University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Ferguson Preview
Players Preview
Weekly Notes (contains information on both opponents)
 
Tweet #hockeyisback          Tweet #gonooks
 
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Alaska Hockey will open the 2013-14 regular season this weekend as it travels South to Anchorage to compete in the 2013 Kendall Hockey Classic, hosted by rival Alaska Anchorage at the Sullivan Arena.
 
The Nanooks, who are receiving votes in the initial USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll, open things up Friday at 5:07 p.m. against Air Force, which is also receiving votes. On Saturday at 4:07 p.m., the 'Nooks will take the ice against No. 10/13 Quinnipiac, which advanced to the Frozen Four and national title game last year.
 
Alaska is coming off a 17-16-4 season and a sixth-place finish in its final season in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. In its first season in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the squad was predicted to finish third by the media and fifth by the coaches.
 
The 'Nooks return 60 percent of their scoring from a year ago, led by junior center and assistant captain Cody Kunyk (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Business Administration) as he netted 11 goals to go with 17 assists (28 points). Senior left wing Colton Beck (Langley, British Columbia/Business Administration), who will serve as the team's captain, registered 11 goals and 10 helpers (21 points). Also back is sophomore center Tyler Morley (Burnaby, British Columbia/Business Administration), who had a solid rookie campaign with 10 scores and 11 assists.
 
At the blue line, sophomore defenseman Colton Parayko (St. Albert, Alberta/Business Administration) and senior defenseman Michael Quinn (Surrey, British Columbia/Geography) will anchora back line that returns all but one from last season and ranked fourth in the country on the penalty kill. Parayko had four goals and 13 assists in his rookie year while Quinn had three scores and 14 assists. Both will serve as assistant captains this season.
 
Dallas Ferguson begins his sixth season as the bench boss at his alma mater. He holds an 80-81-28 coaching record in his first five years as head coach.
 
IMPORTANT INFO FOR THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES:
 
Game 1: Alaska vs. Air Force
Friday, Oct. 11 at 5:07 p.m.
LIVE STATS   LIVE AUDIO   LIVE VIDEO
**Televised on KFXF Fox 7 (Live)**
 
Game 2: Alaska vs. #10/13 Quinnipiac
Saturday, Oct. 12 at 4:07 p.m.
LIVE STATS   LIVE AUDIO   LIVE VIDEO
**Televised on KFXF Fox 7 (TD – 11 p.m.)**