Although CC roared into the Carlson Center gunning for a #1 ranking, it
was the Nanooks who played as if they had a tiger in their tanks (sorry
Exxon).  Both teams showed speed and puck control but it was CC's patience
and discipline which allowed the Tigers to escape with a 3-2 win in front
of 4,043 fans hoping to see Don Lucia's return to Fairbanks spoiled by his
former team.
 
The first period resembled a chess match more than a hockey game, as CC
appeared surprised by UAF's aggressive forechecking and overall hustle on
both ends of the ice.  The Nanooks were whistled for three minor penalties
but goaltender Larry Moberg and the UAF defense keep the Tigers scoreless
for the entire period.  CC kept mounting attacks on the UAF zone, only to
be beaten to pucks in the corners or simply knocked off the play by the
determined Nanooks.  However, the three power play chances did allow CC to
post a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal at period's end.
 
Period two showed both teams tiring a bit, which worked to the advantage
of the more experienced Tigers.  R.J. Enga netted his tenth goal of the
season following a right circle faceoff pass from Ryan Reynard at the 1:38
mark, beating Moberg through the pads.  A little more than 6 minutes
later, Tiger sniper Jay McNeill pounced on a Chad Remackel rebound left on
the doorstep for his 23rd marker of the year.  UAF's Cody Bowtell and
Forrest Gore had both set up breakaway shots on Tiger goalkeeper Ryan
Bach, only to be stoned in close.  Gore kept up the pressure, however,
netting his second of the season following a feed from Pat Williams and
some slippery skating through the CC defense.  Gore managed to stretch out
Bach to sneak the puck past stick side low at 9:28. The Tigers resumed
their attacks on Moberg, with several 3-on-2 breaks, finally scoring at
the 12:57 mark on a beautiful back door pass from Travis Cheyne to Geoff
Herzog, giving CC a 3-1 lead at the second intermission.  UAF actually
outshot the Tigers 12-11 during the second period, with Bach turning in a
solid performance in net to preserve the Tiger lead.  Remarkably, there
were no penalties during the entire period.
 
The Nanooks struck at the 3:50 mark of the third period, with Corey Spring
tipping in a pass from Bowtell, who was stationed behind the CC net.  With
their lead now cut to 3-2 and the crowd getting into the game, the Tigers
got to work on defense.  Despite two Nanook power plays, CC managed to
hang on for the win despite mustering only 5 shots on goal for the period,
to UAF's 7.  Credit Bach with an excellent game in goal as well as the
Tigers' penalty killing units, who snuffed out any Nanook hopes for an
upset.  UAF called time out with 47 seconds remaining and were able to
pull Moberg as time ticked down but did not mount a serious scoring
threat.  Ironically, the referee Piotrowksi was not much of a factor in
the game until the final seconds, when he inadvertantly knocked down a
Nanook pass up the ice, denying a final shot on goal.  Bach finished with
23 saves while Moberg saved 27 CC shots.
 
All in all, this was the best hockey game I've seen all season, with the
possible exception of UAF's second game against Maine back in October,
which ended in an identical 3-2 score.  Both teams skated cleanly yet
aggressively with good fore- and backchecking and some nifty moves in
close.  It's hard to believe this is the same Nanook team which just last
week took a 9-2 beating from Harvard in Fairbanks.
 
Tonight's rematch should prove interesting.  UAF fans and the local media
have built Coach Lucia into something of an icon, and justifiably so.  His
success at CC, combined with his place in UAF hockey history along with
predecessor and mentor Ric Shafer, would indeed be cause for much joy in
Fairbanks if he were to return home from Alaska with a loss to his former
team as a souvenir.
 
More after tonight's game and New Year's festivities.  I saw this posted
elsewhere recently, so for what it's worth, the 50-50 winner's share was
$585.
 
Mark Sonnier
UAF '90