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UAH Chargers men's ice hockey

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Parent: University of Alabama in Huntsville Hop 4
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UAH Chargers men's ice hockey
NameUAH Chargers men's ice hockey
UniversityUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
ConferenceIndependent
ArenaPropst Arena at the Von Braun Center
CityHuntsville, Alabama
ColorsBlue and white
Head coachLance West
MascotCharger Blue
Ncaa tourneys2007
Conference tourney champs1996, 1998 (CHA)
Conference champs1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 (CHA)

UAH Chargers men's ice hockey. The program represents the University of Alabama in Huntsville in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, competing as an independent after the dissolution of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Established in the late 1970s, the team is notable for being the southernmost NCAA hockey program and has a storied history that includes multiple College Hockey America (CHA) championships and an appearance in the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.

History

The program began as a club sport in 1979 under the guidance of founder and first head coach Joe Raccuia. After achieving success at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) level, including a national championship, the team transitioned to NCAA Division II in the mid-1980s. The Chargers won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1996 and 1998 under coach Doug Ross. The program elevated to NCAA Division I status in 1998, becoming a founding member of College Hockey America (CHA). The peak of this era was a CHA tournament championship and subsequent appearance in the 2007 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, where they faced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Following the CHA's dissolution in 2010, the team joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The program faced existential threats with the announcement of its cancellation in 2020 and 2021, prompting massive fundraising efforts and public support led by the Save UAH Hockey group. It was ultimately reinstated and now competes as an independent.

Season-by-season results

This table chronicles the modern era of the program since joining NCAA Division I. The 1996 and 1998 seasons, which culminated in Division II national titles, are often highlighted. The most successful DI campaign was 2006–07, finishing with a 13–20–3 record and winning the final College Hockey America tournament to secure the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Subsequent seasons in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) were challenging, with the team often finishing near the bottom of the conference standings. The 2020–21 season was notably abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Players

Over 100 Chargers have played professional hockey, primarily in North American minor leagues like the ECHL and SPHL, as well as in European leagues. Notable alumni include Jared Ross, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers and had a prolific career in the American Hockey League (AHL), and Cam Talbot, a longtime NHL goaltender who has played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Ottawa Senators. Other prominent professionals are Scott Munroe, Dominik Rozman, and Andrew Martin. The program has also produced several All-American selections and members of the UAH Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coaches

The program has been led by six head coaches. Founder Joe Raccuia guided the club and early varsity teams. Doug Ross, the winningest coach in program history, led the transition to varsity and captured both Division II national championships. He was succeeded by Danton Cole, who shepherded the team into NCAA Division I and College Hockey America. Mike Corbett took over in 2013 and coached through the final WCHA seasons and the program's cancellations. Lance West, a former assistant under Corbett, was named head coach upon the team's revival and leads the independent program. Notable assistants have included C.J. MacLean and Kyle Grabowski.

Rivalries

The program's most significant and historic rivalry was with Bemidji State, forged during their years together in the College Hockey America (CHA) conference and continuing into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Games against other former CHA foes like Niagara also carried extra intensity. As an independent, geographic considerations have spurred developing rivalries with other southern or non-traditional programs, including Liberty and Lindenwood. Games against in-state NCAA Division I opponent University of Alabama are highly anticipated.

Home arenas

The team's primary and longtime home is the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, specifically playing in Propst Arena. This multi-purpose arena has a capacity of approximately 6,600 for hockey and has hosted numerous NCAA regional tournaments and SPHL championships. For the 2021–22 season, while the Von Braun Center underwent renovations, the Chargers played their home games at the Huntsville Ice Sports Center. The program also occasionally played early-season games at the Pelham Civic Complex near Birmingham to broaden its fan base within the state.

Category:University of Alabama in Huntsville Category:NCAA Division I independent men's ice hockey teams Category:College ice hockey teams in Alabama Category:Sports clubs established in 1979