Sunday, February 26, 2012

Alaska Nanooks are Governor's Cup Champions



Say what you want about the shootout, but it's nobody's fault that the Seawolves don't have enough offensive talent to take down the Nanooks. Tonight, and even last night, the Seawolves were outworked, outskated, and outplayed this weekend by this Nanooks team. The 2nd period of Friday's game was a little disappointing. But the guys got the job done on home ice, playing their game for a full 60 minutes. Greenham said earlier this month that the one thing they were missing from the team was a full 60 minute effort, and they got that tonight.

The first period had a lot of action, and a few interesting penalty calls. The most absurd of which came on a Gensy-patented-hip-check, which was miraculously called tripping. I'm not sure how you call a beautiful check like that a tripping call, but sometimes that's how it goes.

Into the second, scoring kicked in as Daniel Naslund knocked one in after Tateson got caught behind the play Greenham was pulled way out of crease and somehow wound up in the corner after Naslund tipped it around Greenham's left pad, his momentum carried him through Greenham with Scott Enders tying him up. It was a good goal on an opportunity that the Seawolves were able to take advantage of.

But the Nanooks kicked it into high gear, and worked the puck down low and Cody Kunyk buried a backdoor feed from Gens to even things up. The play developed very well off of a quick cycle off of the faceoff, and the puck came up a bit towards the point. Aaron Gens was right there, skated the puck down inside of the faceoff circle and found the angle to Kunyk's blade on the backdoor, who rang it home.

A few minutes later, Gensy made the play again. This time finding Andy Taranto streaking in who sniped another one high blocker side on Kamal; a mirror image of the power play goal he scored in Anchorage last night. Taranto is really playing on a whole other level lately, and he's getting rewarded with goals. His work early in the first fighting through players and drew a penalty while shorthanded to end ACC's power play after that aforementioned "penalty" to Gens.

The semi-ironic part is that Henderson would get the final goal of the evening after a rebound, who has probably one of my favorite players to watch over these last few weeks.

Adam has been an unstoppable force in the faceoff circle week in and week out (a bit shy of 50% tonight). He has also really helped make that 3rd line click with Gehon and Meyers. That top defensive line of Gens and Quinn played outstanding tonight as well, and always seemed to be in sync with each other throughout the game. 

Well, the Nanooks have won their 11th Governor's cup in its 19 year history, and have won 8 of the last 11 series. It was great to see the guys skate so well, and get it done on senior night. I made a point to thank each of the 7 seniors tonight. But the season isn't done. The Nanooks travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to take on the Lake Superior State Lakers in the first round of the CCHA Playoffs.

Also, as an aside, congratulations are in order for Bruce Cech, the Voice of the Nanooks for the last 24 years was inducted into the Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame during Hockey Week in Fairbanks. Congrats to Bruce, and here's to the next quarter of a century!


35 comments:

Amanda M said...

I have to say, I think that is the closest I have ever seen the players get in a gov cup picture...love it!

UAAfans said...

That's the only hall of fame that blabbering idiot will ever be in. He sounds like a frantic 911 call even when the puck sails 10 feet over the net. But kudos Bruce. You would be better suited for golf play by play. That way, you have enough time to gather your thoughts instead of just referring to everything as a "quick shot".

UAAfans said...

Oh and I just tripled your comments. Now it looks like someone might have read your post.

Amanda said...

At least Bruce is someone with enough heart, spirit, dedication and love for the Nanooks than most programs ever have had. I don't see anyone who shows as much character with the UAA program. Haters gonna hate though.

Britton said...

Haters will hate. UAAfans is just pissed off that no media coverage existed for his Community College to the south. No preview from ADN? No preview from Donald? I can see tears already. Enough crying to probably fill the Governor's Cup that he won't even get to see for a few years.

By the way, I had over 8,000 hits last month. And over 1,000 in the last 3 days. So feel free to get bent, and troll elsewhere where you might actually have a clue about what you're talking about.

Jason said...

I flew back to Anchorage on the same flight as the UAA hockey team last night. Got to talk to Coach Shyiak and a couple of players...all class acts, even though I was decked out in blue and gold.

Some of these Seawolves fans that are acting ragingly butthurt need to take a clue from their team.

UAAfans said...

Stick to your day job Britton. I didn't even start on the meaningless drivel that you call a blog. It doesn't count when you sit there and refresh your own page 300 times a day to pad your "view" numbers. But, if that's what validates you, have at it Shakespeare.

I'm sure things aren't that bad over at the Airport Way Taco Bell, and I know they would hate to lose you as the graveyard shift supervisor.

As for the games, I went to both. UA_ won the cup, and I'll be the first one to congratulate. My original post was not directed at you, just wanted to point out how poor Bruce is at his own profession. But just like Amanda said, Bruce has more heart, spirit, dedication and love for the Nanooks than most programs ever have had. Who makes more money? You, at Taco Bell, or Bruce as a mediocre, absent minded radio announcer for a cut-rate program in a shitty town?

UAAfans said...

Hey nice going. Up to 7 comments now.

Anonymous said...

Any city that claims the Mush Inn Motel and Fred's Bail Bonding & Coffee Cabana as home has no right to call any other place shitty.

Stay classy, UAA! Scoreboard.

Britton said...

I appreciate the compliment! I like to think of myself as a valuable member of the Taco Bell team, and contributing to their success.

Thanks for padding my comments, but I don't need comment numbers to validate what I enjoy doing for our "cut-rate" program. We're in the midst of our first losing season since Ferguson took over.

Thanks for reading. Good luck to the Seawolves on their last home series next weekend.

Anonymous said...

It's OK. At least the Seapups got the Toyota Try-Hard Award this weekend. Get lost, troll. Look at the scoreboard and keep dreaming that Donald would be as good of a blogger as we have. Scoreboard!

UAAfans said...

What about the Alaska Marketplace building in the "downtown" area that has been vacant for more than 10 years? No takers on that prime real estate? And the transfer stations around town that you clowns frequent, for everything from table chairs to baby toys? We stayed at the Princess for $69 last night. I bet you can't even stay at the Mush Inn for less than $69. How do you know about Fred's? Did he lend you some financial help after you were charged for screwing that Husky in Fairview?

The scoreboard reads: UAAfans 3 and D-bags ZERO.

UAAfans said...

"Thanks for reading. Good luck to the Seawolves on their last home series next weekend."


No problem Britton. Good luck to the Nooks in the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

That Fairview Husky is still better than 95% of what you see walking around at UAA. After all, you get what you pay for.

Poor Seawolves. Forever the original University of Alaska's little red-headed stepchild brother.

UAAfans said...

"I appreciate the compliment! I like to think of myself as a valuable member of the Taco Bell team, and contributing to their success."

So, it was you that skimped me on the fire sauce last night!!!! That Mexican pizza just didn't taste the same.

Anonymous said...

82-52-11
UA_ has an awful lot of catching up to do before they can say they're the equal of UAA
82-52-11 kinda says it all
About the only good thing I see at UA_ is Fergy

Anonymous said...

Really? When was the last time UAA had a winning record? Were any of your current players born when that happened?

Funny thing is that you Seawolves are so stuck up your own asses that you actually believe what you say and write. Meanwhile UAF hockey has lapped you and you're too chickenshit to admit it. Don't think I'm serious? Go ask Matt Friese from Wasilla, one of UAA's prized recruits that just switched his commitment to UAF.

Let me spare you some of the rhetoric: "But we're in the WCHA and it's so much harder so it's ok to lose wah wah wah wah wah we're Anchorage and we're just entitled to everything wah wah wah wah wah."

It's going to be so much fun finishing ahead of you clowns in the standings year after year in the new WCHA.

Britton said...

*appluase*
Thank you for that. All of these Anchorage fans seem to only remember the times that they whooped up on us while the Nanooks were still a club team. In the modern era (1990-Present), the Nanooks have the edge. I'm looking forward to talking with Matt about that when he arrives.

UAFSUCKS said...

Matt will never admit to the truth, but what you say to newspaper reporters does come back to haunt you.

Here's the TRUTH. UAA recognized Matt when he was only 16 or 17 and offered him a solid scholarship, which he accepted verbally. That recognition by UAA got the attention of other junior schools and he went back and forth between the NAHL and the USHL.

He was quoted as saying he wanted to play both juniors and college in the lower 48. He said that UAA was a "great program" but that he grew up in Alaska and he really wanted to go outside to play college hockey (preferrably in the WCHA).

Well guess what? Nobody from Minnesota, N Dakota, DU, CC, Wisconsin, or ANY OTHER WCHA came calling - so he licked his wounds and came crawling back to Alaska and took the ONLY other offer that was made to him. To play for the Nanooks. Have fun in the -50 weather Matt!!

Anonymous said...

You seapups really are extra asshurt this year, even by your own lofty standards. I'm sure you have a direct line to the inner workings of Matt Friese's brain.

Wah wah wah wah UAA UAA we are the seawolves and we're ready to play wah wah wah wah wah wah.

Scoreboard.

Anonymous said...

Me thinks ye doth protest too much. No need to know what's in Matt's brain, as you say ... he already told everyone exactly what he wanted and was feeling. Don't wanna believe it? Do you own research, it's right there in black and white.

You think UA_ has such a great team? How come the fans in airbanks don't support them either, and you don't even have a great pro team to compete against, lol. Your team won the Gov Cup by an inch this season ... wow. Puff your chest up about that buddy.

RECORD.

Anonymous said...

Wtf? Pass some of the Matanuska TF, dumbass. You can hold on to wins over a club team 30 years ago.

There's also this:
UAF Endowment: $61.7 million
Sea puppy endowment: $35 million

UAF: Land, sea, and space grant institution
ACC: Not applicable

Enjoy your new recess facility on Bragaw.

Love,

Daddy

Anonymous said...

82-52-11

RECORD!!

UAAbetter said...

New land sea and space grant institution? That should entice hundreds of nimrods from the tanana valley to enroll at UA_ All I know is they better get a job at carrs now so they can collect unemployment when they graduate. Waste of money in a wasted space. Way to go regents.

UAAbetter said...

And what the fuck is the "sea" part about? You guys are closer to "space" than you are to any "sea". Geography question retards.

Anonymous said...

Jesus you Anchorage idiots really are that slow. Sea grant institutions are part of a FEDERAL program. Say it slowly and spell it out. UA regents have next to nothing to do with it. Rather it's yet another recognitiom from around the country that UAF is the primary research and academic institution in Alaska, and that UAA...isn't.

And it's not new, it's actually been around since 1987.

Do some homework next time.

Anonymous said...

As an avid Nanooks fan for about 25 years, I do have to agree with the ACC douche bag above that our announcer, the Checker, stinks.

He has absolutely no nuanced hockey knowledge and rattles off the cliches faster than I could keep tally. His play by play - compared to actual events is atrocious (but energetic!).

I have even quit listening to games on the radio and watch results online because I can't stand his grating voice. Hall of fame for enthusiasm, because that's all he has going for him. But bush league for competence. Hate to say it. If you don't think so, just listen to the away team broadcaseters when the game's televised. The guy in Anchorage is great, as are most CCHA announcers.

Don't get me started on Danny Martin either - does he ever see the same goals I do?

But... Go Nooks! I just wish our small market could attract a decent play by play announcer (and no I couldn't do it better)

Josh said...

Agreed across the board. Britton here is our only savior. I said this earlier, but someone needs to pay Britton to go on the road with the team and keep everyone posted. Go back and look at what he did when they went to Notre Dame. Pictures galore, it was awesome.

Go Nooks! Take the Lakers down!

Amanda said...

Bruce has no hockey knowledge? God forbid he gets in to the action of the game and makes a mistake! He's human!! And unless you CAN do it better you should keep your mouth shut. Bruce is fantastic, enthusiastic and is the only person who should be voice of the Nanooks. (nothing against you Britton)

Anonymous said...

Bruce is sick!!!

Coming from the x krbb broadcaster...

Britton said...

No offense taken, Amanda. Thanks for the confidence, Josh. Although I don't really want to be anyone's savior...

Honestly though, I like Bruce. I recognize that he's not the best PxP guy ever, but he doesn't have to be. I enjoy the enthusiasm, but I have to remember not to keep the volume too loud sometimes.

And Amanda, I agree. He's been the voice for well over 20 years, he gets to decide when its time to turn the mic off.

As for the rest of you Anchorage trolls, it's time to stop mooching the wireless from the coffee shop and get back to your shanties. I guess since your media outlets again failed to preview this weeks series against Bemidji State, you have nothing better to do but to comment here...

Anonymous said...

Awful, really, that ACC fans are such sore losers. Clearly our boys outplayed and out scored them over the weekend, it must be hard to accept that, whatever previous records ACC has, they're just not up to par anymore.

UAAfans said...

Just thought I'd wait till you assholes got swept by a shitty team. Thanks to the poster who agrees with me about cech. Amanda, you've probably never heard Bruce announce because Of your "underneath the ballsack" position on him. #ballsweat. Have fun this summer :)

Britton said...

Great observation, thanks for sharing that. Meanwhile, ACC gets swept by an even shittier team, and on your own ice on senior night in front of maybe 20 people...

Good luck at Mariucci, as Don Lucia continues to destroy ACC. Now he's just behind a different bench. Don't think that the Gophers have forgotten about what happened last year, and don't count on it happening again.

Jason said...

UAA gets swept, at home, by Bemidji, and they run over here? Seapups, this years Governor's Cup is over. It's as dead as disco and the Sopranos. Get over it.