Both UAF and Merrimack entered tonights matchup with something of an axe
to grind.  Both schools have suffered from a severe Jekyll and Hyde
complex throughout the season, exhibiting occasional flashes of brilliance
intermixed with long stretches of outright mediocrity.  Each team
desperately needed a solid performance in preparation for the home stretch
into their respective conference playoffs.  In the end, it was a
disciplined Warrior squad that skated away with a win in Fairbanks Friday,
stifling UAF 4-1 in front of 3,041 Carlson Center patrons.
 
If the stars were indeed out, they all came to rest on the shoulders of
Merrimack goaltender Martin Legault.  The sophomore netminder turned away
36 of 37 Nanooks shots, a great number of which were from point blank
range.  He displayed incredible quickness and foot speed during flurries
in front of the net and stoned UAF on several breakaway chances.  Getting
timely defensive help, Legault came up with big saves time and time again,
much to the chagrin of the frustrated Nanooks.  Most impressive, though,
was his response to quick transition plays after several long stretches of
inactivity during the second period. Often, such a situation can throw
disrupt the play of a hot goalie, throwing him out of rhythm.  Legault
kept himself in the flow of the game with constant motion, following the
puck in an almost mechanized fashion.  His well-deserved shutout bid was
spoiled (much to my personal disappointment) in the games final minute as
UAFs Forrest Gore skated in close during a 4 on 4 situation and parked a
high slapshot top shelf.  To his credit, the vast majority of the crowd
remained to watch Legaults performance with a near sense of reverence.
 
UAF goalie Brian Fish was nearly as spectacular, stopping 29 of the 32
shots offered by the Warriors.  All 3 goals he allowed were the result of
defensive lapses, as Fish fought repeatedly to collect rebounds his
defensemen were unable to clear.  The first goal was netted at the 15:08
mark of period 1 by Matt Adams, who skated in from the right wing and
wristed a low shot which Fish got a pad on but was unable to completely
stop.  Casey Kesselring and Rob Beck were credited with assists.  Adams
returned the favor along with Beck, assisting on a Kesselring goal at
11:16 of the second period which proved to be the game winner.  The goal
resulted as Fish lost sight of the puck with play moving away from the
net.  Kesselring managed to backhand the puck low and away from Fish
through a tangle of skates and sticks.  The Nanooks mustered a 5 on 3
advantage late in the period but couldnt beat Legault and company.
 
Adams scored again for the Warriors with under seven minutes to play in
the third, hustling to a quasi-breakaway from inside the UAF zone.  Credit
assists to Beck and Mark Cornforth.  Daryl Krauss finished the Merrimack
scoring with his fourth goal of the season, an unassisted empty-netter at
19:32 resulting from an intercepted pass by UAFs Dallas Ferguson.  The
goal was indicative of the Nanooks lackluster blueline play all season, as
only Kirk Patton sports a positive +/- rating among Nanook defensemen.  On
the other hand, Merrimacks defense sparkled in front of Legault, screening
a large number of shots which never made their way to the net.
 
In the final analysis, Merrimack played exactly as they were supposed to;
reserved on offense yet confident and relaxed on defense.  The forwards,
led by Adams, applied consistent pressure to the UAF zone but never forced
the play.  Instead, they allowed the Nanooks ample chances to make mental
mistakes, then capitalized.  If not for some nifty stops by Fish
traversing the crease, the score would have no doubt been much more in
the Warriors favor.
 
Its no wonder Merrimack has been playing well against top teams of late.
The squad plays well together and utilizes a patient, persistent style.
With such a solid (and surprisingly young) defensive corps, this team is
destined to cause trouble for future Hockey East opponents.  I found
myself silently cheering as they kept thwarting each Nanook scoring
chance.  As for goaltending, if Eric Thibeault plays anything at all like
Legault, UAF is in for a long night tomorrow.
 
On the other end of the rink, UAF is going nowhere fast.  After 23 games,
the Nanooks still play as if they were a collection of strangers engaged
in a Saturday afternoon game of pond hockey.  Sure, there are the
occasional highlight film plays, but so far there has been no indication
of a true team developing.  Granted, this team is young and relatively
inexperienced.  But as I compared the rosters, I saw two very similar
teams on paper.  The difference appears to center on desire and attitude.
Hopefully, some of the Merrimack magic will rub off on UAF before the
weekend is finished.
 
More after tomorrow nights contest...
 
Mark Sonnier
UAF '90, '96(?)