March 10 - Hockey defeats MSU in CCHA 2nd round opener
The Nanook hockey team defeated Michigan State in the opening game of the CCHA second round playoffs 2-1 last Friday. The victory was UAF's first against the Spartans this season, and the fourth in a row for the Nanooks.
UAF got goals from Trevor Hyatt in the first period, and Aaron Lee in the second. Wylie Rogers played goal for UAF, netting 36 saves, while allowing only one goal.
March 11 - Hockey falls to MSU in game two
The hockey team dropped a blowout to Michigan State last Saturday, losing 6-1. The Spartans victory was on the strength of four unanswered goals in the second period.
UAF's lone point was a power-play goal scored by Kyle Jones. Drew Miller led the Spartans in scoring, with a goal and three assists. Bryan Lerg also scored a goal and an assist. Four of the Spartan goals were on power plays. Wylie Rogers started in goal for UAF, making 16 saves with 5 goals allowed in the first two periods, and Chad Johnson came in for the third period, making two saves and allowing a single goal. Jeff Lerg was in the net for the Spartans, with 30 saves and a single goal allowed. The loss evened the best-of-three series at 1-1.
March 12 - Hockey falls to MSU, season comes to an end
The hockey team saw their season come to an end with a 7-4 loss to the Michigan State Spartans last Sunday. After splitting the first two games of the best-of-three series, UAF came into the final game hoping to extend their season to the playoff finals, but were sent home.
The Nanooks got goals from Kelly Czuy, Braden Walls, and a pair from Aaron Lee. The Spartans were led on the scoreboard by Drew Miller, with a three goal hat trick, and Corey Potter, with a goal and two assists. Rogers finished the game, allowing six of the seven goals and making 38 saves, including several outstanding grabs that robbed the Spartans of goals. The seventh goal was an empty-net marker. Even with the two losses to MSU, the Nanooks held an impressive 8-4-1 record in their last 13 games, and over the last two years are 7-3 in the CCHA playoffs.
The hockey season has come to an end, but next Saturday the team holds its annual end-of-season Awards Banquet, April 8 at the Carlson Center.
March 16 - Hendry departs for big leagues
Jordan Hendry, one of the UAF's top defensemen, will not be returning for his final year of NCAA eligibility next season: He is working to join the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. The Admirals are a farm team of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks.
"Jordan has accomplished a lot in his career at UAF," said coach Tavis MacMillan. "He's in a situation where he's going to have his degree in his hand and he has professional opportunities being presented to him. I'd have liked to see him get an NHL contract, but he made the decision after talking with his family and family's advisor and while he's going to be missed, I am supportive of his decision."
