ANCHORAGE – The Nanook hockey team takes its current three game winning streak, and six game unbeaten run, the quick trip south for a chance at defending its Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup with a two-game series against Alaska Anchorage.
Alaska must win both games of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association showdown and then defeat the Seawolves in a shootout to end its season with a third straight Governor's Cup. Both games will be shown live on FOX 7 in Fairbanks.
Dates: Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7
Opponent: Alaska Anchorage Seawolves
Time: 7:07 p.m. AKT (both days)
Watch:
wcha.tv (subscription) or FOX 7
Listen:
KCBF 820 AMLive Stats:
goseawolves.comAlaska Game NotesLAST TIME OUTLast weekend, Alaska swept Alabama Huntsville with two back-to-back wins. On Friday, the Nanooks trailed 2-0, but scored four unanswered goals including three in the third period, to earn a 4-2 win. On Saturday, the Nanooks twice trailed by a goal, but came back to win 4-3 in overtime thanks to Colton Paryako's second goal of the game.
LAST MEETINGThe Seawolves and Nanooks met earlier this season in Fairbanks with Alaska Anchorage sweeping the series to take a 2-0 lead in the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. The Seawolves earned two one goal victories in the middle of January, including a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday, the 17th. Olivier Mantha made 80 saves for UAA, as Alaska dominated the game in terms of chances created, but was unable to figure out the rookie goaltender.
SERIES HISTORYLast season, in seven meetings, Alaska went 3-4 against the Seawolves, splitting the regular season evenly, 2-2. In that year, the Governor's Cup came down to a shootout in Fairbanks, a feat that would have to be matched for Alaska to repeat as winners. Overall, the Nanooks are 53-86-11 against Alaska Anchorage, dating back to when the teams first met in 1979.
UNBEATEN STREAKThe Nanooks have gone six games unbeaten, including five victories. Alaska did not lose a game for the entire month of February, as the Nanooks swept Lake Superior State and Alabama Huntsville and went 1-0-1 against Minnesota State.
AWAY DAYSAlaska finished its home portion of the schedule with a 10-5-1 record, with a wining percentage of .656. The Nanooks will now close out their season on the road, in Anchorage.
BACK-TO-BACK PLAYER OF THE WEEKTyler Morley was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, last week, for the second straight week he could. Two weeks ago, T. Morley scored three goals, including two in Alaska's 3-1 win over No. 1 Minnesota State. The junior finished with a team high three points and a joint-team high rating of +3. Morley scored the tying goal on the power play in Friday's 1-1 tie against MSU and scored shorthanded on Saturday to level the game at one before scoring an empty net goal to seal the win. Following a bye week, T. Morley had a WCHA-high five points against Alabama Huntsville, including two goals and three assists.
POWER POINTColton Parayko had three points over the weekend, including two goals on Saturday as part of Alaska's 4-3 overtime win. Parayko fired home two blasts from the point, a power play goal and the game-winning goal in overtime. Parayko's 24 points is third in the WCHA amongst defensemen and he is tied for the team lead with five power play goals.
REACHING THEIR GOALSThe Nanooks rank fourth in the WCHA in scoring, with 2.75 goals per game. Alaska has only been shut out one time this season, a 3-0 loss to Bowling Green in January, but have recorded five shutouts.
EXPECT PENALTIESAlaska and Alaska Anchorage are amongst the leaders in penalty minutes in the WCHA. The Seawolves top the charts in penalty minutes with 16.2 a game, while the Nanooks average 14.2 per game. Last time these two teams met, there were 33 penalties over the weekend, including 20 on Friday's game. There were also a combined seven game misconducts spread over the two games.
