Hockey

The 4A hockey scene gets most of the attention in Alaska, but the semifinals of the state 3A tournament provided a true classic. Delta's Eli Erickson capped off a two-goal, three-assist performance with the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Huskies over the top seeded Hawks, 6-5. Hutchison, who allowed Delta three unanswered goals to trail 5-3, rallied to tie on a goal by Troy Williams with 4.4 seconds to go in the third period. Delta Junction went on to claim the title.

Our choice in number eight is a story that will have far-reaching effects to the UAA and UAF hockey programs. A hectic summer of restructuring the conference of college hockey resulted in sweeping changes to long-time powerhouse leagues, leaving both Alaskan teams scrambling to find new members to compete with. The first domino to fall was an anticipated one, as WCHA schools Minnesota and Wisconsin, along with Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State of the CCHA, announced their intention to leave their respective leagues and form a Big 10 hockey conference for the 2013-14 school year.

Colorado College's Michael Boivin scored with 2.8 seconds left in regulation to lift the sixth-ranked Tigers to a 4-3 win over the UAA Seawolves on Saturday night in Colorado Springs.  The heartbreaking loss leaves UAA at 3-10-1 in the WCHA entering semester break.  The Seawolves led 3-1 in the second period before allowed three unanswered goals. The loss by UAA wasted a two-goal performance from Brett Cameron. Senior Curtis Leinweber ended the series with four points as UAA managed a split of the two-game set.            

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux completed the weekend sweep with a 4 - 1 victory over the UAA Seawolves. In the first 2 minutes of play, UND's Brock Nelson found the net to give the Fighting Sioux an early lead.  The Seawolves Sam Mellow would answer minutes later, making the score a 1 - 1 tie.  The two teams continued to fire shots back and forth until the second period.  At 3:36 into the frame, Ben Blood reclaimed the lead for the...

Defending NCAA champion Minnesota-Duluth gave UAA a rude welcome to its new 6,660 seat arena with a 5-0 win to drop the Seawolves to 0-5-0 in the WCHA.  The Bulldogs made quick work of the Seawolves, scoring their first two goals 28 seconds apart early in the opening period.  UMD led 4-0 at first intermission. Kenny Reiter shut out the Seawolves on 26 saves to help the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in seven straight games.  UAA has managed a total of three goals in its five conference games.

The UAA hockey team showed the scoring depth it will need to compete in the WCHA this season with a 7-2 blowout of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in exhibition play Friday night in Wasilla.  The Seawolves scored the first seven goals of the night. The Seawolves led 1-0 after 20 minutes and then stomped the Ooks with a five-goal second, thanks to a three-goal flurry in a span of 2:29.  Mitch Bruijsten, Chris Crowell, and Tyler Currier all struck in the three-goal rally, while Scott Warner and Brett Cameron also tallied during the second.

Alaska's two collegiate hockey programs are losing several members of their existing conferences. The athletic departments at WCHA programs North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska Omaha, and 2011 NCAA champion Minnesota-Duluth, along with CCHA school Miami released a joint statement on Saturday, confirming their intention to leave their respective leagues to form a super-conference of six schools.  The new league will start...

Zach Aregood scored a pair of third period goals to lift South Anchorage to an exciting 3-2 win over Service in the finas of the state 4A hockey championships at the Wasilla Sports Complex.  The victory gives the Wolverines program their fifth state title in seven years as a program. Service took a 2-1 lead into the third on second period goals by Aaron McGinnis and Jeremy Smith.  But that only set the stage for a furious South comeback in the final frame, in which the Wolverines out-shot the Cougars, 11-3.

For the sixth time in 10 years, the semifinal round of the state 4A hockey championships will be comprised entirely of Cook Inlet Conference Schools. East, Dimond, Service and South all claimed opening round victories on Thursday at the Wasilla Sports Complex. The T-birds began the day's action with a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over 2009 state champion Lathrop. East never led in regulation, but tied things up on a goal by Alex Jackstadt with 1:06 remaining in regulation.