ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Nanooks hockey team official opens the 2015-16 season this weekend, as they'll look to defend their 2014 Kendall Hockey Classic title against St. Cloud State and Arizona State at the 25th Annual Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage.
25th Annual Kendall Hockey Classic
Alaska Anchorage once again plays host to the Kendall Classic, as this year's field features the Seawolves, St. Cloud State, Arizona State and the defending champion, Alaska Nanooks.
The two-day Classic kicks off on Friday, Oct. 9, with the Nanooks taking on the Huskies at 5:07 p.m., followed by a 7:07 p.m. contest between UAA and the Sun Devils of Arizona State. Alaska will compete against ASU at the 4:07 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, while Alaska Anchorage faces SCSU at 7:07 p.m. to conclude the Classic. All games will be played at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.
Last Time Out
Alaska defeated Mount Royal University last Sunday, 4-0, in an exhibition contest at the Carlson Center. The Nanooks got on the board with just seconds remaining in the first period, and then exploded for three goals in the third period to ensure the win. Alaska got goals from freshman Ryker Leer in the first period, while Peter Krieger, Tyler Morley and Josh Erickson each found the back of the net during the third period.
Head coach Dallas Ferguson used a rotation of three goalies in the exhibition, as they trio of Davis Jones, Jesse Jenks and John Keeney combined to get the shutout.
All-Time Series – St. Cloud State/Arizona State.
The Nanooks will take on the Huskies for the first time since 2011 and just for the second time since 1989. The two teams have played to a 6-6-0 tie in a series that dates back to 1981.The two former NCAA Division I Independent teams played each other a total of 11 times from 1981-89 and met again in 2011 at the Kendall Hockey Classic, where SCSU knocked off Alaska 4-1 in the opening game, which is the last time the two faced each other on the ice.
It will be a first-ever meeting for Alaska and Arizona State, as the Sun Devils are competing as a NCAA Division I Hockey team after spending several years as one of the nation's top club teams.
WCHA Preseason Poll
The Alaska Nanooks were predicted to finish fifth in both the Mankato Free Press and Bemidji Pioneer Western Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Polls. The Nanooks earned 55 points in the Mankato Free Press Poll and 164 points in the Bemidji Pioneer Poll. Defending WCHA Champion, Minnesota State, was selected as preseason favorite in both polls.
Morley Named WCHA Co-Preseason Player of the Year
The Mankato Free Press selected senior center Tyler Morley as their WCHA Preseason Player of the Year selection. Morley is coming off a 2014-15 campaign that saw him finish third in overall scoring in the WCHA with 37 point in 32 games. The center collected 15 goals and handed out 22 assists overall on the year, and really stood out in WCHA games, as he scored 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 28 league games, which was the second-most points posted in conference play. The Burnaby, British Columbia native has 13 multi-point weekends and posted 12 multi-point games a year ago. Morley enters his final season with Alaska just eight points shy of entering the program's 100-point club, as he has posted 92 points so far with 42 goals and 50 assists. The Bemidji Pioneer selected Minnesota State's Bryce Gervais as their preseason player of the year, giving both players co-preseason player of the year honors.
2015-16 Captains
Senior Tyler Morley will dawn the 'C' this season, as seniors Alec Hajdukovich and J.D. Peterson, along with sophomore Zach Frye will wear the 'A' patch on their jersey this year. It will be the second-straight season that Morley will dawn a letter on his jersey, as he was an alternate captain last season. He inherits the 'C' from former Nanook standout Colton Parayko, who is now on the cusp of making the St. Louis Blues roster. Peterson, Hajdukovich and Frye each earned alternate status for the first time in their Alaska careers. Hajdukovuch also becomes the first Fairbanks native to be named a captain under Coach Ferguson.
Returners
Fans will notice a lot of familiar faces on this year's roster, as 17 players come back from last year's roster. The Nanooks return their top two point leaders from last year in Tyler Morley (37; 15 G, 22 A) and Marcus Basara (24; 12 G, 12 A).
100-Point Club
Senior Tyler Morley enters his final season with Alaska just eight points shy of entering the program's 100-point club, as he has posted 92 points so far with 42 goals and 50 assists.
Scouting the Opposition – St. Cloud State
The Huskies come into the 2015-16 season off of a 20-19-1 season and returns five of the team's top six returners. SCSU is currently receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, as they garnered 35 points in the Oct. 5 poll.
St. Cloud State features a trio of seniors who posted 26-or-more points from a year ago in the front line, led by Joey Bennet, who handed out a team-best 23 assists to go along with 16 goals for 39 points. David Morley (29 pts, 17 G, 12 A) and Kalle Kossila (26 pts, 2 G, 20 A) join Bennet in the front line to give the Huskies one of the most talented and experienced offensive groups in the nation.
Scouting the Opposition – Arizona State
The Sun Devils will be competing in their first two games as a NCAA Division I team this weekend after spending several years as one of the premier club teams in the nation. Arizona State went 38-2-0 last season and won the American Collegiate Hockey Association title.
Despite being a new NCAA Division I team, the Sun Devils will have a heap of experienced Division I players, as six players transferred in from NCAA Division I teams, led by former North Dakota star and Nashville Predators draft pick, Wade Murphy.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like Alaska Nanooks Hockey on Facebook.
