No Updates This Week

Very sorry to everyone for no updates this week. There was a family emergency and I have been in Utah for a few days to tide things over. Unfortunately I do not have the time to put together a proper preview for the first WCHA series of the year coming up against Bemidji State. I will plan to get caught up on things when I get back to Fairbanks next week and get rolling again for Bowling Green. 

Go 'Nooks! I could use some good news this weekend...

Sean Cahill Blanks the Broncos, Nolan Kaiser With the Winner

What a game for Sean Cahill. The senior goaltender made 34 saves to preserve the bagel coming up big throughout the game. Especially in the 3rd period, the 'Nooks had a HUGE penalty to kill towards the end of the game that Western Michigan started just pumping shots on goal left and right. By my count, they had 7. But I was watching the NCHC.tv feed on my phone so my count may be off. Regardless, he stood on his head when he had to and kept the Nanooks in the game.

It's late Saturday morning here in Fairbanks as I'm finally able to watch the game for the first time. I usually am able to watch, or at least listen to Friday's games however I was trapped in meetings all day on Friday and couldn't tune in.

But I caught the 3rd period and the play of the game with Nolan Kaiser taking the swing pass from Parayko across the point then letting it go with a booming shot pinching in from the point down towards the slot buries the puck under Hafner's pad. The goal would stand as the game winner, despite Western Michigan's attempts to prove otherwise.

The second game is just a few hours away at this point. The Nanooks will have a pissed off Broncos team to contend with who have now lost 3 straight coming into tonight. Hard to imagine anyone but Sean Cahill playing in goal for the 'Nooks. The question remains if any changes are made to the offensive lineup. Make sure to follow me on Twitter for some (better today) live game updates, including some pregame chatter.

Nanooks Hit the Road, First Stop Kalamazoo

The Nooks head to Kalamazoo to take on the Broncos. I'm a bit late getting this up, considering that it is Friday about 2 hours before puck drop. 

But the 'Nooks are looking good. Broncos, not so much. At 1-3, they're coming off a 2 game sweep at the hands of the UNO Mavericks. This will be the first real road test for Alaska, but they've had good success at Lawson over the years. We did play the Broncos to a 3-3 tie at the Carlson Center last year. And Frank Slubowski is still there. Lukas Hafner has split time thus far in goal as well, so it remains to be seen who starts for them tonight. Frank was the clear starter for quite a while, but I suppose things have changed. Defensively, things have been interesting for them. Danny DeKeyser left a couple years ago but Kenney Morrison still rules the blue line. Chase Balisy and Shane Berschbach were lost to graduation, so there is a large chunk of scoring gone too. Justin Kovacs is still there, but hasn't scored a goal just yet. Sam Mellor, another UAA defector, is also on the roster. 

Through 4 games, WMU has 8 goals scored with 10 against. Not a typical showing for an Andy Murray team, so that leaves me a bit to wonder if Dave Shyiak gets to take some of that credit. The former UAA head coach and infamous bottle thrower now has the Associate Head Coach title behind the Broncos' bench. Interesting...

Should be a good series. I wish I had more time to put this together, but alas... 

Go 'Nooks!

Austin Vieth Gets the Game Tying Goal, Then the Winner 27 Seconds Later Over Penn State

Penn State won the first 50 minutes of this game. They had the Nanooks dead to rights early in the 3rd, and I thought they were the better team up until that point. I just felt like they wanted it more. But the 'Nooks kicked the tires and lit the fires late in the game and Austin Vieth took over. 2 goals just 27 seconds apart for the Nanooks freshman catapulted him from an honorable mention, to the all-tournament MVP in the same amount of time. 3 points tonight, and 4 on the weekend (3-1-4) should make some noise nationally.

Adversity and Character seemed to be the theme from the coaches in both press conferences. Both games the 'Nooks were trailing in the 3rd period, and both nights they found a way to win. That's the mark of a good team. But a better team doesn't put themselves in that situation. Not how a coach draws it up, but they pulled it out and got 'er done.

Not the homecoming Gadowsky was hoping for I'm sure. His Nittany Lions had both Alaska teams down early but couldn't close them out. Seems like it might be a conditioning issue, as both of the Alaska teams play a very fast paced game. But Guy will get this ship on course for them very soon.

A lot of players had a great weekend that stood out to me. The guys that made the all-tournament team, obviously. But Nolan Kaiser, especially. He has really emerged as a stand-up defensemen early this season. I had him on my all-tournament ballot... Shawn Hochhausen and Nolan Youngmun both did some serious grinding work tonight. Garrick Perry is a beast to contend with on special teams. Trevor Campbell put himself among the best defensive defenseman in the country in my opinion this weekend. I haven't seen everyone of them, but I'd put him up against anyone at this point. I had him at 5 blocked shots tonight. 3 were hard and heavy and he got right back up and engaged back in the fight. And once Colton Sparrow figures out that he doesn't have that extra half-second of time that he thinks he does, he will be yet another force to be reckoned with.

The 'Nooks head out on the road for two straight weeks. First to Western Michigan, then on to Bemidji State to open up WCHA play. Western has had a tough couple of games, but they're still a good team. Frank Slubowski is still one of the best goaltenders in the country. Should be a good series down in K'Zoo. Bemidji was off this weekend, but they've got a big non-conference series with the Gophers next weekend.

Until the preview, Go 'Nooks!