Alaska Nanooks 2012-2013: Going Out With a Bang

[Squarebanks]

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

Do we know if either Beck or Taranto will be in the lineup tonight?

Edit: opps...just missed you post.

Haven't heard about Beck. Hopefully they both can play. Even if they're only 50% there physically every bit helps.

 

[Squarebanks]

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

Well, that sucks. Bummer of an end to a quietly good season. 17 wins is still nothing to sneeze at. I have to give Sparty props, they came ready to play in Game 1 and that made all the difference.

Best of luck to our 7 seniors. This is the best graduating class in terms of talent that I can remember for at least several years, and I think they will be sorely missed next season. It can be easy to forget that these guys took us to the NCAA tournament, earned home playoff berths three out of four years, mostly dominated UAA with a 6-2 record and four Gov Cups, and got the program to where a 17 win season seemed just ok. Several of those guys should be landing pro deals shortly and it will be exciting to see where they end up.

We have some work to do in the offseason but we should be excited to start in the WCHA in the fall. Hopefully the administration comes up with a plan to create some excitement for the move; our attendance slipped a bit this year (our playoff turnout was beyond pathetic, it was downright embarrassing) and sticking heads in the sand isn't going to solve anything. If the athletic department promoted every home game like they do the Gov Cup we would have a lot of buzz going around.

Go 'Nooks. Win the offseason.

 

[seawolfpunk]

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

Well, that sucks. Bummer of an end to a quietly good season. 17 wins is still nothing to sneeze at. I have to give Sparty props, they came ready to play in Game 1 and that made all the difference.

Best of luck to our 7 seniors. This is the best graduating class in terms of talent that I can remember for at least several years, and I think they will be sorely missed next season. It can be easy to forget that these guys took us to the NCAA tournament, earned home playoff berths three out of four years, mostly dominated UAA with a 6-2 record and four Gov Cups, and got the program to where a 17 win season seemed just ok. Several of those guys should be landing pro deals shortly and it will be exciting to see where they end up.

We have some work to do in the offseason but we should be excited to start in the WCHA in the fall. Hopefully the administration comes up with a plan to create some excitement for the move; our attendance slipped a bit this year (our playoff turnout was beyond pathetic, it was downright embarrassing) and sticking heads in the sand isn't going to solve anything. If the athletic department promoted every home game like they do the Gov Cup we would have a lot of buzz going around.

Go 'Nooks. Win the offseason.

Congratulations on a great season. I personally won't miss taranto since he was a thorn in our side all four years. I hope shyiak is canned and cobb seriously takes the road that uaf did in hiring an alum as coach (Regg Simon or Jack Kowal), then we can have a competive Gov Cup once again.

Enjoy the offseason Squarebanks.

 

[Squarebanks]

Congratulations on a great season. I personally won't miss taranto since he was a thorn in our side all four years. I hope shyiak is canned and cobb seriously takes the road that uaf did in hiring an alum as coach (Regg Simon or Jack Kowal), then we can have a competive Gov Cup once again.

Enjoy the offseason Squarebanks.

Thanks seawolfpunk. It wouldn't surprise me if, when UAA scores a goal, Cobb yells "touchdown!"

 

[Squarebanks]

The Lakers got 17 wins this season too and we got people in the Lake State Thread calling for everything from the coach's head to going to DIII to closing the program down! Are you kidding me? Maybe I should have went to Fairbanks as a student...

A good chunk of our fan base remembers the 90's and early 00's when we were the ccha's red headed stepchild and whipping boy. I am pretty sure Sparty beat us 11-1 once in a playoff game. I think that has tempered the expectations of our base. We had a solid season, but definitely flamed out early this weekend.

The Minny rag did a big article on Don Lucia a few months ago that went in depth on how Lucia started the UAF program as we currently know it back in the 80's. It's well worth a read and for anybody connected to UAF makes you realize just how far our hockey program has come in the last 20 years. His comments about "the Tripod" are hilarious, and telling.

That said...you Lake Staters have a few fans bordering on the goofy side.

 

[Squarebanks]

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

Tyler Morley was named to the all-CCHA rookie team. Colton Parayko and John Keeney were honorable mentions.

 

[Suze]

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

Thanks seawolfpunk. It wouldn't surprise me if, when UAA scores a goal, Cobb yells "touchdown!"

Too funny.

I just read the recap at the News Miner. What's up with the attendance? Friday had 1963, Saturday had 1937 and Sunday had 1806. That's shocking to me, based on the kind of support UA_ brings to the Sully for the Gov Cup.

DD and I often had disagreements about how many fans would come to the Sully if UAA ever managed to get home ice. I said it wouldn't change much, he felt it would be sold out. Based on what happened at UA_, I think I am right. Either way, that's just sad. Our student athletes deserve more!

 

[Squarebanks]

Playoffs never sell as well for us, I think because playoff tickets aren't included in season ticket packages. This year was especially low, though. Usually we draw in the 2500-3000 range for the playoffs.

Too funny.

I just read the recap at the News Miner. What's up with the attendance? Friday had 1963, Saturday had 1937 and Sunday had 1806. That's shocking to me, based on the kind of support UA_ brings to the Sully for the Gov Cup.

DD and I often had disagreements about how many fans would come to the Sully if UAA ever managed to get home ice. I said it wouldn't change much, he felt it would be sold out. Based on what happened at UA_, I think I am right. Either way, that's just sad. Our student athletes deserve more!

 

[Suze]

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

Playoffs never sell as well for us, I think because playoff tickets aren't included in season ticket packages. This year was especially low, though. Usually we draw in the 2500-3000 range for the playoffs.

Hmmm, the playoffs have always been in UAA's season ticket packages ... of course we always got our money back!!

 

[Squarebanks]

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

To quote Steve Thompson today... "400,000 situations and 43 of them get us in the national tournament. So you're saying there's a chance..."

 

[fairbanks hockey puck]

Best scenario for top 16 PWR finish

Best scenario for top 16 PWR finish

Got AK to 16 alone
-----------------------------
Atlantic Hockey

Semifinal #2: Connecticut defeats Mercyhurst
Semifinal #1: Niagara defeats Canisius
Championship game: Niagara defeats Connecticut

CCHA

Semifinal #2: Notre Dame defeats Ohio State
Semifinal #1: Miami defeats Michigan
Championship game: Notre Dame defeats Miami

ECAC

Semifinal #2: Union defeats Yale
Semifinal #1: Quinnipiac defeats Brown
Championship game: Union defeats Quinnipiac
Consolation game: Yale defeats Brown

Hockey East

Semifinal #2: Boston College defeats Boston University
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Massachusetts-Lowell
Championship game: Boston College defeats Providence

WCHA

Play-in #2: North Dakota defeats Colorado College
Play-in #1: Wisconsin defeats Minnesota State
Semifinal #2: Minnesota defeats North Dakota
Semifinal #1: St. Cloud State defeats Wisconsin
Championship game: Minnesota defeats St. Cloud State

 

[Squarebanks]

That's a whole lot of things that need to go right.

Got AK to 16 alone
-----------------------------
Atlantic Hockey

Semifinal #2: Connecticut defeats Mercyhurst
Semifinal #1: Niagara defeats Canisius
Championship game: Niagara defeats Connecticut

CCHA

Semifinal #2: Notre Dame defeats Ohio State
Semifinal #1: Miami defeats Michigan
Championship game: Notre Dame defeats Miami

ECAC

Semifinal #2: Union defeats Yale
Semifinal #1: Quinnipiac defeats Brown
Championship game: Union defeats Quinnipiac
Consolation game: Yale defeats Brown

Hockey East

Semifinal #2: Boston College defeats Boston University
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Massachusetts-Lowell
Championship game: Boston College defeats Providence

WCHA

Play-in #2: North Dakota defeats Colorado College
Play-in #1: Wisconsin defeats Minnesota State
Semifinal #2: Minnesota defeats North Dakota
Semifinal #1: St. Cloud State defeats Wisconsin
Championship game: Minnesota defeats St. Cloud State

 

[fairbanks hockey puck]

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

so true!!!

 

[Wondering]

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

Honestly, it's hard to be a Nanooks fan. Hopes up, hopes dashed. Hopes up, hopes dashed. I was surprised to see the guys practicing yesterday, since I thought our national tournament chances had already been torpedoed. Realistically, I can't imagine that everything will align perfectly to get us that 16th spot. But hopes up, I guess . . .

This year's team had the talent to qualify for the tournament, but not the consistency. It was a strong senior class, and I wish I knew more about who had the good eye for recruiting. Doc brought us all sorts of problems, but wasn't he the one who snagged Taranto? I assume Dallas was the only one of our current coaches who was involved in recruiting for the class of '13.

As for the current junior class, we started with three guys who have developed into fantastic players (Beck, Kunyk and Quinn} and one who only lasted a year (Slemp}. Lance West wasn't named an assistant coach until 2OO9, so I doubt he found them.

Most of our current sophomores and freshman were presumably recruited by coaches Ferguson/West/Brian Meisner. Now Meisner's gone, and we don't yet know whether replacement Corbin Schmidt is magical, ordinary or dismal at recruiting.

I think we'll face some recruiting challenges in the next few years, given that UAF has lost some hockey scholarships and will be playing in a less prestigious league. We really need our recruiters to A}find some "hidden jewel" type players, and B}convince them to come to Fairbanks.

 

[Squarebanks]

I'm not as worried about recruiting, personally. Our strategy all along has been to find diamonds in the rough and I don't see that changing. Schmidt, I think, will only help for two reasons:

1. He has a professional background of working with prospects in Minnesota.

2. He's an Anchorage boy, and our current staff has made a push to stay plugged in with the high school coaches in SC Alaska.

As for this season (assuming it's done, which it probably is), we finished about where I thought we would. We had veterans up front and a rookie in net, and I think we got about as much out of the season as was realistic. Winning record, swept the Brice and the Gov Cup, and hosted the playoffs is a pretty decent season. It wasn't that long ago that his type pf season would have had fans doing backflips. The playoff loss was a bummer but it happens. Bowling Green did the same thing last year as the 11 seed.

As for improvements, obviously you want the team to keep improving but I also hope the athletic department and administration start taking some steps to re-invigorate fan interest. I noticed a few changes as the year went along and Dr. Gray got settled in, but overall community interest really seemed to lag under Karr. As I've said before, if they pushed every game like they do when the opponent is UAA we wouldn't be facing an attendance deficit.

Anyway, hope springs eternal and maybe we will be playing Quinnipiac in a couple of weeks.

Honestly, it's hard to be a Nanooks fan. Hopes up, hopes dashed. Hopes up, hopes dashed. I was surprised to see the guys practicing yesterday, since I thought our national tournament chances had already been torpedoed. Realistically, I can't imagine that everything will align perfectly to get us that 16th spot. But hopes up, I guess . . .

This year's team had the talent to qualify for the tournament, but not the consistency. It was a strong senior class, and I wish I knew more about who had the good eye for recruiting. Doc brought us all sorts of problems, but wasn't he the one who snagged Taranto? I assume Dallas was the only one of our current coaches who was involved in recruiting for the class of '13.

As for the current junior class, we started with three guys who have developed into fantastic players (Beck, Kunyk and Quinn} and one who only lasted a year (Slemp}. Lance West wasn't named an assistant coach until 2OO9, so I doubt he found them.

Most of our current sophomores and freshman were presumably recruited by coaches Ferguson/West/Brian Meisner. Now Meisner's gone, and we don't yet know whether replacement Corbin Schmidt is magical, ordinary or dismal at recruiting.

I think we'll face some recruiting challenges in the next few years, given that UAF has lost some hockey scholarships and will be playing in a less prestigious league. We really need our recruiters to A}find some "hidden jewel" type players, and B}convince them to come to Fairbanks.

 

[UAFHockeyFan314]

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

There are actually a number of ways Alaska gets in. If my statistics class stuck in my memory as well as I want it to, the Nanooks have about a 10% chance of making it, considering all of the variables.

Here are two brackets for championship weekend that get the Nanooks in at 16th.

Keys for any scenario

Connecticut def. Mercyhurst
Union wins ECAC title over Quinnipiac in Championship game
Notre Dame wins CCHA Championship

 

[fairbanks hockey puck]

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

Got AK to 16 alone in PWR./to NCAA tourney
>>> -----------------------------
>>> Atlantic Hockey
>>>
>>> - Semifinal #2: *Connecticut* defeats Mercyhurst
>>> - Semifinal #1: *Niagara* defeats Canisius
>>> - Championship game: *Niagara* defeats Connecticut
>>>
>>> CCHA
>>>
>>> - Semifinal #2: *Notre Dame* defeats Ohio State
>>> - Semifinal #1: *Miami* defeats Michigan
>>> - Championship game: *Notre Dame* defeats Miami
>>>
>>> ECAC
>>>
>>> - Semifinal #2: *Union* defeats Yale
>>> - Semifinal #1: *Quinnipiac* defeats Brown
>>> - Championship game: *Union* defeats Quinnipiac
>>> - Consolation game: *Yale* defeats Brown
>>>
>>> Hockey East
>>>
>>> - Semifinal #2: *Boston College* defeats Boston University
>>> - Semifinal #1: *Providence* defeats Massachusetts-Lowell
>>> - Championship game: *Boston College* defeats Providence
>>>
>>> WCHA
>>>
>>> - Play-in #2: *North Dakota* defeats Colorado College
>>> - Play-in #1: *Wisconsin* defeats Minnesota State
>>> - Semifinal #2: *Minnesota* defeats North Dakota
>>> - Semifinal #1: *St. Cloud State* defeats Wisconsin
>>> - Championship game: *Minnesota* defeats St. Cloud State
>>>
>>>
or
Another scenario getting AK to 16

Atlantic Hockey
Semifinal #2: Connecticut defeats Mercyhurst
Semifinal #1: Canisius defeats Niagara
Championship game: Canisius defeats Connecticut
CCHA
Semifinal #2: Notre Dame defeats Ohio State
Semifinal #1: Michigan defeats Miami
Championship game: Notre Dame defeats Michigan
ECAC
Semifinal #2: Union defeats Yale
Semifinal #1: Quinnipiac defeats Brown
Championship game: Union defeats Quinnipiac
Consolation game: Yale defeats Brown
Hockey East
Semifinal #2: Boston College defeats Boston University
Semifinal #1: Providence defeats Massachusetts-Lowell
Championship game: Boston College defeats Providence
WCHA
Play-in #2: North Dakota defeats Colorado College
Play-in #1: Minnesota State defeats Wisconsin
Semifinal #2: North Dakota defeats Minnesota
Semifinal #1: St. Cloud State defeats Minnesota State
Championship game: North Dakota defeats St. Cloud State

 

[Squarebanks]

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

Colorado College beat NoDak, so we are officially done for the season.

Alas, if we hadn't mailed in the game against Canisius we would be in the tourney regardless. Frustrating, but is what it is. Bottom line is we lost a few games we should have won.

 

[Squarebanks]

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

Props to Adam Henderson and Kaare Odegard for winning the CCHA Scholar-Athlete and Humanitarian Awards, respectively.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

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

Talk about being treated like red headed step children

Although the conference tournament will retain the Final Five name, its format will change. Only the top 8 schools will play in the first round with the 4 best-of-three winners advancing to the Final Five. The “Alaska Plan,” in which the two Alaska schools were to play each other regardless of where they finished, is no longer an option. Rather, those two and Alabama-Huntsville will pay for first-round travel costs home or away