Dec. 15, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team moved up two spots this week to No. 18 on the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll after sitting idle last weekend.
The Nanooks are in fourth place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with 17 points after the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks leapfrogged them in the standings with a sweep of Lake Superior State last weekend. Alaska boasts one of the country's six-longest unbeaten streaks: four of which belong to CCHA teams. Alaska (3-0-3) is tied with Ohio State (6-0-0) as both are unbeaten in their last six outings. Notre Dame leads at 14 games (12-0-2) followed by Miami (8-0-0). Denver (7-0-0) and Minnesota-Duluth (4-0-3) of the WCHA are both on seven-game runs.
Alaska broke into the Top 20 on Dec. 1, following a 4-1 win and a 1-1 overtime tie that led to a eventual shootout win good for a four-point weekend against Lake Superior State on Nov. 28-29. They held their spot in last week's poll at No. 20 after earning two ties at UNO on Dec. 5-6 and then winning one of the two deciding shootouts for a three-point weekend.
With an 8-4-4 record, the Nanooks' five-member senior class is enjoying the best start of their careers. The eight wins also mark the most first-year head coach Dallas Ferguson has seen before Christmas in his five years with the program.
The Blue and Gold host the Western Michigan Broncos at 7:05 p.m. this Friday and Saturday in the only all-CCHA series slated for the weekend and their final home series of the 2008 portion of their schedule. Friday night the Alaska Nanooks' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will hold its annual Teddy Bear Toss between periods and a "Skate With The Nanooks" will follow the conclusion of the game.
This weekend's games also feature a special "Family Appreciation" package promotion, which includes four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, and four fountain sodas for 40 dollars. The special ticket package applies to both hockey games against Western Michigan and is available for purchase at the UAF Ticket Office located in the Patty Center lobby and at the Carlson Center Box Office only.
USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
Minneapolis, Minn./December 15, 2008
Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week
1 Notre Dame (41) 14-3-2 981 1
2 Miami (6) 12-3-3 921 3
3 Boston University 11-4-1 867 4
4 Minnesota (1) 8-3-5 854 2
5 Denver 13-5-1 804 6
6 Northeastern 11-3-2 755 5
7 Boston College 9-5-2 675 7
8 Princeton (2) 10-2-0 666 8
9 Colorado College 10-6-4 585 9
10 Cornell 7-1-2 559 10
11 Air Force 14-2-0 479 12
12 Michigan 11-7-0 439 13
13 Vermont 9-4-2 426 11
14 Wisconsin 9-7-2 263 16
15 New Hampshire 8-6-3 257 15
16 Nebraska-Omaha 11-4-3 175 19
17 Minnesota State 8-7-3 168 14
18 Alaska 8-4-4 104 20
18 North Dakota 9-8-1 104 NR
20 Dartmouth 6-4-0 103 18
Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota-Duluth 87, Maine 62,
Ohio State 61, St. Cloud State 59, Bemidji State 11,
Massachusetts 11, Alaska-Anchorage 10, Yale 7,
Mass.-Lowell 4, Niagara 2, Quinnipiac 1
