Men's Ice Hockey | 2/23/2017 7:26:00 PM
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team concludes the 2016-17 regular season on the road, taking on in-state rival the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in a massively important two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association Series on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 at the Sullivan Arena. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:07pm AKST and will also be counted as games three and four of the coveted Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup, respectively.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks finished their final two regular season home games at the Carlson Center last weekend, defeating the Lake Superior State Lakers 4-2 on Friday, Feb. 17 before tying LSSU 3-3 in overtime on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Lakers scored in the 3-on-3 overtime to gain the extra WCHA conference point.
All-Time Series
The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves lead the all-time series between the two teams 89-62-12, with the first game between UAF and UAA coming as a 3-13 loss for the Nanooks on Nov. 16, 1979. The upcoming two-game series marks the 166th and 167th contest between the two rival schools, respectively. The last time these two teams squared off against one another was Dec. 9-10 in Fairbanks, where the Seawolves captured Friday's game 3-2 before the Nanooks bounced back to defeat UAA 3-2 on Saturday. Alaska played Alaska Anchorage earlier in the season (Oct. 8) for a one-off non-conference, non-Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup contest in the UAA Hockey Classic where Alaska walked away with a 4-1 win. Twelve of the last 14 games between the rivals have only been a one-goal game, with the Nanooks currently on a one-game winning streak against their in-state counterpart.
Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup
When it comes to the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup, the Nanooks hold the all-time record over the Seawolves 11-8, winning consecutive titles in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 but vacated the 2010, 2011 and 2012 titles due to the NCAA infractions sanctioned during the 2014-15 season. The Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup first appeared during the 1993-94 season and has been determined by a shootout on eight different occasions.
The 2017 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup Champion will be determined by the following:
1. The team with the most WCHA points at the end of the four-game series will be declared the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup Champion. Currently, the series is tied at three points for each team. A team that wins in regulation or 5-on-5 overtime receives three (3) points, while the losing team will receive zero (0). A team that wins in WCHA 3-on-3 overtime or shootout receives two (2) points, while the losing team receives one (1) point).
2. Each game will be played to its conclusion via current NCAA and WCHA rules, to include a 3-on-3 OT period and sudden-death shootout if necessary.
3. Should the series still be tied in WCHA points earned at the conclusion of Game 4, we will go to the NCAA-approved shootout protocol. The shootout protocol calls for three shooters from each team, followed by sudden-death if necessary.
WCHA Standings
Not to be overshadowed, both games in Anchorage this weekend are important to both the Nanooks, who have a mathematical chance to gain home-ice advantage for the first round of the 2017 WCHA Tournament, and the Seawolves, who could be eliminated from post-season contention if they don't sweep.
With only the top eight teams advancing to the first round of the 2017 WCHA Tournament, Alaska currently sits in sixth place with 34 points, while Anchorage sits in 10th place with 26. Only eight points separate home-ice advantage (fourth place) from post-season elimination (ninth place).
Nooks in Goal
Senior goaltender Davis Jones continues to backstop the Nanooks in their post-season hunt, helping the Nanooks to a 4-4-2 conference record since Christmas break with 10 consecutive starts. The St. Albert, Alberta native collected 60 saves throughout the weekend and currently leads all Alaska goaltenders in saves (481), goals against average (2.80) and save percentage (.911).
Alaska Leaders
Sophomore forward Chad Staley and senior forward Marcus Basara are both tied for the team-high in scoring with 19 points each, Basara has a team-high nine goals this season while Staley is tied for a team-high three power play goals.
Golden Frye
Junior defenseman Zach Frye continues to be an offensive threat and invaluable on the back end, as the Spokane, Washington native ranks third on the team in points with 18. Alone, Frye leads Alaska in assists (14), assists per games played (0.44), shots on goal (91), power play points (9) and power play assists (6) and is tied for first in power play goals (3).
Century Men
Basara (137), senior forward Brandon Morley (135) and senior forward Josh Erickson (121) are the only current Nanooks to play more than 100 career games in an Alaska sweater. Frye is closest to crossing the 100-game mark with 97 games played and redshirt-junior Justin Woods is only seven games out with 93.
Rookie Come-Up
All of Alaska's nine freshmen who have dressed this season have now recorded at least one point. Six of the nine have registered five-or-more points, with rookie forwards Colton Leiter (7G, 4A), Troy Van Tetering (7G, 5A) and Tyler Cline (3G, 9A) being the only three freshmen to pass the 10-point-or-more mark.
Scouting the Opponent – Alaska Anchorage
The Seawolves return to their home arena after a four-game conference road trip, falling to Ferris State in Big Rapids last weekend 2-1 and 3-0. UAA is led by junior forward Matt Anholt, who has a team-high 21 points with five goals and 16 assists. Junior forward Tad Kozun is second on the team with 16 points and leads all active Anchorage skaters with 24 career goals.
The Seawolves are backstopped by junior goaltender Olivier Mantha, who has dressed in 29 games this season posting a 7-17-4 record and a .915 save percentage with a 2.78 goals against average.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.
