The Final Countdown

The title is much more than a famed song by somewhat of a one-hit wonder band, but the clock can't tick fast enough tomorrow to hit 6PM for the Nanook Hockey kick off banquet tomorrow night at the Princess Lodge. If you've never been, the banquet is a pretty relaxed environment. The freshman get to introduce themselves and talk a bit about where they come from, how they got here, and so on. Historically, the captain and the alternate(s) have been announced as well. Not to mention the elegantly prepared menu for dinner. The menu this time around is Yankee Pot Roast and Chicken ala Pierre, with potatoes, vegetables, salad, rolls and dessert.

Of course, Saturday is when the fun really begins. The guys suit up and take the ice for the first time this season for the intra-squad scrimmage known only as the Blue/Gold game, which always takes place during UAF's Starvation Gulch, a yearly student tradition. The Blue/Gold game is a lot of fun to watch. Although not a true game in the sense, but it gives a good first look at the players, and a good chance for the new guys to see the (reduced) crowd for the first time.

Granted, there really isn't a whole lot of pre-game analysis I can do here, but its definitely an event you don't want to miss. Puck drops at 5PM, doors open at 4PM on Saturday at the Patty Ice Arena.

Some pre-game reading.

• Joe Sova's picture has found its way to INCH's A-Z lineup, a pre-season series they run spotlighting players around college hockey. Check out the article to see what they had to say.
• AlaskaNanooks.com produced a cool write up of incoming transfer Adam Henderson, who made his way here from Michigan State. Henderson said of his departure “Michigan State was a bit of a culture shock for me, but coming to Fairbanks is closer to what I’m familiar with.  I am much closer to my family and it now gives them the opportunity to come watch me play,” Good that he's a family man! Anyone remember when Curtis Fraser's dad came to town, and he went off and scored 3 goals in the first 5 minutes? I do. Check out the whole post.
• You can also check out a photo compilation on Facebook of the Nanooks first practice this past Monday. Great shots!

That's all for now, folks.  Be sure to follow along with my Twitter feed on Saturday for live commentary. See you at the Patty!