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UAH’s Uhelski records 41 saves in 3-1 victory over No. 15 Michigan Tech

Alabama Huntsville’s Jordan Uhelski makes a save against Michigan Tech, Saturday, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech couldn’t touch Jordan Uhelski. 

The Huskies were able to do as they pleased with the puck around the net, but when it came to capitalizing on scoring opportunities, they struggled. 

And Uhelski dominated.  

The senior goaltender recorded 41 saves as Alabama Huntsville gained its first victory against Tech, 4-2, Saturday night in the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Chargers improved to 1-12-2 all time against the Huskies. 

The scoring chances were there for Michigan Tech, but the Huskies went 0-8 on power-play opportunities. The Chargers allowed Michigan Tech to move the puck around the perimeter but stopped high-quality shot attempts. 

“I don’t think we occupied hard ice,” Tech head coach Joe Shawhan said. “I don’t think we took enough shooting opportunities at the net. I thought it looked nice moving that puck around the perimeter, but really it was all perimeter stuff and they were occupying the middle. They were allowing us to do that and they just wanted to get into shot blocking areas.”

Tech’s first goal came with 4:56 gone in the first period when senior wing Alex Gillies skated around the back and found sophomore wing Thomas Beretta camped out in front of the net. Without hesitation, Beretta sent the puck past Uhelski and gave Tech a 1-0 lead. It was his first goal of the season. 

The lead was short-lived as UAH evened the score minutes later on a power-play goal. With the score tied at 1, junior goaltender Patrick Munson replaced freshman Robbie Beydoun, who had made his first career start. Munson started all of Tech’s previous six games, recording 160 saves and a .899 save percentage. 

The Chargers took a 2-1 lead seven minutes later on an even-strength goal. Despite heading into the locker room down 2-1 Tech dominated play in the first and held a 17-4 shot advantaged over UAH. 

It was more of the same in the second period, as Uhelski stopped shot after shot. 

“When your goalie is your best penalty killer you’re going to have a good night,” UAH coach Mike Corbett said. “It was a toss-up whether we were going to go back with him (after last night), but I went with my gut, and if he wants to be the No. 1 goalie he has to win a game here.”

UAH also cushioned its lead, scoring a shorthanded goal as John Teets broke away from the defense at 10:29. Munson nearly had the save, but the puck ricocheted off his leg and into the net.  

Tech showed signs of life with 2:10 left in regulation as sophomore Gavin Gould scored on a give-and-go with senior captain Brent Baltus. Following the goal, Shawhan emptied the net and UAH’s Hans Gorowsky scored to put the game away. 

This was the second matchup in two days for the Huskies and Chargers, with Tech taking the first, 5-4. In Friday’s game, both teams struggled with the penalty kill, but Tech squeaked out a win on a Jake Lucchini goal with 14:31 gone by in the third period. 

After the first matchup, Corbett said he felt his Chargers were on the cusp of victory at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. This time they played without junior wing Tyler Poulsen, who received a one-game suspension for an elbowing penalty in Friday’s contest. 

With the loss, Tech drops to 4-2-1 (2-1-1 in WCHA). Next up the Huskies hit the road to take on No. 14 Minnesota State on Friday, the 27th and Saturday the 28th. Both games start at 8:07. 

– – –

Alabama Huntsville 2  1  1 – 4

Michigan Tech        1  0  1 – 2

First period

Tech – Thomas Beretta (Alex Gillies, Alex Smith), 4:56, 1-0. 

UAH – Kurt Gosselin (Brandon Parker, Brennan Saulnier), 9:17, 1-1.

UAH – Josh Kestner (Christian Rajic, Connor Merkley), 16:03, 2-1.

Second period

UAH – John Teets, 10:29, 3-1. 

Third period

Tech – Gavin Gould (Brent Baltus), 17:50, 3-2.

UAH – Hans Gorowsky (Brandon Salerno, Teets), 18:43, 4-2.

Saves

UAH, Jordan Uhelski        16  13  12  – 33

Tech, Robbie Beydoun   1  0  0  – 1, Patrick Munson 2  1  9  5 – 15.

Penalties

UAH: 8/16; Tech: 3/6. 

Power plays

UAH: 1/3, Tech: 0/8. 

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