powerplay with just 2:08 remaining on the clock, but after a defensive lapse at the blue line, Dominik Shine stole the puck, was tripped by Houcher during the breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, which he converted, with 17.3 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Chargers will take on Northern Michigan again on Saturday night, where they look to break the losing streak that started following such a strong start to a promising season.
Photo credit: UAH Chargers
