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Statistics and Game Summaries The Alaska Nanooks Women's Hockey Club is tied with RRCC for a second place ranking in the West. This is the highest ranking the program has attained thus far. The last ranking comes out February 15th. The top three teams from the West and the top three teams from the East will be invited to the ACHA National Tournament in Wooster, Ohio on March 10th - 12th.
Trip #2 - January 12th- 16th:
"The Coach's Breakdown"
Alaska
Nanooks 1 Rainy River Community College 2 (OT) -
After two, three hours flights, a six hour layover in
Seattle and five hour drive to International Falls, MN
it would have been easy to excuse the first game due to
travel legs. Overcoming adversity was the theme of this
trip and from the drop of the first puck the ladies were
ready to put any excuses behind them and prove to the
rest of the ACHA they belong with the best. This game,
as well of the ones that followed, proved to be close
and low scoring. It was scoreless heading into the third
period but The Rainy River Voyageurs scored early on in
the third to take the lead. It remained that way most of
the period and with a penalty against with 3:34 to go,
time was running out for a comeback. After a successful
penalty kill, Linda Evans scored an
unassisted goal with just over a minute to go and the
game headed into overtime. In the extra frame the
Nanooks had the momentum but such as it is in hockey,
momentum can change in an instant. A scramble in front
of the Nanooks goal and a quick shot ended the game
abruptly. Although outshooting the opposition 27-19, we
lost a tough game, but similarly to the previous trip,
the girls used that loss as motivation for the next
night.
Alaska
Nanooks 1
RRCC 0 - Katrina Lydon had
24 saves to register her and the team’s second shutout
of the season. Again, a low scoring affair, both goalies
made key saves to keep the game scoreless. A powerplay
goal by Brita Irving in the first
period proved to be the only goal the Nanooks needed to
hand the defending national champion Voyageurs their
first loss of the season. Defensively the Nanooks’ work
ethic kept the Voyageurs prime scoring chances to a
minimum as most of the shots were from the perimeter,
and rebounds were smothered by Lydon or cleared away
from danger. An outstanding effort from every individual
on the team allowed the Nanooks to savor the win
against the #2 ranked team and prove to
themselves what they are capable of.
Alaska
Nanooks 3 University of Minnesota Duluth 2 -
Overconfident or travel weary, whatever it was, the
Nanooks came out slow to start the game and the Bulldogs
took advantage staking their way to a 2-0 lead halfway
through the game. Even with ample powerplay
opportunities, the ladies could not capitalize. It
wasn’t until four minutes left in the second period that
the Nanooks scored what was likely the most important
goal of the season. Rackell Kowalchuk
threw the puck toward the net and it found a corner,
cutting the lead in half and giving the team some
momentum after their listless start. With the powerplay
opportunities continuing to come their way, both
Brita Irving and Kayla Weber
scored in the third period giving the Nanooks the lead.
A furious final 60 seconds found the ladies facing a 6
on 4 as UMD with a powerplay and an extra attacked,
fought for the equalizer. When the final buzzer rang the
ladies were able to enjoy a hard fought, come from
behind victory, largely thanks to special teams play. It
wasn’t their best game of the trip, but proved the
character of the girls as they were able to will
themselves to victory.
Alaska Nanooks 4 UMD 1 -
Finally, a game on the trip where it
didn’t come down to the last second, but
it started poorly. The Bulldogs staked
themselves to a 1-0 lead halfway through
the first and controlled the play for
most of the period. Another piece of
adversity to overcome presented itself
after the 1st period. Although
resurfacing between periods all weekend,
the UMD coaches informed us there would
be no flood between the periods,
eliminating the opportunity to rest and
refocus. With the team visibly tired
from the previous three contests, this
game was always going to be a bigger
mental than physical battle, and the
ladies responded convincingly to this
challenge. Forgetting about their sore
and tired bodies, the start of the 2nd
period the ladies came out fast and
scored three goals in the first seven
minutes of the period, with
Kowalchuk getting the first and
Evans scoring the next
two. Their intensity forced UMD to
exercise their timeout to slow down the
onslaught from the Nanooks, but it was
too late. A beautiful 3rd period passing
play between Kowalchuk and Evans
resulted in Kowalchuk’s second goal of
the game and secured the win.
Flying home after a 3-1 trip, with the one loss being in OT against the #2 and #4 ranked teams was a great feeling. This team has proved not only they have the talent to be ranked with the best, but more importantly the character and mental toughness to preserve when faced with adversity. For now, as school begins this week the team will enjoy a little down time from hockey while they settle into another semester at UAF. There is plenty of hockey left however. With games in Fairbanks February 11-12, a trip to Anchorage the following weekend, and a couple more exhibition games after that the team will continue to practice and prepare as though we are heading to nationals. Meanwhile we’ll be planning another fundraiser and doing our small part as the Alaska Icebreakers host the District tournament in Fairbanks near the end of February.
GO NOOKS!
Coach Vockeroth
Game 1, 12/01/11: vs. UAF goal by Shawna Jusczak, Assist
Rackell Kowalchuk
Game 2, 12/02/11: vs. SDSU,
2-0 win. The most complete game of the trip. As a coach,
it was a great game to be a part of. Still smarting from the loss the previous
night, the ladies came out of the gate strong and never looked back. Two first
period goals by Brita Irving and Rackell Kowalchuk were all that were needed as
the Nanooks recorded their first shutout in program history, a 24 save
performance by Katrina Lydon. The increase in hustle was evident all over the
ice, from blocking shots to winning individual battles, the team was flying.
Whether it was a shorthanded shot block by Shawna Jusczak leading to the goal by
Kowalchuk or, Lauren Bradley out hustling the leading scorer in our league to an
open puck, every player contributed in the win. This game raised the
expectations for how strong of a team the Nanooks can be this year.
UAF goals by Brita Irving (Game Winner), Assist Rackell Kowalchuk and Rackell
Kowalchuk
Game 3, 12/03/11: vs.
UAF goals by 1st: Shawna Jusczak
Unassisted, Linda Evans Unassisted (game winner)
Game 4 12/04/11: vs. NDSU,
3-2 OT win. Aiming to bounce back from an unspectacular game
the night before, the Nanooks were shocked to find themselves behind 2-0 in the
middle of the second period. The physical and mental fatigue from the games and
perpetual travel was evident as the Nanooks were constantly trying to keep pace
with a never ending NDSU fore-check. Two goals in the second frame were enough
to tie it up and although peppering the net with 41 shots through regulation
time the ladies could not put another one past the NDSU goalie. In overtime the
ladies came out strong, outshooting the Bisons 7-1 before Shelby Graff’s point
shot found its way through a screen into the back of the net. It was great to
come out of
UAF goals by 1st: Shelby Graff (assists: Irving)
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