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. > 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. > 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). > Results and highlights will be posted here tomorrow. > Mark Sonnier [log in to unmask]