University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Alaska Hockey Insider (Week of Nov. 30-Dec 6) - Interview with Head Coach Dallas Ferguson

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – For the second straight weekend, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team will host a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at home, with this weekend's match-up against the Lake Superior State Lakers on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5 at the Carlson Center. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. both nights.

Special ticket offers will be available on both Friday and Saturday, as the Alaska Hockey team hosts Hometown Heroes weekend. On Friday, all first responders and emergency personnel (police officers, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers and administrative staff) can get in free with valid identification.

In Saturday's contest, all active and retired military (Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard) and their dependents will receive free general admission with valid military identification. Saturday will also be the Alaska Nanooks Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's annual Teddy Bear Toss. The Nanooks ask fans to bring stuffed animals to be tossed on the ice at the first intermission that will then be donated to Santa's Helpers of Fairbanks for the holiday season. Directly after the conclusion of Saturday's game, fans can partake in the Skate with the Nanooks event, where fans will have a chance to get autographs and meet their favorite players on the ice.

"Anytime you can recognize people for their service, not only to the community but also the country, I think it's an extreme honor," Head Coach Dallas Ferguson said of Hometown Heroes weekend. "To be able to show our appreciation for these people is something our team is truly excited about. Hopefully, these fine men and women can enjoy a good weekend of hockey."

The Nanooks (4-8-2 overall, 2-6-2 WCHA) fell two spots to ninth place in the WCHA standings with six points after last weekend's loss to No. 17 Michigan Tech. The Lakers (4-9-3 overall, 2-3-3 WCHA) are currently tied for seventh place in the WCHA standings with Alaska Anchorage, both teams only one point ahead of the Nanooks with seven.

Where to Watch & Listen
If fans aren't able make it down to the Carlson Center, 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, which includes all Alaska Nanooks home and away games for $89.99. Hockey fans also have the option to purchase the WCHA season pass, which includes access to every single WCHA game (home or away) for all league teams for $129.99.

Both Friday and Saturday's games will be broadcasted live on ESPN 820am in the Fairbanks area, and also online. Longtime Nanook hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be providing live play-by-play from the Carlson Center.

Last Time Out
The Nanooks fell in two straight WCHA games last weekend at the Carlson Center, falling to the No. 17 Michigan Tech Huskies 3-1 on Friday (Nov. 27) and 4-1 on Saturday (Nov. 28). Alaska's two goals were scored by senior forward Tyler Morley and freshman forward Chad Staley, both on the power play.

All-Time Series
The Lakers lead the all-time series against the Nanooks 33-20-6, with the first game between the two schools coming as an 8-6 win for the Nanooks on Oct. 10, 1986. The Nanooks are riding on a two-game winning streak against the Lakers, as Alaska swept Lake Superior at home in their last meeting on Feb. 6-7, 2015.

Leading the Charge
The Nanooks seem to be most effective when Alternate Captain Zach Frye is on the ice, as the sophomore defenseman continues to lead the league in plus/minus with +10 for his third straight week. Frye is tied for first amongst all WCHA defensemen in assists with eight and is also third amongst WCHA defensemen in scoring with 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists).

Shooter McGavin
Senior forward Tyler Morley loves to shoot the puck. The 2015-16 Captain is ranked second in the WCHA in shots on goal with 57, while Morley handily leads the league in shots on goal per game with 4.38. After this weekend's series against MTU, Morley now moves to 105 career points with 49 goals and 56 assists in 113 games.

Rookie Contributions
Freshman forward Chad Staley notched his first collegiate goal on the power play in Friday's (Nov. 27) 4-1 loss to Michigan Tech. Staley's goal marks the third Nanook hockey freshman to collect their first collegiate point in the past two weeks, as Ryker Leer earned an assist on Jasen Fernsler's goal in a 3-3 tie at Ferris State on Nov. 28.

Petri-Dish
Sophomore forward Peter Krieger ranks third amongst all WCHA players in assists with nine, only one assist behind Alaska Anchorage's Blake Tatchell and four behind Ferris State's Gerald Mayhew, who are second and first respectively. On the back end, freshman defenseman Jack Weiss is tied for first amongst all WCHA rookie defensemen in assists with four.

Scouting the Opponent – Lake Superior State
The Lake Superior State Lakers split at home against the Ferris State Bulldogs to earn two points last weekend. The Lakers have either won or tied five of their last eight games behind a D-Core that has only allowed 14 goals against the whole month of November. Lake Superior's 1.45 GAPG average is ranked eighth best in the NCAA. Not to mention, the Lakers defense has blocked a total of 209 shots (13.08 shots per game average) this season to rank second in the WCHA (behind Ferris State) and eighth nationally.

Sophomore forward J.T. Henke leads all Laker skaters with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists), including three power play points and one hat trick on the season. Laker freshman defenseman Owen Headrick leads all rookie defenseman on the Lakers with three goals and is currently tied for first place in rookie defenseman scoring with five points (3 goals, 2 assists).

Sophomore goaltender Gordon Defiel posted the best save percentage (.956) and goals against average (1.52) in the WCHA for the month of November. Defiel holds a 3-6-3 record overall this season, but went 2-1-3 against league opponents in November.

Coaches Corner
"I think you've got two teams that are close to each other in the bottom half of the standings, so we're all trying to make a push to move our way up. I expect both teams to play with urgency and desperation, which makes for a real competitive series."  -Coach Ferguson on this weekend's series

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