FAIRBANKS, AK - The Nanooks host the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers, and the Robert Morris Colonials for the second annual Brice Alaska Goal Rush men's hockey tournament this weekend at the Carlson Center. Here are some notes about the tournament and the Alaska Nanooks hockey program:
• As per the Alaska schools scheduling agreement, the Seawolves will skate against the two Outside opponents in Fairbanks this weekend, reciprocating the Nanooks role in Anchorage last weekend. The annual Alaska Airline's Governor's Cup, which has been reduced to two games as a result, will be a home-and-home series beginning at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:07 p.m. and closing at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7:05 p.m.
• The 2008 Goal Rush marked the inaugural tournament. The field featured the Nanooks along with UAA, Maine, and Mercyhurst and marked the revival of tournament that was over a decade old. The previous version of the four-team Division I college hockey tournament hosted by the Nanooks was the Great Alaska Face-Off, which ran for three seasons (1992-1995). The Thanksgiving weekend tournament dissolved before its fourth year, when the Nanooks became a full member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1995-96.
• For the second consecutive season Alaska opened its season in Championship fashion - claiming their second straight title at UAA's Kendall Hockey Classic. The Nanooks blanked the then-ranked No. 4/3 Michigan Wolverines 2-0 in the tournament's opening game and then took down the Mercyhurst Lakers 5-1 in Saturday's matinee.
• Sophomore goalie
Scott Greenham (Addison, ON, Oakville (OPJHL)) is this week's CCHA Goalie of the Week after being named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Kendall Hockey Classic. He was almost perfect between the pipes for the Nanooks last weekend in Anchorage, stopping 43-of-44 shots in recording his third career shutout. Senior
Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB, Drumheller (AJHL)) and sophomore
Joe Sova (Berwyn, IL, Omaha (USHL)) also collected some silverware as members of the Classic's 2009 All-Tournament Team.
Complete Brice Alaska Goal Rush Notes in PDF Format
