UAF Hockey Team Tops LSSU To Split Weekend Set

UAF's Joe Sova (11) tries to keep LSSU's Chad Nehring (16) away from Nanooks goalie Scott Greenham (35) during Alaskas Saturday night win over LSSU.

Down by two headed into the third period the University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team turned up the heat on Lake Superior State University tying the score by the end of regulation play and claiming a 3-2 overtime win to split the weekend series at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.

LSSU's Ben Power celebrates his first goal of the season during the first period of the Lakers Saturday matchup with the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Sault Ste. Marie.

From the opening face off it was clear that both teams had turned up the intensity a notch from Friday nights contest. LSSU lit up the scoreboard twice in the first period. Freshman Ben Power scored his first of the year with an assist from junior defenseman Dillin Stonehouse and less than three minutes later forward Chad Nehring beat UAF goaltender Scott Greenham to extend the Lakers lead.

Starting goalies, Greenham and LSSU’s Brian Mahoney Wilson, each faced one power play opportunity and less than ten shots in the second period to keep the score even headed into the third. Both teams had four power play opportunities over the course of the game but neither was able to capitalize.

UAF's Dion Knelsen (20) gets congratulated by the UAF bench after scoring in the third period of the Nanooks Saturday night win over LSSU.

Number ten ranked Alaska got its scoring started just over a minute into the third on a goal by senior Dion Knelsen. Knelesen tallied his second of the game and seventh of the year six minutes later to even the score and eventually send the game into overtime.

Alaska'a Bryant Mollie turns up ice with the puck during UAF's Saturday night win over LSSU.

Just over four minutes into the five minute sudden death overtime period Lakers goalie Mahoney-Wilson found himself facing a 4 on 2 that provided UAF’s Bryant Molle a scoring chance he took advantage of giving the Nanooks their eighth win of the year.

The split weekend moves the Lakers record to 6-7-1 and the Nanooks to 8-3-1 and fourth in the CCHA.
Alaska returns home to face Northern Michigan next weekend and the Lakers will travel to Troy New York to face non conference foes Union on Friday and Bentley/Rensselaer on Saturday in the Rensselaer Holiday Hockey Tournament.

LSSU Hockey Tops #10 Alaska

Lake Superior State University's Chad Nehring chases the puck into the offensive zone during the Lakers Friday night 4-3 win over the University of Alaska Fairbanks at Taffey Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.

With the exception of Michigan the Lake Superior State University ice hockey team has won at least one game against each of the nationally ranked teams they have faced. Friday night the Lakers showed their talent yet again as they beat the number ten ranked University of Alaska Fairbanks 4-3 at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.

Just short of halfway through the first period LSSU jumped out to a two goal lead when, within a minute of each other, junior Rick Schofield and senior Brad Cooper each beat Alaska goaltender Scott Greenham. The Schofield goal was his fourth of the year and Coopers third.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Nik Yaremchuk celebrates after scoring against the Lake Superior State Lakers Friday Night at Taffey Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Despite a very near miss off the top bar in the first Alaska was unable to score until two and a half minutes into the second period when Andy Taranto racked up his fourth goal of the year just as a UAF 5 on 3 power play advantage expired. Alaska’s Nik Yaremchuk scored his first of two goals less than three minutes later tying the score at two.

Lake Superior State University's Rick Schofield (left) shoots during the first period of the Lakers Friday night 4-3 win over the University of Alaska Fairbanks at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.

Rick Schofield scored his second of the night 5:30 into the second making the score 3-2 and giving LSSU back the lead. Laker Simon Gysbers increased the lead to two with what would turn out to be the game winning goal a few minutes later. Schofields two goals and an assist for senior Zac MacVoy on the Gysbers goal moved the two into a tie for the Lakers overall individual points lead.

UAF’s Nik Yaremchuk would close out the scoring in the second, and the game, with a power play goal at 13:42. The two goals were Yaremchuk’s second and third of the season.

Lake Superior State Lakers goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson stops a Ron Meyers (bottom left)shot during the second period Lakers Friday night 4-3 win over the University of Alaska Fairbanks at Taffey Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.

The third period turned into a defensive struggle. In addition to 3 UAF and one LSSU penalties the period was marked with several offside and icing calls. Lakers goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson, who made 16 saves in the second period, and UAF goaltender Scott Greenham both faced only five shots on goal in the third.

The Lakers and Nanooks will face off again tonight at Taffy Abel arena.

THE FAN ZONE


The Fan Zone 11-20-09 - Images by Eagle Feature & Image

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MSU Tops U of M in CCHA Matchup

Michigan Sate Spartan Jeff Petry (EFI File Photo)

The Michigan State ice hockey team went into Ann Arbor’s Yost Ice Arena Friday night without a win in their last six meetings against their CCHA rivals the Michigan Wolverines. At the final buzzer the Spartans had successfully ended the number six ranked Maize and Blue streak with a 3 – 2 win.

University of Michigan Goalie Bryan Hogan (EFI File Photo)

The Spartans Andrew Rowe started the scoring just under 8 minutes into the first period with an unassisted goal against Michigan goaltender Bryan Hogan. Michigan’s Lee Moffie racked up the Wolverines first score just short of thirteen minutes into the second evening the score at one.

University of Michigans Lee Moffie (EFI File Photo)

State’s Matt Crandell picked up his first assist of the night on a second period goal by Corey Tropp that put the Spartans back up by one. He tallied his second when MSU increased its lead to two on Daulton Levielle’s game winning goal just over a minute into the third.

The Wolverines brought the score back to within one when Matt Hagelins scored his fourth goal of the season as he beat MSU goalie Drew Palmisano just over half way through the third period.

The Wolverines found themselves with a great opportunity to tie the score when, after pulling their goalie, Spartan Captian Jeff Petry went to the penalty box for hooking. The Wolverines where unable to capitalize on the resulting 47 second 6 on 4 advantage giving the Spartans the win.

While the Wolverines seem to be struggling coming off two home losses to Alaska and now a home loss to MSU the Spartans continue to increase their win total against nationally ranked teams. With only four seniors on the roster the young Spartan team has beaten three teams that are currently ranked in the top twelve including a split series with number one Miami.

The Spartans and Wolverines will face off again tonight in Ann Arbor in the final game of the weekend at 7:05. The game will be televised on Comcast.

LSSU Loses One, Splits One With Western

Lake Superior State University’s trip to Kalamazoo this weekend could have been worse but could have been a lot better. The Lakers managed a tie in their Friday night contest against the Western Michigan University Broncos but fell 2 – 1 Saturday. After being swept at home the previous weekend by the fourth ranked Wolverines the Lakers headed into Lawson Ice Arena this weekend at 4-4-0 with only one conference win.

EFI FILE PHOTO - Pat Inglis

The Broncos jumped out to an early lead Friday with two first period scores against LSSU goalie Pat Inglis and one against Brian Mahoney-Wilson. Mahoney-Wilson held the Broncos scoreless through the second and third periods giving the Lakers the opportunity to battle back.

Chad Nehring started the Lakers scoring in the second with Zac MacVoy adding number two just after the start of the third. With less than ten seconds left in the game and an extra attacker on the ice LSSU’s Fred Cassiani tied the score at three, which was the final after neither team could best the other in the subsequent overtime. WMU got the conference standings points after scoring in a shoot out.

EFI FILE PHOTO - Brian Mahoney-Wilson

Lakers head coach Jim Roque gave junior goalie Brain Mahoney-Wilson the starting nod for Saturday night. Mahoney-Wilson faced 38 shots giving up goals to the Broncos Ian Slater in the second period and then Patrick Nargorsen in the third. Mid way through the final period LSSU scoring leader Chad Nehring scored his second goal of the weekend and seventh of the season on the Lakers only power play opportunity of the night. It was the only time the Lakers would beat the Broncos starting goaltender Riley Gill. Gill stopped forty of the Lakers forty-one shots giving him and his team the 2 –1 win.

EFI FILE PHOTO - Chad Nehring

The Lakers will head west to battle CCHA foe the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks next weekend.