Finally!  After a 9-game home ice winless streak, the UAF Nanooks
dispatched the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-3 in front of a spirited crowd of
2,654 fans, who braved temperatures of -35 degrees and a recent rash of
disappointing performances.  In what may likely be a preview of the one
game playoff to determine the CCHA playoff #10 seed, the Nanooks survived
several mistakes to hang on for the victory, despite some truly bad
refereeing served up in the person of John Kelly.
 
For the first time in recent memory, UAF actually opened the scoring with
a nifty goal by assistant captain Corey Spring, who tipped a blast from
teammate Warren Carter past OSU goalie Tom Askey at 3:28 of period one.
Carter, who was set up by Dallas Ferguson, rotated around and skated in a
backwards arc about 25 feet in front of the net, finding a weak spot in
Askey's defense.
 
Once again, however, the lead was not to last.  The Buckeyes evened the
score exactly 1:33 later as Chad Power finished a pretty 2-on-1 off a feed
from Ryan Root and Steve Brent.  The power play goal came as Eon
MacFarlane was riding the penalty pine for holding, the first of many
questionable Kelly calls.  UAF netminder Larry Moberg, back from an
extended bout with the flu, made some timely saves, as his defense
abandoned him early and often.
 
UAF's relentless forechecking attack, led by Cody Bowtell and Forrest
Gore, continued the success begun during the CC and Merrimack series as
Bowtell picked off an OSU pass and raced in on Askey, deking him hard and
sliding the puck in stick side for the go-ahead goal at 17:31 of the
first.  At long last, both Bowtell and Gore have seemed to solve their
overskating problems.  Both have had numerous breakaway opportunities this
season, only to skate right past the puck after making goalies commit.
(Just ask UAA's Lee Schill, who was been beaten badly by Bowtell in the
season opening series only to have Cody blow by the open net too far in
front of the puck to get off a shot.)
 
The Buckeyes had no less than five power play chances in the second
period, only to be shut out by the Nanook forwards and Moberg's solid
goaltending.  Sean Fraser extended the UAF lead to 3-1, as he blasted a
low line drive past Askey at 16:21, with assists from Carter and Spring.
Askey played like a true stand-up goalie (at 6-2, 185 why not?) and could
not seem to get down quickly enough on the low shots.  UAF failed to
capitalize on his playing style, however, as their perimeter shooting was
predictably weak due to a chronic lack of take-charge pointmen.
 
Although down by two to open the final frame, OSU was not out of the game
by any means.  The Buckeyes again sparkled on a textbook power play 2-on-1
as Randy Holmes tapped in the easy pass from Sacha Guilbault at 1:03 while
Trent Schachle was serving out the remainder of his high-sticking penalty
whistled in the final seconds of the second period.  At 7:28, OSU took
advantage of a UAF bench minor for too many men, as Root tied the score on
an assist from Holmes.  The goal was set up when Moberg ventured too far
out of his crease to block a shot, only to have the puck get away from him
and find its way to Root, who was camped on the doorstep behind Moberg.
 
The faithful were none too pleased at seeing their Nanooks blow a 2-goal
third period lead against arguably one of the dimmer stars in the CCHA
constellation.  Add to that Mr. Kelly's failure to call even the most
blatant hooks and outright takedowns (is this guy a real ref or just doing
community service work as penance for white collar crime?) and things
looked like they were about to turn ugly.  Then, they did.
 
With just under 7 minutes to play, Askey came out of the crease ten or
fifteen feet to play a loose puck into the corner.  While he was out and
about, Nanook center and hometown boy Greg Milles politely knocked him on
his kiester (sp?), leaving an open net into which Forrest Gore politely
deposited the puck.  Again, Kelly and his ubiquitous whistle were not
available for comment.  For his unique playmaking ability, Milles (along
with Marcel Aubin) received an assist.  The Buckeyes yanked Askey for an
extra forward with 1:12 left but never mounted much of an attack.  Spring
buried his second of the night, an empty netter, at 19:23 assisted by
Ferguson and Carter to round out the scoring.
 
Both teams square off tomorrow night, same Bat time, same Bat channel.
I'll be back then to wrap up the series and offer some final comments.
And yes, it is supposed to warm up tomorrow... to 20 below!
 
Mark Sonnier
UAF '90, '96