60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Alabama Huntsville

Alabama Huntsville

2018-19 Record: 8-28-2 (8-20-2, 8th in WCHA)
Head Coach: Mike Corbett, 7th Year
Top returning scorers: Bauer Neudecker and Jack Jeffers (7G-7A 14 points)
Top returning goaltender: Mark Sinclair (Jr.)

Unlike the other two WCHA teams being previewed this week, the school from the Rocket City saw playoff hockey in 2018-19. Alabama Huntsville took the final spot, going on the road away from Waffle House country to Mankato for a pair of games.

Still, the Chargers find itself being previewed in week one after finishing non-conference play 0-8-0 and outscored 36-6. Every other school had at least one non-conference tie. (AIC did go 0-6-0 during the regular season, but beat St. Cloud State in the NCAA Tournament.) Sophomore defenseman Bailey Newton had the most penalties of anyone returning to college hockey.

Going winless in non-conference play was one reason UAH, who defeated NCAA Tournament team Bowling Green, dropped from 12 wins in 2017-18 to eight last season. It's not the only one. It's tough to consistently win without the puck. Like St. Lawrence, the Chargers were heavily outshot. Alabama Huntsville gave up on average 14.24 more shots per game and scored one goal or less 23 times. When the team did score, the goals came in bunches. UAH scored four or more goals six times.

What's New: Honestly, this section would be more fitting for a reality TV show character than an NCAA team. In the real world of college hockey, no school has faced an offseason challenge quite like UAH. The Chargers overcame obstacles, nearly forced to fold the program. Six years later, Alabama Huntsville has turned a corner while being a fish out of water in a conference full of Midwest teams. The school made the playoffs two straight seasons, bringing in brand name opponents for future home games and talk growing of an on-campus arena to transform the program.

Just when it seemed that the lone southern team had made friends and were understood by the rest of the sport, reality hit. Almost the entire WCHA, in a blindsided move any reality TV producer would be proud, voted UAH out of its alliance.

2019-20 marks the first of two seasons Alabama Huntsville plays against those teams who backstabbed the Chargers.

Closing Thoughts: Both on and off the ice, things have been looking up before being dashed. Alabama Huntsville loses its top goal scorer in Hans Gorowsky and turns to a younger team. From a freshman standpoint, UAH brings in a massive goalie in 6'6", 240 lbs Daniel David Fessenden along with South African Daneel Lategan.

Mark Sinclair returns after grabbing the reins in goal from Northeastern grad transfer Jake Theut. Sophomores Bauer Neudecker and Jack Jeffers each had seven goals, but none came on the power play. UAH is going to need more on special teams as 11 of the 18 PP goals graduated.

Regardless, it should be a fun year to watch Alabama Huntsville as a neutral fan. Things are set up to be a year where the WCHA games beyond Bemidji State should be a playoff-like atmosphere. Nothing starts a rivalry like letting someone know you were never friends and don't care what happens.

The Chargers found out what happens when the rest of the WCHA stops being polite and start getting real.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
St. Lawrence
Alaska Anchorage
Intro

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