I'm not sure what to think about the timing of such things but coincidence is second to irony in my book. UAA released the 07-08 schedule today.
For the first time in a number of years the Nye Frontier tournament doesn't include a WCHA team. I think that's a good thing. It isn't exactly what I'd call a strong field though with Robert Morris, Wayne State and Boston University. It is also a continuation of the match-up system instead of a true tournament format. That situation could have caused an embarrassing problem last year. If UAA had lost their second game then Colorado College would have been awarded the trophy in abstentia since they bolted for the airport right after their afternoon game.
The schedule continues the 4 game series against UAF for the Governor's Cup with the second series on Dec. 28th and 29th in Fairbanks. Expect that this will be the last year for that 4 game series which will be a good thing for UAA scheduling possibly making them available for a Holiday tournament; something I've been advocating for a few years. Lastly, I don't see any back to back weekends on the road. In the past such scheduling meant that UAA would stay in the lower 48 for an extended "team building" opportunity. It's best that student-athletes get as much time as possible in their actual classes so that is a good thing as well.
For the first time in a number of years the Nye Frontier tournament doesn't include a WCHA team. I think that's a good thing. It isn't exactly what I'd call a strong field though with Robert Morris, Wayne State and Boston University. It is also a continuation of the match-up system instead of a true tournament format. That situation could have caused an embarrassing problem last year. If UAA had lost their second game then Colorado College would have been awarded the trophy in abstentia since they bolted for the airport right after their afternoon game.
The schedule continues the 4 game series against UAF for the Governor's Cup with the second series on Dec. 28th and 29th in Fairbanks. Expect that this will be the last year for that 4 game series which will be a good thing for UAA scheduling possibly making them available for a Holiday tournament; something I've been advocating for a few years. Lastly, I don't see any back to back weekends on the road. In the past such scheduling meant that UAA would stay in the lower 48 for an extended "team building" opportunity. It's best that student-athletes get as much time as possible in their actual classes so that is a good thing as well.
Home games are in Caps:
Oct. 5 SOUTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECH. (ex. @ Wasilla)
Oct. 12 WAYNE STATE
Oct. 13 BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Oct. 19-20 ALASKA FAIRBANKS
Oct. 26-27 MINNESOTA STATE
Nov. 2-3 at St. Cloud State
Nov. 16-17 at Minnesota
Nov. 30-Dec.1 COLORADO COLLEGE
Dec. 7-8 at Minnesota Duluth
Dec. 14-15 DENVER
Dec. 28-29 at Alaska Fairbanks
Jan. 11-12 at Colorado College
Jan. 18-19 WISCONSIN
Jan. 25-26 at North Dakota
Feb. 1-2 MICHIGAN TECH
Feb. 8-9 at Minnesota State
Feb. 15-16 ST. CLOUD STATE
Feb. 22-23 at Denver
Feb. 29-Mar.1 MINNESOTA
Mar. 14-16 WCHA First Round Playoffs (in Anchorage eh? ...)
Mar. 20-22 WCHA Final Five
12 comments:
Oooh Donald, I KNEW YOU COULDN'T RESIST!!!!!!!
Your prescience is unfathomable.
I'm glad the exhibition game isn't in Soldotna this year.
So who is the 3rd team coming for the Nye? Wayne St, Boston and UAA make only 3 teams.
Robert Morris. The school ... not the guy.
What's so bad about Soldotna?
nothing is wrong with soldotna one of the greatest towns in alaska
There is a reason why they call it Slowdotna
I've lived in Soldotna for most of my life. It's awesome in the summer time with all the fishing, but the winters are pretty lame if you dont own a snowmachine or some kind of rec vehicle to kill time. Good thing i'm in a-town in the winter.
Nothing wrong with Soldotna, but the exhibition games have been there the last couple of years. I'd rather see them someplace like Wasilla, maybe it will generate some interest from the fans there.
They are already into hockey because of the Av's. Let's face it, nobody is gonna drive to Anchorage from Soldotna to watch a UAA game, but someone in Wasilla very well may.
when uaa does these exhibition games in soldotna and wasilla, it gives the people of the respective towns, a chance to watch a high quaility hockey game close to home. It was pretty much packed in soldotna when uaa came down this past season when i made the trip home. It's fine if students make the trip to see them play, but the intention is to put on a show for people who dont see uaa hockey games as often as anchorage people do.
Yeah, about those uaa students who are fans, all 20 out of 20,000 of us.
People may not drive from Anchorage to see a game in Soldotna, but people in Soldotna (or Kenai, or Nikiski, or Sterling) will come out to the barn and watch some hockey. Both exhibitions were 2,000+ SRO sell-outs at the Sports Center.
Really, I like the alternating location thing, as it generates interest for the team outside of Anchorage. Both communities have avid hockey communities, and will come out in droves to watch any good hockey game.
As for the NAHL connection, Soldotna is getting a new team for the upcoming season. I believe that they've already signed a pretty good kid out of Kenai, if memory serves me correctly.
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