After only two years with the UAF Nanooks, sophomore Curtis Fraser has become a household name.

The 200-pound center man was recruited by head coach, Tavis McMillan, in his last year of junior hockey.

"There was something I saw that I liked," states McMillan, "at that time we were just looking for one forward, I went out to watch him and the game I was at Curtis played great and I knew I wanted him."

At the time, Fraser was playing in the Canadian British Columbia Junior Hockey League, for Victoria Salsa, "I had always dreamed of getting a scholarship, so that if hockey didn't work out I would have something to fall back on," states Fraser, "the coaching and the city were my reasons for coming to Fairbanks."

Curtis arrived in Fairbanks in August of 2003 ready to start his career as a college hockey player. Jordan Emmerson, Fraser's roommate and friend from Canada remembers how excited the two were to finally arrive, "It was exciting, and it opened your eyes to a whole new world, it was good to have someone there to help you with the troubles."

The Canadian freshman from Surrey, British Columbia didn't waste any time as he scored his first NCAA hockey goal against Colorado College, in early October.

"I was so excited," smiles Fraser, "I was coming down the right side of the ice, and cut to the middle, beating a defenseman, and threw to the net, it just went in."

Fraser continued to light up the ice with a total of 12 goals, and 12 assists, putting him in third place for scoring among his team mates.

His hard work during his freshman year did not go unnoticed. Fraser received Doug Desorcie Top Rookie Award and Honourable Mention for CCHA All-Rookie team.

"Curtis has natural ability, I think the thing that helped him the most was his last year of junior, he was able to excel and score goals, so he had a lot of confidence coming out of junior," said McMillan, "he had proven himself at the last level which gave him the ability to prove himself at this level."

Fraser finished his freshman year with successes in both hockey and academics, as he was named to Athletic Director's Honour Roll and Top 30 Club for 2004 spring semester.

With Fraser's sophomore year just around the corner and the loss of such great players as Cam Keith, and Aaron Voros, the pressure was on for Curtis to fill previous goal scorer's shoes.

"As those players left, more pressure was put on me offensively to perform," states Fraser.

Fraser was ready and willing to step up his game, "I think what he's enabled us to do is to give us a presence as one of our go to guys that maybe we lost with a lot of those guys," said McMillan, "he's a confident enough kid that he can except that added pressure."

The now sophomore was presented with an A at the beginning of the season, making him an assistant captain, along fellow team mate Nate Fornataro, and Captain, Jared Sylvester.

"It was a big honour to be awarded an A," states Fraser, "being given the opportunity to lead a group of guys into each and every game it's a great feeling as well as a big responsibility."

McMillan knew Fraser was ready for the responsibility that comes with being an assistant captain, "I thought he was in a situation based on his success from last year and the youth of our team right now, I thought that was something he could handle," he said.

Fraser has accepted that responsibility and once again has become a big part of the Nanooks success this season. The sophomore is currently second in goal scoring on his team with 12 goals, and 10 assists.

"He can bring instant offence, he can score goals, and he has an attitude and a swagger," said McMillan, "a confidence and a little bit of aura which I think is healthy."

As for the future Fraser has one particular goal in mind, "to make playoffs and go to the Joe Louis arena with my hockey team."

As for Coach McMillan, he sees big things to come for Fraser, "As a sophomore he's shown that any time you can score four goals in a game you can succeed at this level, and as a sophomore it should be very motivating for him," states McMillan, "his goal should be to play in the NHL because if he continues to grow and develop he has the ability to play at that level if he wants to."

But for now, Curtis is happy to have the chance to be here and play at the college level, "I've got the chance to develop as a player and a person. I've got to meet a lot of great new people here in Fairbanks, and over the next two years I hope to continue to grow as a player and a person."

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