FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, 5 March, 2005
Contact: Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director
907-474-6807

Nanooks, Seawolves Tie-UAF Earns Fourth Straight Governor’s Cup



FAIRBANKS, AK-The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ hockey team wasn’t playing for a tie in their game against state rival Alaska Anchorage at the Carlson Center Saturday evening.

But the Nanooks couldn’t have been happier with the result.

UAF scored three consecutive goals to erase a 2-0 first period Seawolf lead, withstood a late charge and earned a 3-all tie that gave the Nanooks possession of the Alaska Airlines’ Governor’s Cup for the fourth straight year.

UAF trailed, 2-1, at the outset of the third period. Senior right wing Jason Grinevitch (Glendon, AB/Drayton Valley-AJHL) tied the game 4:04 into the third period, picking up a loose puck and firing a shot under the crossbar past Seawolf goaltender Nathan Lawson.

Senior defenseman Cramer Hickey (San Jose, CA/Minot-AWHL) gave the Nanooks their first lead of the game seven and a half minutes later. He took a drop pass from sophomore center Lucas Burnett (Rossland, BC/Trail-BCHL) and fired home a slap shot to make it 3-2.

UAA pulled Lawson with 1:16 remaining, and scored the equalizer with 31 seconds remaining. Martin Stuchlik threw the puck in front of the net, and it deflected in behind UAF freshman goaltender Wylie Rogers (Fairbanks, AK/Victoria-BCHL) to tie the game at 3-all. The Seawolves put pressure on Rogers at the start of the overtime period, but he was equal to the task, and the game ended in a tie.

UAA broke on top early. Nick Lowe drove to the net and put in his own rebound to give the Seawolves a 1-0 lead at the 8:21 mark of the first period. Peter Cartwright and Jim Dahl assisted. Cartwright made it 2-0 at the 16:16 mark, taking Chris Tarkir’s pass in front of the net and sliding it home. Brandon Segal also assisted.

The Nanooks got the only goal of the second period. Freshman left wing Kyle Greentree (Victoria, BC/Victoria-BCHL) converted a pass in front of the net, beating Lawson from point-blank range. Grinevitch and freshman defenseman Brandon Gawryletz (Trail, BC/Trail-BCHL) assisted.

“We were playing for a win, not for a tie, but Anchorage played well in the first period,” said UAF Head Coach Tavis MacMillan. “It was like we started off playing at 70 miles an hour and they started off at 100 miles per hour. We have to get up to 100 miles per hour to stay with them. It was great to see Jason Grinevitch come up with a big goal in his last game. This senior class has done something no one else has-win the Governor’s Cup four years in a row. That’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

The Nanooks out shot UAA, 46-27, including a 37-12 advantage in the second and third periods. The Seawolves held a 10-7 edge in the first period, and outs hot UAF, 5-2, in overtime. Lawson made 43 saves, while Rogers was credited with 24.

UAA was blanked in three power play chances, while the Nanooks converted one of five.

With the tie, UAF moved to 13-15-4, while UAA is now 11-17-6. Both teams will go on the road to open their conference playoffs next weekend. The Nanooks will visit Bowling Green, while the Seawolves will travel to Wisconsin.

-UAF HOCKEY-