Alaska Hockey Insider (Week of Dec. 7-13) – Interview with Head Coach Dallas Ferguson
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska hockey team will look to snap their seven-game winless streak this weekend, as the Nanooks head down to Anchorage to face in-state rival the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Sullivan Arena. Puck drop is set for both nights at 7:07 p.m. AST.
This weekend's rivalry match-up also counts as games 1 and 2 toward the annual Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup between the UAF and UAA hockey teams. The winner of the Governor's Cup will be determined by games 3 and 4 that will be played the next time these two teams face each other on Mar. 4 and 5, 2016 at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
The Alaska Nanooks hope to improve their overall record of 4-10-2 (2-8-2 WCHA) this weekend, while the Seawolves, hot off of a WCHA weekend sweep at Michigan Tech, are also hoping to advance in the standings with an overall record of 8-6-2 and 5-4-1 in WCHA play.
Where to Watch & Listen
Alaska hockey fans that are in the Fairbanks area who can't make the trip to Anchorage have an opportunity to watch both Friday and Saturday night's games live for free on Fox 7, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. AST both nights.
For all other fans not in the Fairbanks area, WCHA TV will be streaming all league contests this weekend. Fans have the option to purchase a single game pass for $7.99, watch all WCHA games on a certain day for $9.99, or buy a season pass for $89.99, which includes access to all Alaska Nanooks home and away games. WCHA hockey fans also have the option to purchase a WCHA season pass that includes all WCHA games (home or away) for all league teams for $129.99.
Longtime Nanook hockey commentator Bruce Cech will also be providing live play-by-play from the Sullivan Arena for Friday and Saturday's games that will be broadcasted live on ESPN 820am Fairbanks and also online at the link posted above.
Promotions & Activities
Single-game tickets to this weekend's hockey games can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the door for $10. Alaska-Anchorage is running a ticket special for fans who attend both hockey games and the women's basketball game between the Alaska Nanooks and the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves at 2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 12) at the Alaska Airlines Center. Fans who bring Friday night's hockey ticket to the women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon can receive a $5 ticket when shown at the door. Additionally, patrons who bring the women's basketball ticket to Saturday night's hockey game can receive another $5 ticket.
The University of Alaska Alumni Association and the Southcentral Chapter are hosting a pre-game reception in Anchorage prior to Saturday evening's hockey game. From 5-6:30 p.m. join some UAF alumni and Interim Chancellor Mike Powers for food, beverages, face-painting, photos with Nook, and a raffle for a chance to win a signed UAF hockey jersey. The reception will take place at the UAF Cooperative Extension Service-Anchorage District Office (1675 C St., Anchorage, Alaska 99501), just two blocks from the Sullivan Arena, where fans are encouraged to take advantage of the free parking. For those interested in attending, please RSVP to 907-474-7081 or email uaf-alumni@alaska.edu.
Last Time Out
The Nanooks dropped their fourth game in a row last weekend to the Lake Superior State Lakers at the Carlson Center extending their winless streak to seven games, with Alaska's last win coming in a 4-3 victory against the Bemidji Beavers on Nov. 13. The Nanooks fell 4-2 to the Lakers on Friday (Dec. 4) before dropping Saturday's (Dec. 5) contest 2-0. Alaska's only two goals from the weekend came from sophomore defenseman Justin Woods and freshman forward Chad Staley on the power play.
All-Time Series
Alaska-Anchorage leads the all-time record between the Seawolves and the Nanooks 86-59-11, holding a 49-24-5 advantage when playing at the Seawolves' barn. Currently, UAF is on a two-game winning streak over UAA, after sweeping the Seawolves in Anchorage last season (Mar. 6-7, 2015). This weekend's contests count as the 157th and 158th all-time meeting between the two teams, with the first game coming as a 13-3 loss for the Nanooks on Nov. 16, 1979.
#AKGovCup
The Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup was started during the 1993-94 hockey season, with Alaska holding the all-time Cup record 11-8. The Nanooks have won the cup the past six seasons (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-5) but had to vacate the 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 titles due to NCAA infractions. Last season, the Seawolves swept the Nanooks in games 1 and 2 of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup in Fairbanks, before the Nanooks repaid the favor, sweeping UAA in Anchorage in games 3 and 4. With the series tied, the cup title was decided by a shootout when senior forward Tyler Morley was the only skater on either team to score, helping the Nanooks claim their third Governor's Cup title in a row.
WCHA Standings
The Nanooks are tied for last place in the WCHA with the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers with six points each, while Alaska-Anchorage is tied for sixth place with the Lake Superior State Lakers with 11 points each. Minnesota State has broken away from Michigan Tech for first place overall with 18 points, although, it's anyone's game. According to the WCHA weekly release, only four points separate the top four teams in the league, while an additional four points mean the difference between fourth place (and home advantage for the WCHA playoffs) and eighth place.
Frye Remains Dominant
Alternate Captain Zach Frye is in a three-way tie for first in points among all WCHA defenseman with 11 (two goals, nine assists). Frye also leads all WCHA defenseman in assists, assists per game (0.56) and shorthanded goals (one). For the third week in a row, the Spokane, Washington native is tied for first among all WCHA players in plus/minus with +10.
Shooter McGavin
Senior forward Tyler Morley continues to pepper the opposing goaltender, as the 2015-16 Captain is second in the WCHA in shots on goal with 62 and handily leads the league in shots on goal per game with 4.13. After this weekend's series against LSSU, T. Morley now has 105 career points (49 goals, 56 assists) in 115 games.
Rookie Contributions
Freshman forward Chad Staley notched his second collegiate goal in Friday's 4-2 loss to Lake Superior State, marking the freshman's first two power play goals in back-to-back weekends. In the net, freshman goaltender Jesse Jenks ranks third among WCHA rookie goaltenders with a .928 save percentage in seven appearances between the pipes.
Petri-Dish
Sophomore forward Peter Krieger leads the Nanooks in assists and ranks fourth in the WCHA with 10, while freshman defenseman Jack Weiss is tied for first among WCHA rookie defenseman in assists with four.
Scouting the Competition – Alaska Anchorage
The Seawolves host the Nanooks after sweeping then-No. 17 Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan last weekend (Dec. 4-5), defeating the Huskies 3-2 on both nights. Alaska-Anchorage's record moves to 8-6-2 overall (5-4-1 WCHA) after last weekend's sweep, matching their win total from the 2014-15 season (8-22-4 overall).
Sophomore goaltender Oliver Mantha picked up the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honor on Monday, after stopping 30-plus shots last weekend at MTU, improving his season record to 7-6-2. Mantha currently sits with a 2.63 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
The Seawolves offense is led by senior forward Blake Tatchell, who boasts 15 points on the season including four goals and 11 assists. Right behind Tatchell, sophomore forwards Tad Kozun and Matt Anholt have collected 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Seawolves are coached by third-year Head Coach Matt Thomas.
Ferguson's Thoughts
"Just from looking at last weekend's games, I think we did a good job defending five-on-five but our special teams wasn't at the level it needed to be, especially in two tight games. This week in practice, we have also been focusing on finishing around the net. We're at the point of getting pucks to the net but need to focus on habits and details that can help us generate more goals. We're going into the last weekend of the first half and we really just need the guys to stay focused. School is extremely important and with finals coming up and guys going home for the holidays soon, we're going to need the team to play our game and give it one hundred percent in order to be successful down in Anchorage," –Head Coach Dallas Ferguson on this weekend's series
