Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

[Wondering]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

I heard that Nik Yaremchuk fractured his tibia in Saturday's game. Hope that report is wrong, but I fear it's probably correct. Poor guy. Injuries are always awful, but they seem especially cruel when they wreck a guy's senior season.

 

[Squarebanks]

I heard that Nik Yaremchuk fractured his tibia in Saturday's game. Hope that report is wrong, but I fear it's probably correct. Poor guy. Injuries are always awful, but they seem especially cruel when they wreck a guy's senior season.

That's not good. He's been a mainstay point producer. If there's a silver lining, it happened early in the season. If he recovers well he could be back in January.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

The team will miss Yaremchuk’s all-around solid play so everyone is going to have to step it up. It would be nice to get six points this weekend, but I’m sure the Lakers are thinking the same thing.

We have been a fairly fast team over the last couple of years but haven’t necessarily utilized it to our advantage. This year we seem to have figured out how to step up the pace of our game a little. We have been the better skating club in every game I’ve seen this year, including our match up with UND and last Friday’s loss to Ferris.

Our young D is getting better every week but still has a way to go. We sure let a lot of forwards take us wide and then cut back to the crease with puck control. Not sure if it is just inexperience with the speed of the college game, not enough upper body strength, or just not moving the feet. We seem to be a step behind and can’t quite take the guy off the puck. That creates lots of issues for our inexperienced goaltending. Nonetheless, should be a good series.

Go Nooks!

 

[Displaced Alaskan]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

The team will miss Yaremchuk’s all-around solid play so everyone is going to have to step it up. It would be nice to get six points this weekend, but I’m sure the Lakers are thinking the same thing.

We have been a fairly fast team over the last couple of years but haven’t necessarily utilized it to our advantage. This year we seem to have figured out how to step up the pace of our game a little. We have been the better skating club in every game I’ve seen this year, including our match up with UND and last Friday’s loss to Ferris.

Our young D is getting better every week but still has a way to go. We sure let a lot of forwards take us wide and then cut back to the crease with puck control. Not sure if it is just inexperience with the speed of the college game, not enough upper body strength, or just not moving the feet. We seem to be a step behind and can’t quite take the guy off the puck. That creates lots of issues for our inexperienced goaltending. Nonetheless, should be a good series.

Go Nooks!

I've been impressed with the Freshman this year, and I hope Yaremchuk's absence can be mitigated. The Lakers are certainly going to be hoping for at least a split, but the Nooks are absolutely capable of grabbing 6 points.

It is strange seeing the nooks play loose on the D and let in some weak goals while having such an offensive presence. Very fun to watch, although more nerve-racking.

 

[Bill]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

LSSU has also been hit with injuries. Not even making the trip to Alaska are Kevin Kapalka (#1 goalie) and two of their best forwards, Colin Campbell and Kellan Lain.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

From Danny Martin's preview in today's News-Miner:

Fairbanks is located in Interior Alaska and Sault Ste. Marie is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Glad we got that cleared up.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

The Nooks are a pretty good skating club but still have problems finishing. The first ten minutes of the game was all Nooks, then the Lakers settled down and somewhat changed the tempo of the game. It was one of those games that last year had a Nook loss written all over it. Skate pretty well, outshoot the opponents, but give up crucial goals on limited but quality scoring opportunities. The Lakers had some quality chances.

Murdock was outstanding. He kept the Lakers in a position to win. Could go either way again tonight.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

The Nooks are a pretty good skating club but still have problems finishing. The first ten minutes of the game was all Nooks, then the Lakers settled down and somewhat changed the tempo of the game. It was one of those games that last year had a Nook loss written all over it. Skate pretty well, outshoot the opponents, but give up crucial goals on limited but quality scoring opportunities. The Lakers had some quality chances.

Murdock was outstanding. He kept the Lakers in a position to win. Could go either way again tonight.

Go Nooks!

No question we have some things to work on...way too many passes went offsides last night and we had several golden chances that should have been buried. LSSU's goal was the result of a bad bounce and Cahill getting caught on the wrong side of the net.

But, we have way more grit than last year. The 11-12 squad would have lost that game last night. I believe all four of our wins have been come-from-behind. And, it's hard to be too upset about winning two in a row with both GWG's coming with under 60 seconds in regulation.

Should be a battle tonight. LSSU won't want to make that flight home with no points.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Well...

Anytime you get in the neighborhood of 50 shots on goal and are shut out until late in the game, it's probably not your night. I also think Cahill would like #3 back.

Lakers won this game in the 2nd period. We got away from our game and seemed more focused on laying the wood to LSSU players, and when they got that second goal despite the physicality it was all over. Murdock was a beast for them...reminded me of a vintage Chad Johnson performance.

 

[GoalieEd]

Well...

Anytime you get in the neighborhood of 50 shots on goal.......

I'm a NHL refugee reconnecting with my college team. It seemed there were a lot of shots on goal, but not a lot of quality chances. We're they shooting the puck so much to get rid of it and not holding it long enough to setup a scoring chance? Is the large number of shots more typical for the college game then other leagues?

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Biased response here, so you may need to filter it a bit. There were tons of quality chances. The Nooks were a better skating team IMHO and the problem was almost too much time and space. We held the puck too long in many cases and tried to get too cute with it. Murdock stopped everything and when he did give up rebounds, we just weren’t in position to capitalize. This wasn’t the case of a team who likes to dump on net instead of skating it in or dumping into the corners. The Nooks were successful carrying play into the zone. SOGs were indicative of play. That’s why it’s a frustrating loss. The Lakers played good team defense in tight and blocked a lot of shots, and Murdock was both very good and very fortunate on a lot of bounces. The Lakers did what they needed to do to win. The Nooks didn’t.

 

[Squarebanks]

I'm a NHL refugee reconnecting with my college team. It seemed there were a lot of shots on goal, but not a lot of quality chances. We're they shooting the puck so much to get rid of it and not holding it long enough to setup a scoring chance? Is the large number of shots more typical for the college game then other leagues?

mmf pretty much nailed it. UAF had plenty of high-quality chances, but Murdock stood on his head all night. UAF would have won by a score of about 5-3 if he doesn't have a borderline transcendent experience in net. Maybe it was the aurora borealis that did it.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Considering we spent half the game shorthanded, I think we were somewhat fortunate to get the tie. Impressive performance by Keeney in his second start.

Sucks to lose the shootout and the extra point. I hope the nWCHA doesn't plan on keeping the shootout.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

I didn’t fork out any moola for video, so listened to Bruce on the radio. Sounded like when we stayed out of the box we somewhat controlled play, but it’s hard to tell. Did anybody pay for their downstream and is it worth it?

Ending the game a man down for a full five minutes is tough. I thought we had mr. mo on our side and was looking for late heroics again. Good job salvaging a tie out of that. Was Gehon’s penalty really dumb or a close but unfortunate call.

Keeney sounded very solid. Does that earn him a second night or is Thompson scheduled to start no matter what? Hopefully the boys stay out of the box and put in the effort we know they can and end the trip on a high note.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

I didn't watch either. Wasn't able to panhandle enough change on the streets of downtown.

I didn’t fork out any moola for video, so listened to Bruce on the radio. Sounded like when we stayed out of the box we somewhat controlled play, but it’s hard to tell. Did anybody pay for their downstream and is it worth it?

Ending the game a man down for a full five minutes is tough. I thought we had mr. mo on our side and was looking for late heroics again. Good job salvaging a tie out of that. Was Gehon’s penalty really dumb or a close but unfortunate call.

Keeney sounded very solid. Does that earn him a second night or is Thompson scheduled to start no matter what? Hopefully the boys stay out of the box and put in the effort we know they can and end the trip on a high note.

Go Nooks!

 

[GoalieEd]

I didn't watch either. Wasn't able to panhandle enough change on the streets of downtown.

Driving so I didn't buy yesterday but paid for the monthly pass for tonight. If there is an archive of the game I could share access for a few days if interested in a rerun(s).

 

[Suze]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Considering we spent half the game shorthanded, I think we were somewhat fortunate to get the tie. Impressive performance by Keeney in his second start.

Sucks to lose the shootout and the extra point. I hope the nWCHA doesn't plan on keeping the shootout.

Don't think there are any plans to use the shootout from what I've heard.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Gritty win for the Nooks tonight beating tOSU 3-1. Did it with goals from Beck (power-play), Grandberg (even strength), and Henderson (short-handed). Sounded like the boys controlled play as long as they weren’t in the box. They transitioned well and really kept pressure on the Buckeyes, outshooting them 45-33. Finished up with 4 out of 6 road points. Good job Nooks.

Western will be another big test for the Nooks next weekend. But we may have found ourselves a starting goaltender. Keeney played well and the boys played well in front of him.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Don't think there are any plans to use the shootout from what I've heard.

Good.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

Gritty win for the Nooks tonight beating tOSU 3-1. Did it with goals from Beck (power-play), Grandberg (even strength), and Henderson (short-handed). Sounded like the boys controlled play as long as they weren’t in the box. They transitioned well and really kept pressure on the Buckeyes, outshooting them 45-33. Finished up with 4 out of 6 road points. Good job Nooks.

Western will be another big test for the Nooks next weekend. But we may have found ourselves a starting goaltender. Keeney played well and the boys played well in front of him.

Go Nooks!

Four points in a road series is always good to have. And, raise your hand if anybody thought the Nanooks would be in 2nd place in the conference after three conference series.

I like this year's iteration of the Nanooks more and more every weekend. They are displaying some grit and mental toughness that wasn't there the last two seasons; if my memory is correct every game we've won this year we've been down at least one goal at some point in the game.

On the goaltenders: I know it's hard for Thompson to be backing up the younger guys as a senior, but I think at this point as much game action as Cahill and Keeney can get will serve us well the next 3 to 4 years. I've liked what I've seen out of all three guys, though. Since Keeney won tonight I would assume he'll get the nod on Friday against Western; that's been the definite trend this season.