For the second night in a row, the UAF Nanooks dominated the Miami
Redskins in every facet of the game.  This time, however, UAF posted a
convincing 6-2 victory in front of 3,052 appreciative fans.  The
difference was Miami mistakes.  Although there were no more miscues than
in Friday night's game, this time the Nanooks capitalized at nearly every
opportunity, frustrating the Redskins and their league-best goalie Charles
Thuss.
 
Ironically, it was Miami who opened the game with authority, keeping the
Nanooks off balance and scoring the first goal.  At the 7:48 mark of
period one, freshman Tim Leahy directed a Todd Rohloff pass past UAF
netminder Larry Moberg.  The remainder of the period featured defense, as
both squads rarely allowed the other to penetrate the offensive zone.  At
the first intermission, Miami held a mere 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Nanook assistant captain Corey Spring gave the fans something to cheer
about at 2:49 of the second period. Taking the pass from Pat Williams and
Bob Schwark, he flattened Thuss with a textbook deke in close before
lifting the puck into the open net for his 12th goal of the season.  The
goal proved inspirational to Moberg as well as the crowd, as he went on a
rampage between the pipes.  His first victim was Redskin winger Dan
Carter, who came in from the red line on a breakaway, only to be stopped
by Moberg's lightning-quick pads.  Time after time, Moberg played as if he
were in front of a brick wall, sucking in loose pucks and deflecting
rebounds into the corners and out of harms way.
 
Spring later intercepted an errant Miami clearing pass and netted an
unassisted goal at 10:23 of the second, parking a quick wrist shot high
over Thuss' outstretched glove.  UAF's forechecking was sensational
throughout the period, denying Miami any opportunity to mount an attack
while setting up scoring chances on the Redskin net.  Rob Phillips gave
UAF a 3-1 with 4:08 to play in the period.  Thuss slid out of his crease
to his left, attempting to cut down the angle, only to catch an edge and
fall, leaving Phillips the open net.  Assists were credited to Dallas
Ferguson and Corey Spring.
 
The Nanook offense continued its withering assault on Thuss in the third
period.  Parking himself on the Miami doorstep, Cody Bowtell took a nice
feed from Rob Phillips and banged in his 14th of the season at the 4:12
mark.  During a Nanook penalty to Kirk Patton (holding), UAF's Fred Scott
picked off a Redskin pass and skated in between the circles, blasting a
low slap shot that beat Thuss through the pads.  The unassisted goal put
the Nanooks on top by a 5-1 score.  The Redskins managed to cut the lead
to 5-2 at 8:32, as Leahy netted his second of the night with help from
Barry Schutte and Tom White.  Although it was an even strength goal, Leahy
caught the Nanooks in transition following the expiration of Pattons
penalty.
 
It was Corey Spring whose star shone the brightest for UAF.  The senior
right winger from Cranbrook, BC completed the hat trick at 14:06.  The
goal was a strange one, though, as Spring raced Thuss to a loose puck near
the Miami blue line.  Thuss got to the puck first, but his clearing pass
struck Spring and bounced into the left corner.  Spring picked up the puck
and raced back toward the net, which was guarded admirably by a Miami
defenseman.  Spring tried to jam the puck in but it sat on the goal line
against the left post.  Finally, as Thuss raced back to get into position,
the resulting flurry in front of the net must have pushed the puck in
because the red lamp lit up.  Thuss crumpled in front of the net, laying
face down for some time.  His helmet was several feet away from him and he
was attended to by the Miami trainer for several minutes. He got to his
feet but was helped from the ice to the locker room by his teammates.  I
did not see what happened to him but Kevin Deschambeault came in to play
out the remainder of the game.  He was not warmed up by his team but was
able to stone Forrest Gore on a breakaway in the games closing minutes.
 
The prevailing sentiment after the game was one of vindication for UAF,
who avenged not only the previous nights heartbreaker, but also last
year's season-ending playoff loss in Oxford.  Miami still captured the
season series 3-1, posting 5-1 and 3-2 wins in Ohio back in early
December.  Depending on the outcome of Miamis final CCHA games and
subsequent tournament seeding, these two teams may meet again if UAF wins
its one game play-in against likely 10th place Ohio State on March 7.  The
Nanooks close out the regular season in two weeks, hosting Mankato State
March 3-4.
 
Mark Sonnier
UAF '90, '96
 
 
Scalping Watch:  By the way, the Redskins did scalp some ice after last
night's 3-2 win.  Deschambeault and company rather unobtrusively collected
a few scrapings near the team's exit without incident.  The few Nanooks
who remained on the ice did not appear to notice.