FAIRBANKS,AK - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Men's Hockey Team announced its captains for the 2005-06 season at their fifth annual kick off banquet last Saturday night.
Three juniors, defenseman
Jordan Hendry and forwards
Lucas Burnett and
Curtis Fraser, will all sport the captains initial "C" on their jerseys for UAF this year.
The captains were chosen by UAF players and the all-alumni coaching staff of head coach
Tavis MacMillan, and assistant coaches
Dallas Ferguson and
Wade Klippenstein.
The coaches presented the three new captains with their jerseys.
Hendry was named an alternate captain at the 2004-05 kick off banquet but subsequently sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup Series, on Oct. 22, 2004.
"It's definitely a privilege to be named one of the leaders of this team again," Hendry said. "It feels good to have a jersey back on, too."
Burnett, one of the hardest-working players on and off the ice, was touched by the honor.
"It means a lot to me," said Burnett. "There are a lot of guys who could be leaders on our team, and I think it's going to be leadership by committee with our team."
Fraser, one of UAF's top offensive forces last season, stayed in Fairbanks for the summer and worked with strength and conditioning coach
Mike Curtin closely. He knew what the coaches expected of him.
"They kind of put it in perspective," said Fraser. "Instead of looking up to someone, they wanted me to be looked up to."
In addition to the naming of the captains, UAF's 10 freshmen were introduced during the banquet.
ESPN hockey analyst and former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the banquet's guest speaker, Barry Melrose, gave them some encouragement.
He guided a Kings team that featured the NHL's all-time leading scorer Wayne Gretzky to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992.
"If Wayne Gretzky can come to the rink early," said Melrose, "if Wayne Gretzky can work his butt off in practice and if Wayne Gretzky is never late for a game and if Wayne Gretzky plays hard every night, it's certainly something you guys can do and make sure you do every night for your team in Fairbanks."
The 10 newcomers are goaltenders
Brandon Cross and
Chad Johnson; defensemen
Zach Giesler,
Tyler Eckford and
Steve Vanoosten; right wings
Kyle Jones and
Braden Walls; centers
Adam Naglich and
Justin Binab and left wing
Trevor Hyatt.
The Nanooks began practice Monday without head coach Tavis MacMillan, who left Fairbanks Sunday due to a death in his family. He will rejoin the Nanooks on ice next Wednesday when he returns from Detroit, where the head coaches from each team in the conference will unite this weekend and attend meetings, and the 2005 Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Media Day at Joe Louis Arena next Tuesday, September 27.
Saturday, October 1, UAF holds its Annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center Ice Arena and then opens competition with an exhibition game the following Saturday, October 8 at 7 p.m., against the University of Windsor (Ontario) at the Carlson Center.
-UAF HOCKEY-
