Opening weekend for College Hockey America went more than pretty well for all four teams with five wins, one loss, and one tie. You can credit fourth-line production for some of that success.
Bemidji State avenged last year’s two-game sweep at Air Force by a combined 12-2 score with a sweep of its own against the Falcons while putting up a 10-spot over the two games.
Robert Morris forward Nathan Longpre is on track to eclipse the school's scoring records.
Niagara watched a 4-1 third-period lead evaporate at home against Colgate, but managed to escape with a 4-4 tie. It marked their first point against the Raiders since beating them in the championship of the Rensselaer Thanksgiving Tournament in 2006.
Robert Morris did allow six goals, but scored 11 in a two-game exhibition sweep over Queen’s.
The highlight of the weekend was Alabama-Huntsville’s 3-2 upset of Notre Dame, second in the INCH Great 58 preseason rankings, in front of a packed house at the Joyce Center on opening night. The Fighting Irish rebounded for a 3-1 win Saturday. UAH goaltender Cameron Talbot stopped 87 of the 92 shots he faced in the weekend split.
The official word was that there was no thought to paying back the CCHA for denying the Chargers entry to the league this past summer, but one would be foolish to believe it wasn’t at least hinted at behind closed doors in the locker room by the coaches or the players.
The Chargers got the game-tying goal in their opening win from freshman and fourth-liner Justin Cseter in the third period.
Niagara received a pair of goals from fourth-liners—freshmen Brent Vandenberg and Marc Zanette—in its Colgate tie.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
• Bemidji State has already revealed its 2010-11 schedule, which includes a two-game set with North Dakota Oct. 15-16 as they cut the ribbon on the new Bemidji Regional Events Center.
• Niagara senior forward Chris Moran can become the 12th Purple Eagle to join the program’s 100-point club during this weekend’s trip to Clarkson and St. Lawrence. He has 99 career points.
• After just two seasons, Robert Morris forward Nathan Longpre is on pace to break the all-time school mark for assists and points. He currently has 46 assists and 65 points with Chris Margott holding both marks with 72 career assists and 136 points.
• UAH goaltender Cameron Talbot stopped a career-high 48 shots in his team’s loss to Notre Dame Saturday. The Chargers’ team record is 62 by Barry Friedman in 1986.
• Speaking of UAH, senior Kevin Morrison will visit the site of his first collegiate goal in 2006 when his Chargers travel to Air Force this weekend for a pair.
