Feb. 23, 2007
Final Stats
FAIRBANKS, AK - For the first time in the last five games, the Alaska offense clicked to the tune of three first period goals and a 3-1 lead against the University of Nebraska-Omaha Friday night. But the early offense wasn't enough to stave off the Mavericks in a 4-3 Central Collegiate Hockey Association loss at the Carlson Center in front of 3,260 fans.
Forward Bill Bagron scored less than two minutes into the third to win it for the Mavericks (15-14-8 overall, 12-11-4 CCHA). The Nanooks (9-18-6, 7-15-5) pumped out twelve shots in the final period and pulled goalie Chad Johnson (Calgary, AB) for an extra attacker while on a late power play but were unable to produce the equalizer.
Alaska, which had no first period goals and was winless (0-4-1) in its last five games, scored three straight goals in the first after an opening UNO tally. Curtis Fraser (Surrey, BC) got the Nanooks rolling with back-to-back scores.
The senior center made it 1-1 at 9:21 into the first on an assist from freshman Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB). Then Fraser netted his 17th goal of the season at 14:02 to make it 2-1 Nanooks with assists going to Dion Knelsen and freshman Brandon Knelsen (Three Hills, AB).
With 39 seconds left in the period, junior defenseman Darcy Campbell (Airdrie, AB) knocked in a power play goal, the final Alaska score of the night, and things looked good for the home team. The Nanooks, who finished the contest 1-8 on the man advantage, had just one goal in their last 32 power plays prior to Campbell's third goal of the year.
The Mavericks power play came alive in the second period with two scores to knot the score and set up Bagron's eventual game-winner. UNO, which was 2-of-3 on the power play in the middle period, got goals sophomore forward Tomas Klempa and junior forward Brandon Scero to tie it up. Sophomore defenseman Juha Uotila assisted on the two power play scores and Bagron's winner for Nebraska Omaha.
The Nanooks out-shot their opponent for the sixth straight game with a four shot edge (28-24) over the Mavericks. Johnson stopped 20 shots for Alaska but dropped to 5-6-2 in his first action in nearly a month. UNO goalie Jeremie Dupont improved to 11-9-6 with 25 saves.
The two teams meet up again tomorrow night in the final CCHA regular season tilt for both before the play-off match-ups are announced. Alaska will be celebrating Senior Night for Fraser, center Lucas Burnett (Rossland, BC), defenseman Jordan Emmerson (Abbotsford, BC) and defenseman Nathan Fornataro (Calgary, AB). The Nanooks and Mavericks will face-off at 7:05 p.m. AST at the Carlson Center.
