The Black Bears host Alabama-Huntsville for a two-game set.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

Alabama-Huntsville doesn’t exactly have the same ring as Boston University, Michigan or Minnesota when it comes to college hockey. In fact, only the most ardent fans may ever have heard of the Chargers, or for that matter, the CHA conference.

Maine fans will get an up-close look this weekend at the No. 2 team in the CHA when Alabama-Huntsville makes its first trip into Black Bear country.

“It’s been tough finding tape of them this week,” Maine coach Tim Whitehead said. “We know they have had strong teams in the past, and they are second in their division right now. They also just came off of a tough series with Northern Michigan last weekend (a tie and a loss for the Chargers). The biggest thing we need to do is focus on our own systems and our own effort, and hopefully the rest will come.”

The Chargers are currently 9-9-2, 8-4-0 in the CHA and eight points behind Bemidji State for first place and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

This series with Alabama-Huntsville comes at an odd time for Maine, which has just come off of two brutal series within Hockey East. Last weekend, Maine upended New Hampshire twice, and prior to that split a series in Boston against Boston University.

“The schedule was out of our control, really,” Whitehead said. “Sure, with the roll we are on we would have liked to continue with a Hockey East schedule, but after we knew we’d have a break, it was important to find a top opponent to play this weekend. They graciously agreed to do this without a requirement that we return the trip next year.”

To say that Maine has played well recently may be an understatement. In net, the tandem of Jimmy Howard and Frank Doyle have been solid, combining for six shutouts this season (a school record) and holding opponents to just NUMBER goals per game.

The defense in front of them, anchored by true freshman Mike Lundin and junior Prestin Ryan, has been solid to the point of surprise, and the offense has jelled well since the return of Lisbon’s Greg Moore.

“I think you can count on the two goalies splitting time for the rest of the season and into the playoffs,” Whitehead said. “On defense, Prestin has really stepped up as a leader this season, and Mike has been a great surprise. Moore has played really well the last two weekends, and it seems like he’s really come around on offense this season for us.”

Not just Moore, though. Colin Shields, Derek Damon, Keith Johnson, Luciano Aquino, John Ronan and a host of others have all stepped in and played beyond early expectations.

We juggle them in regularly on purpose,” Whitehead said of his seemingly revolving door in the locker room. “Some players match up better with certain teams, but we know that from night to night there won’t be a drop-off.”

Maine plays on both Friday and Saturday nights at Alfond Arena against the Chargers, and the Black Bears return to Hockey East action next weekend when they travel to Boston to take on Northeastern.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link