SUCCESSFUL OPENER: In their strongest start in the program's WCHA era, UAH swept No. 20 Ferris State this past weekend by scores of 2-1 and 4-3 in Big Rapids, Michigan, which is the team's first-ever sweep of a ranked program and the first series sweep to open conference play. The Chargers are now 2-0-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign.
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Matt Larose, a Nanaimo, British Columbia, native, garnered the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honor after backstopping the Chargers to their first-ever sweep of a ranked opponent this past weekend, as the UAH netminder posted 67 total saves, four goals allowed and an NCAA-leading .944 save percentage in two games.
SETTING THE TONE: Max McHugh – who has led the UAH offense in points for the past two seasons – registered a goal in each game of the Chargers sweep of Ferris State while accumulating a team-high eight shots on goal and a +1 rating on the ice. McHugh was one of four players in the NCAA to score two goals this weekend, which helped him to his first-ever WCHA Offensive Player of the Week award.
LIMITING DAMAGE: The Chargers penalty kill unit started the season successfully, as the squad held Ferris State to just one goal in 10 opportunities this past weekend. Last year, UAH finished the season with a 78.7 percent success rate in killing penalties, which was good for eighth in the league.
CHIPPING IN: Kurt Gosselin notched a pair of assists in this past weekend's sweep, which has the sophomore tied for the team lead in points and atop all scoring for UAH defenseman. Gosselin had a successful freshman campaign in which the Brighton, Michigan, native registered nine points on two goals and seven assists.
HOMETOWN HELPER: After recording three career assists in his first two seasons with UAH,
Josh Kestner supplied a pair of assists for the UAH offense to have him tied with Gosselin and McHugh for the team lead with five points on offense. Kestner now enters the week with 16 career points from 11 goals and five assists.
HUSKIES PROFILE: The Huskies finished the 2015-16 season with an 11-21-4 overall record and a 6-12-4 record against Hockey East opponent, and the squad was voted to finish seventh in 2016-17 amongst the 12 HEA programs. UConn returns its offensive leader from last season in Max Letunov who posted 40 points on 16 goals and 24 assists, while Rob Nichols enters his senior season in the crease after registering a .911 save percentage and a 2.93 goals against average last year.
MATCHUP HISTORY: UAH holds a 9-3-0 all-time record against UConn, which is a series that dates back to an 8-2 Charger win on Dec. 9, 1988. The two programs matched up to open the 2015-16 season on Oct. 9-10, with the Huskies winning the opener and the Chargers taking the finale.
Brennan Saulnier led the UAH offense in the series last year with three goals and two assists.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend's series, UAH returns to WCHA play with a trip to Michigan Tech on Oct. 14-15. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m. CST on both Friday and Saturday next week in Houghton, Michigan.
