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PITTSBURGH, Pa. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team opens its 2020-21 campaign this Saturday and Sunday in a nonconference series at Robert Morris. Puck drops at 6:05 p.m. CT on Saturday, followed by a 3:05 p.m. game time for Sunday's finale at Clearview Arena.
 
The UAH hockey program went through a bevy of changes since the end of last season, as the Chargers most notably are now led by head coach Lance West who has been an assistant on the UAH bench for a combined total of 12 seasons in addition to four seasons as a player from 1991-95.
 
West – a 1995 graduate of UAH – filled out his staff with fellow alumni of the program, including Karlis Zirnis ('03) and Carmine Guerriero ('17). Zirnis most recently served as an assistant coach at Alaska, while Guerriero was a volunteer assistant coach with Saint Lawrence.
 
The Chargers coaching staff filled out its roster for the 2020-21 season with a total of 13 newcomers to the program, who join 13 returners from the 2019-20 roster. This season's squad consists of 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies.
 
Junior Bauer Neudecker has been named captain of the Chargers for the 2020-21 campaign, as UAH's on-ice leadership is rounded out by alternate captains and fellow seniors Connor Merkley and Connor Wood. The trio has combined to play in a total of 249 career games with the Chargers.
 
UAH's leading offensive performers from last season include Tyr Thompson (6g-2a) and Connor Merkley (3g-5a) with eight points apiece, while Dayne Finnson's (1g-6a) seven points from the blue line pace all returning defensemen.
 
Sophomore David Fessenden saw action in seven games last season, including four starts, with a 4.44 goals against average, a .869 save percentage and 152 saves. His strongest start of the season last year was on Nov. 9 against Alaska Anchorage with 25 saves and two goals allowed.
 
Robert Morris is coming off a 2019-20 season in which the Colonials went 13-19-5 overall with a 11-12-5 mark in Atlantic Hockey play. The Colonials offensive leader from a year ago in Nick Prkusic (11-17—28) returns for his senior season, while both part-time goalies Dyllan Lubbesmeyer and Reid Cooper return between the pipes from 2020-21. Former UAH head coach Mike Corbett is now an assistant coach on the RMU bench.
 
This Saturday and Sunday marks the first and second games of a 21-game slate for the Chargers in 2020-21, after Alaska Anchorage opted out of the season. Following this weekend, UAH looks ahead to a nonconference matchup at Ferris State on Dec. 4, followed by a two-game nonconference series at Lake Superior State on Dec. 6-7.
 
The Chargers open up the 2020-21 home schedule on Jan. 8-9. Information regarding UAH home games in 2020-21.