UAA/MTU: Friday Night Photos and Recap

During the game last night I was proud of myself for making sure that I wrote down thoughts and observations as they occurred to me.  I've tried making such notes in the past and rarely used much of it in my final posts.  But last night I put gold onto the page.  Pure genius.  Unfortunately for you guys ... the browser window on the graciously loaned Windoze netbook I've been using wasn't actually on the interwebs ... and so all that hockey blogging gold went for naught.  It was frustrating so I went to bed and put this off til this morning.

2011-2012 Freshman Class

Scott Allen, Austin Coldwell, Derek Docken, Corbin Karl, Sam Mellor, Andrew Pettitt, Kory Roy and Eric Scheid are the eight new Seawolves this season.  Perhaps the best thing every season about analyzing the freshman is that I don't really know what they bring to the party.  So it's all pure anticipation.  And I'm full of positive anticipation regarding these guys.

Dear 2011 Seawolves Freshmen

All,

Welcome to Anchorage, UAA and Alaska. It's cool here, you'll probably like it and all that ... but summer is over, classes are in session and hopefully you are all taking captains practices seriously and getting fit.  There's a boatload of y'all.  And this year's team is gonna need you all to be fit and ready to go in just less than a month.

2010-2011 UAA Recruit Wrap-Up

Time for the season ending update for the incoming Seawolves rookie class.  This is a real positive group of committed players led perhaps by Sam Mellor but there's lots of other good players coming to wear the Green and Gold next year who look to turn a few heads also.

Olds Grizzlys D-Man Corbin Karl Commits to UAA

High scoring defenseman (12g, 27a in 56 games) Corbin Karl  (March 30, 1990) from the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL has committed to join the Seawolves for the 2011-2012 season.  His 12 goals this season ties him for second in goals amongst that league's blueliners.  

His total points for the season place him third on the Olds squad.  Karl is listed at 6ft and 200lbs and is from Foremost, Alberta.  Great name for a town.

The Grizzly's press release characterizes Corbin as having superior leadership abilities.  Coach Kevin Willison is quoted saying, 

"The short time that I have known Corbin he has certainly shown his leadership qualities. Through any kind of adversity, Corbin would be willingly to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his team. Playing multiple roles and always coming to the rink with a positive attitude and a great work ethic were traits that made Corbin a consistently positive leader."

Welcome to the Seawolves Corbin.  You're joining a team that is on the rise and which looks to be on the backend one of the better future group of blueliners in the league.

His addition to brings potential blueliners to next year's Seawolves to a total of 9 which I think opens up more possibility for the F/D listed Curtis Leinweber and/or Brad Gorham to move up to the forward line.  It also provides depth on the backline as insurance against injuries.  The Seawolves this season have had a relatively injury free year but planning for such inevitable things is certainly prudent.

Thanks to an alert commenter for this information.  I'm pretty busy today writing Senior Tributes and may not have noticed but for that.