In what has to be considered one of the most amazing games in Nanook
hockey history Alaska Fairbanks won a thriller 6-5 Friday night over the
University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on a goal by Rob Phillips with just
19 seconds remaining. The Nanooks led by three goals with less than six
minutes to play when Lethbridge finally reached Nanook goalie Craig
Worrell for three late goals to tie the score. Phillips then took a
pass from Chris Kirwan on a rush into the Pronghorn zone and ripped a
shot upstairs to get the win.
And that's NOT the interesting part. The Nanooks had a 4-1 lead after
two periods, but were forced to go to walk-on goalie Craig Worrell in
the third period. Worrell, who had never before played in a collegiate
game and was not on the roster until Thursday night or even practicing
with the team, held his own for most of the period before Lethbridge
rallied to tie the score helped as much by Nanook penalties and
defensive breakdowns as by Worrell's inexperience and lack of recent
competitive play. Thanks to the goal by Phillips though, Worrell was
credited with the win in his first game.
Chris Marvel played a solid two periods in the nets, but has been
extremely sick all week and received fluids intravenously in the locker
rooom up until seconds before the opening faceoff and again after the
first period. Ian Perkins is out with continued problems from an ankle
injury suffered November 30. Third string goalie Wade Schachle is out
of town at his brother's wedding.
So, what an introduction to college hockey for Worrell, whose only other
appearance in a Nanook uniform was in the preseason Blue-Gold scrimmage
game. He definitely could not have imagined this happening a week ago.
Laurion contacted Worrell Thursday night, and after finding him
eligible, asked him to dress for this weekend.
To quote the Susan Adeletti's story in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner
start quote
"It was a huge, huge surprise," said the 5-foot-8, 187-pound goalie,
who'd practiced on occasion with the Nanooks this season. "I haven't
been to sleep since I got that call, so I'm kind of tired."
The Wasilla native skated by himself Thursday night right after the call
to prepare himself, and then again for an hour Friday morning and
another hour and a half Friday afternoon.
Then came game time and Worrell found himself in goal when the puck was
about to be dropped, in front of a crowd of 3,795. Marvel was receiving
intravenous treatment until just before the opening faceoff and barely
made it out in time for a last-minute switch to start the game.
"They were about to drop the puck with me in net. It was blowing my
mind, basically," Worrell said. "I've been wanting to play for UAF
since eighth grade. It's a long-term goal."
Worrell would start the third period for Marvel who was spent--with 12
saves--and UAF holding a 4-1 lead. He faced his first shot 4 minutes,
17 seconds into the period, on a power play, and would end the period
with 10 saves--all on the power play.
end quote
For those of us who knew what happened and who this unknown was with his
name written with a yellow marker on tape on the back of his jersey, as
you watched the team and starting goaltender Chris Marvel mob the game
winning goaltender, all you could think was "this only happens in the
movies."
Congratulations to the newest Nanook, Craig Worrell!
Eric Carlson
UAF Hockey Web Site
http://www2.polarnet.com/~jcarlson/uafhockey/index.html
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