Thought folks might enjoy this story. Associated Press had
this on Thursday:
 
By JAY REEVES
Associated Press Writer
   HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- The nation's No. 1 small-college
ice hockey team isn't anywhere near the frozen climes of the
North. It's way down south in Alabama, y'all.
   The University of Alabama in Huntsville (8-1-1) sits atop
the NCAA Division II poll this week following back-to-back
road wins over Division I Providence College and Division II
American International.
   The other top teams are from more traditional hockey locales.
Minnesota's Bemidji State (5-2-1) is ranked No. 2, and
Mercyhurst of Pennsylvania is third at 4-4-0.
   The UAH Chargers don't have anything approaching the
football tradition of the Crimson Tide down on Alabama's main
campus in Tuscaloosa. And no one is calling coach Doug Ross
"The Bear."
   But Ross and his band of transplanted Canadians and Yankees
are making a name for themselves in a state where most people
have never even heard of a blue line.
   "We always catch some people by surprise," Ross said Thursday.
"They say, 'I didn't know you had hockey down there."
   New Hampshire College coach Peter Tufts is well aware of
Alabama-Huntsville, but he didn't know the Chargers were ranked
No. 1 among the division's 13 teams.
The Penmen (3-4) head south for two games this weekend.
   "They're going to be the best team we play all year. I know
Doug's got the team pretty wound up," Tufts said. "Our players
are pretty excited. It's our only road trip."
   Alabama-Huntsville has only had varsity hockey since 1985,
when it was elevated to scholarship level from a club team backed
by civic leaders. The program went from Division II to Division I
in 1987 because there was no Division II championship.
   The Chargers remained in Division I through last year, playing
hockey powers like Michigan and Wisconsin.
   "Sometimes we got our butts kicked," said Ross, a right wing
on the 1976 U.S. Olympic team. "But a lot of times we got a lot
of respect for playing close games and good hockey against
established teams."
   Alabama-Huntsville moved back down this season when the NCAA
reinstated a Division II championship.
   The Chargers' roster reads like that of any other hockey team.
Leading scorer Brian Richard is from Windsor, Ontario, and
captain Dave Slifka hails from Darien, Ill. But there are a
couple of exceptions -- freshmen Matt Parker and Bernie Vatz are
both products of the local youth hockey league.
   Ross would like to get more area players to boost local
interest, but average attendance at UAH games already is a
respectable 2,500. The New Hampshire coach said his team only
draws about 500 per game.
   And while north Alabama sounds like an unlikely place for a
top-ranked hockey team, Ross said recruiting isn't very
difficult. The Chargers play in the sparkling Von Braun Civic
Center, and players accustomed to winters of snow and
ice are sold once they see green grass in December.
   "It used to be tough. I had one parent call me back and say
'Are you for real?"' Ross said. "But that hasn't happened in a
while. The biggest draw is when people come down here and see it.
They fall in love."