Boston College: LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO
Air Force: LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Looking to end the 2012 calendar year on a high note, the University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team will take part in the annual Mariucci Classic this weekend.

The Chargers (3-14-1) will play a pair of games at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by the University of Minnesota, UAH will play Boston College on Saturday and Air Force on Sunday. Both games start at 4 p.m. central time.

UAH will look to upset No. 1-ranked Boston College (11-2-1) on Saturday, when the two teams meet for the first time ever. The Eagles will enter the game as one of the hottest teams in the country, controlling first place in the Hockey East and billed as the top-ranked team in the current RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) standings.

BC is led by Johnny Gaudreau, as his 23 points rank him seventh in NCAA Division I. Gaudreau has recorded a point in all but one of his team's 14 games.

Boston College is the reigning national champion, as the Eagles defeated Ferris State last year in Tampa, Fla., to take home the top crown. They are hoping for yet another national championship this season.

On Sunday, UAH will face the Falcons (5-7-4) of Air Force, who come into the weekend 2-0-1 in their past three games. AFA defeated RIT and Bentley, while also playing Bentley to a 2-2 tie.

The two teams met last season in Huntsville with Air Force defeating the Chargers 7-2 in the second game of the weekend after they played to a 1-1 tie in the first game.

Cole Gunner has done the damage for Air Force so far this season, leading the way with 14 points.

UAH holds the all-time advantage in the series history, boasting a 36-16-1 record against AFA.

The Chargers will be looking to bounce back from a pair of losses they suffered against Wisconsin on Dec. 13 and 14. UAH was outscored 9-1 in those two games, but played significantly better in the second game of the two-game set.

UAH roughed up Finlandia at the VBC prior to the series against Wisconsin, winning 5-2 and 4-1.

Jeff Vanderlugt has been the spark for UAH this season, as the sophomore leads the way with five goals and two assists. Fellow sophomore Kyle Lysaght's eight points are a team high, as the two will look to find the back of the net against some stiff competition.

The Chargers will look to shock the college hockey world once again this weekend against BC, as UAH defeated Denver on the road last season when the Pioneers were ranked No. 1 in the country.

It will be the first games on neutral ice for the Blue and White this season. They will return home next weekend for a game against both Adrian (Friday, Jan. 4) and Vanderbilt (Saturday, Jan. 5) at the Von Braun Center.

To view the full 2012 Mariucci Classic schedule and links page click here.

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