Box Score Photo Gallery
Press Conference
ANCHORAGE –
Brett Cameron scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period and Alaska Anchorage was able to fend off Alaska 3-2 to claim game one of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday night at Sullivan Arena.
Despite being outshot 21-13 on the night the Seawolves (7-6-2, 4-5-2 WCHA) were able to remain unbeaten at home this season, improving their season mark to 6-0-1 at the Sully. The Nanooks (5-8-2, 2-7-0 WCHA) dropped their fifth straight and sixth of seven games with the defeat.
Sophomore center
Tyler Morley (Burnaby, British Columbia/Business Administration) was selected as the Era Alaska Nanook of the Game after leading all skaters with two points on goal and one assist. Freshman right wing
Marcus Basara (Port Moody, British Columbia/Business Administration) netted the game's first goal as the first forward line accounted for all of Alaska's scoring.
UAA saw its three goals come from
Dylan Hubbs,
Austin Coldwell and Cameron, who clinched it for the Seawolves.
Rob Gunderson (5-4-1) picked up the victory in net for Anchorage aver making 19 stops on 21 shots faced, including seven in the final 20 minutes.
Sophomore goaltender
John Keeney (Twin Peaks, Calif./Business Administration) took the loss for the 'Nooks, dropping his season mark to 3-3-1 after stopping just 10 shots on UAA's 13 on net.
UAA converted on 1-of-2 power-play opportunities while Alaska came up empty on a pair of man advantages. The 'Wolves held a 15-12 blocks advantage and a more impressive 34-20 lead in the face-off circle.
The Nanooks struck right away, taking advantage of an icing right at the start of the game. Morley won the face-off in the offensive zone and Basara stepped up through the defense and fired a shot that beat Gunderson under his arm glove side only 15 seconds into the game.
Later in the first,
Jordan Kwas fed the puck down ice to an open Hubbs and he ripped a shot on the break, beating Keeney top shelf on his glove side at 15:49 to tie things up at 1-1.
The Seawolves took their first lead of the night at 11:32 of the second period on the power play. Rounding the net,
Blake Tatchell fed the puck to Coldwell and his shot from the right face-off dot that beat the Nanook netminder.
The Nanooks answered at 18:24 in the same period to knot it up at 2-apiece. Morley caused a turnover in the offensive zone, as
Matt Bailey coughed up possession and after a Gunderson save on a shot by senior left wing
Colton Beck (Langley, British Columbia/Business Administration), Morley corralled the loose puck and shot it through the large opening on the right side of the net for his second point of the evening.
UAA regained the lead at 3-2 9:35 into the third. On a broken play in front of Keeney, Cameron controlled the puck and sent it past the line to ignite the Sullivan crowd. Gunderson held strong and despite nearly a minute of an extra attacker for the 'Nooks, UAA was able to hold on to win the opening game of the weekend series.
Both teams will be back at it Saturday at 7:07 p.m. for game two of the Governor's Cup with another two points up for grabs in the league standings.
