As temperatures outside warmed up to a balmy -20 degrees, the action inside the Carlson Center heated up as well.  In the evening's first contest, the
University of Massachusetts Lowell cashed in on three of its six power
play opportunities, including the game winner with 37 seconds to play, to
post a 3-2 win over Western Michigan.  The scrappy, tight checking
contest ended in a bench-clearing brawl as the final horn sounded. It was
difficult to assign blame to any one player, as several small melees
erupted during the course of the fracas.  The crowd was stunned by the
display and cheered wildly when linesman Rufus King decked a WMU skater
whose gloves, helmet and jersey had been shed during the altercation.  Oddly, only minor penalties were assessed to five players, 3 Broncos and
2 River Hawks, following review of videotape footage following the game.
WMU goals were scored by Brown and Duke while Donovan, Daw and Concannon
all tallied power play goals for Lowell.  Bronco goalie Brian Renfrew
stopped 20 of 23 River Hawk shots while UML netminder Fankhouser saved 26
of 28 Bronco shots.
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In the nightcap, the Flames of the University of Illinois Chicago
scorched the host UAF Nanooks 7-1 in front of a subdued crowd of 3,551.
Despite entering the game with a 2 of 62 power play success ratio, the
Flames used aggressive skating and crisp passes to convert 2 out of 7 man
advantage situations.  Nanook goalie Brian Fish looked shellshocked as he
departed the ice at 7:56 into the third period, having given up 7 Flame
goals on 30 shots.  Fish could not be blamed for the majority of the
scoring, however.  UIC outhustled UAF in every aspect of the game,
screening Fish and setting up numerous shots from the blueline while
converting subsequent rebounds.  UIC defenseman Matt Brenner lead scorers
with 2 goals.  Other Flames players to light the lamp included Ryan
Walls, who had a goal and two assists, Shannon Finn, who contributed a
goal and two assists as well, and Ryan Furness, who tallied three
assists.  Nanook captain Warren Carter scored UAF's lone goal at 9:36 of
the first period.  From that point on, Flames goaltender Paul Spncer shut
down the 'Nooks, finishing with 19 saves.
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The tournament concludes tonight with Ilinois Chicago facing
Massachusetts Lowell at 4:30.  In the second game, UAF will meet Western
Michigan at 7:30 (all times AST).
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Results and highlights will be posted here tomorrow.
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Mark Sonnier
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