Blogopalypse: Unceremoniously 86'd

The UAA Hockey Fan Blog will no longer be credentialed by UAA.  Yesterday I sent what I thought was a housekeeping email regarding 2012-13 credentials ... same as I'd done in the past.  Then today I receive word that the UAA Athletic Department (in a decision Steve Cobb fully supports) will no longer supply the credentials.

Well isn't that an unpleasant surprise just days before I leave town.  Why?  Because I won't keep fighting battles that I've already fought and won.  Content here is my choice and I've honestly endeavored to strike a balance between my style and content for all readers.  I have no illusions that some content offended some people.  So what?  Be offended and move on.  Don't like colorful language?  Stay off the internet.

Their decision to pull my credentials is up to them.  They credentialed this blog for three years, I've been writing for what ... like 7? But, I'm not one to walk back into a bar that 86'd me.  You get kicked out of a joint arbitrarily and unceremoniously you don't go back in ... it's a Man Rule or something. Anyway,  it's a message that they don't want you there.  Message received.  I think I've done my share of promoting their program.

It's important to note here the awesome help I've received from Dallas Baldwin.  Thanks for everything Dallas ... it's been my honor to have been associated with you.  Thanks also to the wonderful Jane Pallister who so often simply took care of whatever I needed and always did so with grace and humor.

By the way.  Mike Peluso will have his number retired by the program.  I fucking made that happen.  Suck it Tim McDeffit.  It's Dunlop ...  With an "O".

Lastly, I'll still be at the Buckaroo Club on Thursday night at 7pm and hope to see those of you who still like me ....

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Before I get to the Sophomore and Freshman class previews (coming soon) I thought I'd give everyone a little story.  I'm leaving Alaska for Chicago this coming Saturday but mostly everything else here will be the same.  I'll be hosting (not as in "buying" though) an opportunity for anyone who is interested to come say goodbye in person.

2012-2013 Junior Class (Plus 1)

This seasons junior class is now Matt Bailey, Brett Cameron, Rob Gunderson, Chris Kamal, Andrew Pickering and Quinn Sproule.  I'd thought Jordan Kwas was amongst these guys when I started this post but ....

2012-2013 Senior Class

Here's the first of the "class" previews for the season. I've provided some brief highlights and tried to focus on some individual things that each of these players could bring to the table to help the team succeed.

Dear 2012-2013 Freshman Class

There's a few things we need to talk about.  First of all, welcome to "The Greatland".  That's what us arrogant Alaskans call the state we live in.  I know you think it's "The Last Frontier" but come on, outer space is "The Final Frontier"; so calling Alaska "The Last" is horribly inaccurate. 

Finally Eh?

It's been a fully delightful break for me since the season ended.  Years of year round focus on Seawolves Hockey does come with a price in personal time.  So I took lots of time off.  With that explained and excused, onto a big announcement.  I'm moving.  To Chicago.  Around September 15th.  What does that mean here?  It should mean very little actually.

WCHA Playoffs versus Minnesota

Nothing short of last year's effort and execution in two playoff wins versus the Gophers will likely result in success this year.  There are plenty of guys on the squad that know exactly what that took.  There's more than a couple of rookies who could step up in big ways.  Everyone has to play their best hockey game of the year as individuals and combine that with a committed team effort.  Nothing short of that.

That's what I think.  Share your thoughts in the comments.  I won't be doing any sort of live chat during the games other than the Chatango box in the right column.  If I can work the iphone magic.  The game is on GCI Channel 1 and Fox Sports North (whatever channel).

Post Game Interviews vs Bemidji State 3-3-12

And so ends another regular season of Seawolf Hockey. Although it is one that many of us would seemingly like to forget I hope that many of us will remember this season as a) The last season of a fantastic group of seniors that gave a lot to the team and to the program and b) Hopefully the beginning of something special for this large group of underclassmen.

It was disappointing not see a win for the group seniors in their last home game and certainly that seemed to be the mood of many of the players. It was great the effort put in by Brad, Curtis, Jade, and Dusan tonight, this season, and throughout their careers here at UAA. I hope for better in the playoffs and wish them luck in their futures, whatever they may be.

Post Game Interviews vs Bemidji State 3-2-12

2011-2012 Senior Tribute

It's that time of year again when after this weekend we fans won't get to see some of our favorite players in Seawolves Green and Gold on their home ice ever again.  It's always somewhat bittersweet to write these senior tributes because there's never a time when I didn't wish the NCAA had five years of eligibility in it's rulebook.

This year's graduating senior class is Brad Gorham, Curtis Leinweber, Jade Portwood and Dusan Sidor.  Finishing 4 years of schooling combined with playing this level of hockey is an accomplishment to be hailed.  These four young men represent the pinnacle of what being a successful NCAA student-athlete is all about.

Recruit Blake Tatchell Named SJHL League MVP

UAA Seawolves recruit Blake Tatchell was today named the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leagues Most Valuable Player for the 2011-2012 regular season.  Below is the text from the SJHL announcement.

1991 F Blake Tatchell (North Battleford SK) finished second in the SJHL scoring race with 42-goals and 44-assists.  He also finished 31-points ahead of the next highest scoring player on his team.   In addition, the Stars were pretty much guaranteed a win whenever Tatchell recorded two points or more.  His hockey career will continue next Fall at Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA Div I).

The North Stars finished 2nd in the 6 team Bauer Divison with a 41-15-0-2 record in 58 games.  Tatchell, a 5'10" 180lb left-handed center played in 57 games.  The North Stars have a bye in the first round of the league playoffs.

Congratulations to Blake on this very nice recognition.

Recruit Blake Leask Named AJHL Top Defenseman

UAA Seawolves recruit Blake Leask of the AJHL's Bonnyville Pontiacs has received that league's W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy designating him as the "Outstanding Defenceman" for this season.  Below is the text from the announcement.

 Blake Leask of the Bonnyville Pontiacs has been selected as the Top Defenceman for the 2012-2012 AJHL Season. The award is given annually to the defensive player who demonstrates the greatest all-round ability in the position throughout the season.

Leask led all AJHL defencemen in scoring with 49 points and was second overall in team scoring. During the 2011-2012 regular season, Leask recorded his first AJHL hat trick, 8 powerplay goals, 2 game winners, and enjoyed 7 games in which he scored 3 or more points. Leask was awarded the Pro Hockey Life Star of the Game five times.

Congratulations to Blake on this nice award.  I'm betting that we'll see more of him at forward here at UAA than we will of him playing on the blueline.

There'll be a comprehensive recruit update here following the season.

Post Game Interviews vs UAF

82 ain't pretty, but it still counts. The Seawolves took the lead in the Governor's Cup with a 3-2 win over Nanooks. It wasn't pretty, in fact the first period had me yelling for them to wake up (sorry guys, but like many UAA alum I don't take poor play against UAF very well). UAA came back in the second period, getting a quick goal from Eric Scheid. UAA then got a bit of a break, Kory Roy was hauled down on a breakaway and given a penalty shot (karma of the water bottle I said, one that didn't get called two years ago). He missed and on the ensuing faceoff Curtis Leinweber scored one past Greeneggsandham for a 2-1 lead. Brett Cameron scored the game winner on a sharp angle shot that went off eggsandham's stick. UAF got one back that needed a review to count but the Seawolves played well down the stretch and got some great saves from Chris Kamal (Rob Gunderson reportedly picked up an injury in practice and did not dress).

At least a point tomorrow and the Cup comes home. On another note, if you can't be in Fairbanks please head out to the Wells Fargo Center and watch the UAA Womens BBall team play UAF. Both games are important as, if my research is correct, no UAF team has beaten UAA this school year and these are the last two meetings. I Want A Clean Sweep! Go Seawolves!

Also: I'm hitting the road and will be up in Fairbanks. I can't guarantee interviews but I will taking some video highlighting the road trip.

Seawolves Burned In Last 10 Minutes

Losing by a big margin in the WCHA can carry the burden of shame.  Such a thing is not the case for the Seawolves after losing 8-3 to St. Cloud tonight.  Why?  Because tonight's game didn't turn into a blowout until about the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period.  It wouldn't be the first time a team ran out of gas on the road in the last 10 minutes of a two game road series.  No shame in that.

For 110 out of 120 minutes this weekend the Seawolves played exactly the kind of hockey that they'll need this next weekend against Fairbanks and during the last furlong of the WCHA season and playoffs.  There were lots of bright spots and things we can look forward to.

Hopefully there aren't too many hung heads on the trip home.  This team should actually be feeling pretty confident.  We've all been saying here that they've been playing good hockey and well ... they have.  So I can imagine this is a team that will come back hungry to take care of the state bragging rights business.  And one that going forward will have something to prove to it's WCHA opponents.

Finally, just let me say that there is too much good going in with the team for me to spend any time thinking about or concerning myself with that last 10 mintues.

Blaine's Eric Scheid Ends Drought with OT GWG vs. St. Cloud

Thank god nobody can say that UAA hasn't beaten SCSU on National Hockey Center ice anymore.  More appropriately, thank Eric Scheid as he scored the Seawolves first and last goal of the night.  I didn't see the game so this entry is about nothing other than putting that long stat of not winning in that joint behind us.

The Seawolves did everything to get a win a couple of years ago as a clock adjustment in the last 30 seconds gave St. Cloud the extra portions of a second along with the clock person at the NHC starting the clock VERY slowly.  It took a 6 on 4 extra attacker and power play to deny that win with .1 second left in the game.  

That night the Seawolves weren't able to score the game winner in OT.  Tonight Eric Scheid picked up that responsibility with his second goal.  I hope Eric's family was at the game to see it.

Good on the boys for the nice win.  That is all.

Post Game Interviews vs Minnesota State 2-11

A really short interview from Coach Shyiak as your idiot blogger forgot to charge his camera and the battery died in the middle of the interview. Oops.

Another close game where a single mistake did the Seawolves in. It is often a broken record that seems to be going on this season. I will defend to the point that it is, for the most part, not Coach's fault. Some onus needs to be taken by the players on their own play. They are after all, adults and should be held responsible for their own faults and successes. A coach is only responsible for so much.

Post Game Interviews vs Minnesota State

Back to the old ways it seems. Just when things seem to get going good the Seawolves come out and lay one out. Yes, the Seawolves scored the first goal on the PP but a bad second period lead to the Seawolves being 2-1 down. Another PP goal tied things but some bad play in front of the net gave the Mavericks the winner.

Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes. Mistakes will be punished. It is a hard lesson that needs to be learned once and for all.

"Not In Our Barn" Week

Welcome to the 1st unofficial UAA Seawolves and the official UAA Hockey Fan Blog "Not In Our Barn" week.  The second half of the season and the convenient six-game homestand haven't exactly gone the way the team and fans would have liked.  So I think it's an excellent short-term goal to not let Mankato think for a minute that they can come into the Sully and take any points.

Winning Saturday is the Better End of a Split

Never doubt that your favorite Seawolves blogger knows how to have a good time.  A win or a loss certainly doesn't dictate that eventuality.  That said (yes it's an overused phrase), enjoying yourself after a nice win certainly has it's advantages over enjoying yourself after a loss.  And let's be honest here ... I should have said "another" loss.  Anyway, I'm currently in the first referenced state of mind.

Post Game Interviews vs Duluth 2-4

The Seawolves win tonight 3-2 over #1 Minnesota-Duluth. It was game that was polar opposite of what had been happening for UAA. The Seawolves were giving up the first goal, often early in the game. Tonight they scored first, very early on. They'd fall further behind and end up chasing the game. Tonight, the got the second goal and made UMD chase. They weren't getting stellar goaltending. Tonight Rob Gunderson gave his best game of the season (and despite Matt Bailey's two goals, Gundy was my #1 star vote). The defense was mistake prone and giving up goals. Tonight, the defense was solid in preventing easy shots and giving Gundy a clear look at the puck.

This is a win that can go a long way. Time will tell if the Seawolves can carry this foward to the rest of the season...

Interviews tonight with Coach Shyiak and Rob Gunderson.

Post Game Interviews vs Duluth 2-3

Interview tonight with Coach Shyiak. No thoughts from me, I don't feel like repeating myself...

Seawolves vs Ugly Dogs

The Seawolves record versus the incoming and defending national champion UMD Bulldogs in the last twelve contests is 5-5-2.  Past records of course don't really mean anything on the ice this coming weekend.  What might matter a wee bit more is that UMD is 17-5-4 and UAA is 6-16-2 so far this season.  They come to town after getting only one point on their home rink versus MTU last weekend.  The Seawolves lost a pair to them back in November; 5-0 and 3-1.

Pictures From The Weekend

Post Game Interviews vs Denver 1-28

The Seawolves lose tonight to Denver 6-3. The Seawolves suffered what is becoming an all too familiar start giving up 4 goals in the first period and one in the second to go down 5-0. The Seawolves came back and made a game of it by scoring three straight goals to make it 5-3 with Naslund, Sproule, and Gellert scoring. But a late 5 minute major by Brad Gorham knocked off any chance of a comeback and DU added a PP empty netter.

7 straight losses will not do anything positive to the psyche. The Seawolves are a desperate, young team in dire of a win but, wins do not come easy at this level. The team is not playing terribly overall but, like I said last night, momentary lapses can kill you. The question remaining is whether the players can step up and gut out some points.

Post Game Interviews vs Denver 1-27

The Seawolves are, as Coach Shyiak puts it, in a "tough spell". 6 losses in a row can generally put a damper on things and it seems UAA may just be playing for not finishing in 12th. The Seawolves are not playing terribly. It is a matter of defensive lapses costing goals and not enough scoring punch. The mistakes seem small but in the unforgiving WCHA even small mistakes will be punished. UAA is young team that, to a certain extent, needs to find itself and do some growing. But in this league, it's not easy for team that needs to do it.

Interview tonight with Coach Shyiak.

54 Days, 21 Hours and 34 Minutes

Such is the number representing the amount of time between the end of the last home game on December 3rd, 2011 versus UND and this coming Friday night's game versus DU.  That's 4,742,440 seconds.  Four-million, seven-hundred forty-two thousand, four-hundred and forty seconds.  

Or seven weeks if you prefer simplicity.

That's a long time since we've been at the Sully.  And now of course there's three home series in a row.  That feast or famine cliche seems obvious but nevertheless appropriate.

Wisconsin 4 - Seawolves 0

Being outscored four to nothing doesn't necessarily mean you were outplayed by that much.  I thought tonight's game was closer than the score would indicate.  The difference to me was that once the Badgers got up by 2 goals they really played well in the neutral zone and in their own end.  The Seawolves were hard pressed to manufacture scoring chances.  

Not Time To Scream

Just a quick review of the this past weekend at MTU and a short look forward to this coming weekend at Wisconsin.  Obviously, Friday night was pretty brutal.  Sounded like there was some good play by the team but the breakdowns were too much to overcome.  Giving up quick multiple goals is always a killer.  Good on Dusan Sidor for his play on Friday which was good enough to get him the Saturday game.

Game Day: Seawolves @ MTU

There is no TV.  You can purchase a video stream at Michigan Tech's website.  Gametime is 3:07 Alaska time.  

I have confirmation that Rob Gunderson's absence from this trip has nothing to do with academics.  He was one of the players who missed practice on Dec 28th coming back late from break.  

Feel free to pop into the Chatango Room ... that chat box on the right column... over there ----> .. ya know?  I should be in there and listening to Kurt's call on the radio.

I'm Back ... But Everyone Else Isn't

Blog vacation over.  Bummer sorta for me.  But hockey this weekend against MTU should get me back into the required mode.  There is more to touch on than I hoped there would be.  Mickey Spencer is no longer on the team.  Everyone always wants to know the background when one of these departures occurs.  I'm not privy to any details.  Nor should I be.  Here's a fact about college hockey; players leave their teams sometimes.  And it's for a variety of reasons.