With Bemidji State out to a perfect 8-0-0 conference record while allowing all of 11 goals against in CHA play, it seems the race is on for second place in College Hockey America though the calendar only turned to December a little more than a week ago.
Going into the weekend, Robert Morris sits in second place though just one point ahead of Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville who have two and one game-in-hand respectively.
The Chargers made their presence as a legitimate contender for that runner-up spot by taking three of four points at Robert Morris last weekend.
Sophomore forward Cody Campbell figured in on five of the Chargers six goals and goaltender Cameron Talbot made a combined 85 saves over two games to help UAH stop an eight game losing streak.
“Our guys played a lot better with more jump and Talby (Talbot) kept us in the game yesterday and was better tonight,” said head coach Danton Cole after game two. “Our guys had more jump, we won some battles and offensively there were some things going on that weren’t last night.”
One night prior, the Chargers watched a 2-0 first period lead evaporate and settled for a 2-2 tie, though it marked their first point earned in six weeks.
“Overall I thought we were average (on Friday),” said Cole. “The faceoffs were 41-22 against and I thought they won many of the battles in the corner. We need more energy, better legs and to be better offensively.”
Robert Morris forward Chris Kushneriuk was listed as 24-8 in the faceoff circle in the 2-2 tie and 42-23 for the weekend while taking 47 percent of the draws for the Colonials.
Freshman Zach Hervato scored his first collegiate goal to stake the Colonials to a 1-0 second period lead in the second game, but was trumped by fellow freshman Sebastian Geoffrion of the Chargers, who also lit the lamp for his first tally five minutes later. Geoffrion is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Bernie Geoffrion.
Robert Morris has scored five total goals over their last four games and will try to get healthy offensively when they travel to Niagara (Friday) and Canisius (Tuesday) for their final two games prior to the break.
“We’ve been giving up (an average of) 48 shots a game lately, and they only had 23—that’s a period for us lately let alone a game,” said Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley after game one. “Good game by Cameron Talbot.”
The Chargers managed just 17 shots on goal during their 4-2 win Saturday.
Alabama-Huntsville is off until heading to Vermont for the Catamount Cup Jan. 2-3. They battle the host team in the first round and Mercyhurst or Minnesota-Duluth in the second round.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
· Robert Morris senior defenseman Dave Cowan had surgery on his thumb last Friday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. That would bring him back for the Lake Superior State home series Jan. 2-3 or the home-and-home with Miami the next with the first of those two games the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase at Mellon Arena. With fellow defenseman Ben Finney also leaving the team, the Colonials are trying to move local product Andrew Blazek back to defense for depth.
· The eight goals Niagara allowed to Bemidji State in the opening game of their series last weekend was the most scored on the Purps since Oct. 20, 2006 when Nebraska-Omaha tallied 10. The Beavers also scored eight against Niagara in December 2005.
· Maybe a hockey first Saturday when a Bemidji State student played the national anthem on a violin.
· As if they need the help, Bemidji State will get senior defenseman Chris Peluso back in the lineup this weekend when they host Minnesota State for a pair. He missed the last six games after breaking a finger.
