Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

For two periods the Nooks played about as poorly and uninspired as I have seen in quite some time, but managed to come from way behind and pull out a 5-4 win over Mercyhurst with about a minute and one-half left in the game. They certainly kicked it into a higher gear in the third, but they sure flirted with disaster. Not sure they learned the lesson they should have tonight. They can’t expect to play that poorly for much of the game and pull it out in third. The hockey gods aren’t always smiling.

Some multiple point players tonight. Beck (4) with 2 goals and 2 assists, Kunyk (3) with 1 goal and 2 assists, and Huysmans (2) with a goal and an assist.

A few shots from tonight’s game.

Nolan Huysman (from Beck, Kaiser) made it 1-0 Nooks about seven minutes into the game. Then it was all Mercyhurst for a while…
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860085217&k=C9VnfwG&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-C9VnfwG/0/L/i-C9VnfwG-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>


Mercyhurst flat outworked the Nooks much of the night…
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860086455&k=bVDs4gH&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-bVDs4gH/0/L/i-bVDs4gH-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Got numerous chances, and built a 4-1 lead…
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860084822&k=Mw9JTht&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-Mw9JTht/0/L/i-Mw9JTht-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

The Nooks scrambled to get back in it…
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860088767&k=BrJQkrQ&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-BrJQkrQ/0/L/i-BrJQkrQ-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And started getting opportunities…
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860087624&k=BcQCP7p&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-BcQCP7p/0/L/i-BcQCP7p-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And pulled out a fortunate 5-4 victory.
<a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/32998720_tH8Qh9#!i=2860085725&k=MkBCHDt&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-MkBCHDt/0/L/i-MkBCHDt-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

 

[AKJD]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

For two periods the Nooks played about as poorly and uninspired as I have seen in quite some time, but managed to come from way behind and pull out a 5-4 win over Mercyhurst with about a minute and one-half left in the game. They certainly kicked it into a higher gear in the third, but they sure flirted with disaster. Not sure they learned the lesson they should have tonight. They can’t expect to play that poorly for much of the game and pull it out in third. The hockey gods aren’t always smiling.

I hear what you're saying, but I'm not sure that I 100% agree. Yes, they should be playing all out for a full 60 minutes, and not get themselves into that situation in the first place, I'm sure we all agree on that. If you play poorly, you run a very good chance of losing. That's a worthwhile lesson. If learned the hard way, it's also a costly one in the W/L column, and doubly so for non-conference games.

In a perfect world, that's a fine deterrent to sloppy play in the first place, but the reality of the situation is that players will sometimes make bad plays, have bad shifts or bad nights, and teams will as a whole sometimes have bad periods or games. This was one of those nights, wasn't the first, and won't be the last. In cases like that, another worthwhile lesson is that even if you played a crappy first two periods, you're still in the game until end of the third, and there's nothing saying you can't battle, scrape, and claw your way back. They did that tonight, and if they learned that lesson, I'm OK with that. I've seen too many games where the Nooks were down late in the game, and simply rolled over, either giving up, or just going through the motions to finish it up, maybe with a token push that's too little, too late.

Nobody's gonna win a championship mailing in the rest of a bad game. By salvaging a bad start with a strong finish, you just might.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

I don’t disagree that never giving up is critical to team success. Our games against Denver and WMU are testimony to that. And it’s great to have that mindset and occasionally get rewarded for that effort, because it helps ingrain that character into a team. Great effort by the Nooks on last night’s come back.

Then there is playing down to the level of your competition. No disrespect to Mercyhurst, they are a solid club and played hard, but we should not have been down 4-1 against that club. The other side of the team character coin is putting away teams when you have the ability to do so. There is no shame in losing to Mercyhurst if we put forth our best effort. That happens. It might tonight.

I think we are saying the same thing. I am focusing on the lesson to be learned in the first half of the game and you are focusing on the lesson to be learned in the second half. Both valuable lessons.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

These guys have got to learn how to stay out of the penalty box if we are going to sustain success this season. 23 penalty minutes in the 1st period against Mercyhurst is ridiculous.

 

[UAFIceAngel]

These guys have got to learn how to stay out of the penalty box if we are going to sustain success this season. 23 penalty minutes in the 1st period against Mercyhurst is ridiculous.

Well when the nanooks basically get called each time they lay a finger on mercyhurst...

 

[Squarebanks]

Well when the nanooks basically get called each time they lay a finger on mercyhurst...

This isn't a one game thing.

 

[UAFIceAngel]

This isn't a one game thing.

I'm aware...anytime we lay a finger on any other teams players we seem to pay the price. Granted there have been some bad moves on the part of the Nanooks but I'm sorry, I'm seeing wayyyyy too many questionable calls, especially tonight.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

I was fairly jazzed about how the Nooks were playing before this weekend. Not so much right now. They have a lot of work to do. Keeney saved their bacon on about three or four clean break aways.

The defensive performance was pretty bad, especially after Quinn got ousted with the 5 minute major. There were some questionable calls, but we deserved pretty much what we got. A lot of unnecessary stuff, legal or not, and the refs are cracking down on it. Deal with it. Many of our penalties were stupid. These kids have played on small rinks all their lives so it shouldn’t be that, but if it is, we are in for some rough sailing. Playing Mercyhurst on a small rink at home is one thing, but taking that performance on the road to small rinks around the conference could be embarrassing.

Time to re-group and re-focus against NMU.

Go Nooks!

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

Well when the nanooks basically get called each time they lay a finger on mercyhurst...

Sorry you must refrain from "crying that the Officials’ made you not win the game". That is a copy written expression that only UAA fans can use only. You may use …….. My team is a gang of goons. Where are the Wallace Brother's when we need them the most? The WCHA sucks and isn’t like the CCHA, when can we go back?

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

Well...a win and a tie is better than a win and a loss. So there's that.

 

[UAFIceAngel]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

It stinks though when Mercyhurst players feel like a tie is a win just because they didn't lose. Can't let them leave here with that sort of feeling

 

[Squarebanks]

I was fairly jazzed about how the Nooks were playing before this weekend. Not so much right now. They have a lot of work to do. Keeney saved their bacon on about three or four clean break aways.

Go Nooks!

We have had this annoying tendency to play to the level of our competition, particularly at home, for a long time now. I wouldn't give up on them just yet.

Curious to see how NMU looks. Their record isn't auspicious, but we always seem to get into battles with them (last January not withstanding).

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

..I wouldn't give up on them just yet...

Not giving up on them. I've just reeled in my expectations a little for now. I expect good things at home, but I'm a little concerned about life on the road.

Go Nooks!

 

[Rms123]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

I was fairly jazzed about how the Nooks were playing before this weekend. Not so much right now. They have a lot of work to do. Keeney saved their bacon on about three or four clean break aways.

The defensive performance was pretty bad, especially after Quinn got ousted with the 5 minute major. There were some questionable calls, but we deserved pretty much what we got. A lot of unnecessary stuff, legal or not, and the refs are cracking down on it. Deal with it. Many of our penalties were stupid. These kids have played on small rinks all their lives so it shouldn’t be that, but if it is, we are in for some rough sailing. Playing Mercyhurst on a small rink at home is one thing, but taking that performance on the road to small rinks around the conference could be embarrassing.

Time to re-group and re-focus against NMU.

Go Nooks!

Keeney saved their bacon is an understatement. College hockey has gotten soft over the past few years, but that is world we live in now. If this team cannot clean up its penalty problems, it is going to be one long miserable year. Coach and Captains need to get the penalties under control now. Of course injuries never help.

 

[Squarebanks]

Keeney saved their bacon is an understatement. College hockey has gotten soft over the past few years, but that is world we live in now. If this team cannot clean up its penalty problems, it is going to be one long miserable year. Coach and Captains need to get the penalties under control now. Of course injuries never help.

If we get good play from our goalies and stay out of the box for a reasonable amount of time, I think we will be fine. NMU has 13 goals on the year, and allowed 21. Jones and Keeney have both played well against more potent offensive teams so far.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

Some nice HD highlights of last Friday's 5-4 win over Mercyhurst, courtesy of KTVF: http://youtu.be/jStvAjR69ng

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

Last night was a game of momentum swings, with the Nooks holding on for a 5-4 win over NMU. Because of recent outings, the Nooks were noticeably avoiding anything that could put them in the box. NMU must have not gotten that memo. The Nooks were fortunate to capitalize on a couple 5 on 3 PP goals. We needed them because things got a little sloppy and with NMU’s hard work they once again kept themselves in the game and gave themselves a chance to tie and win it. The Nooks to need to tighten up defensive play tonight.

It was a hard fought game, and except for the two 5 on 3 PP goals would have been a nail biter most the way…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877991221&k=45XP4nR&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-45XP4nR/0/L/20131101-58-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

It’s a game of inches, and the Nooks second goal about fourteen minutes in, by B. Morley (Hajdukovich,Perry) left no room to spare…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877991521&k=pCGrd2b&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-pCGrd2b/0/L/20131101-77-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

The bad guys got one back with about two minutes left in the first, with some hard work from Vigier and Seckel…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877994224&k=ZQcc9Jn&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-ZQcc9Jn/0/L/20131101-95-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Keeny was solid, but the Wildcats tied in up early in the second, but then ran into penalty trouble, a reversal of roles from the Nooks recent woes…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877996262&k=8nDw7S6&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-8nDw7S6/0/L/20131101-138-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

The Nooks scored two 5 on 3 PP goals, including this one by Beck (Quinn, Parayko), with Kunyk on the door step, mid way through the second, that gave the Nooks a two goal lead…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877996994&k=wJFQnzG&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-wJFQnzG/0/L/20131101-169-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Soild play by all lines extended the Nook lead to 5 – 2 at the end of the second…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877997342&k=LZ3jhkk&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-LZ3jhkk/0/L/20131101-177-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Although we had some chances in the third, the Wildcats kicked it up a notch, score two goals (Ludwig, Adair), and climbed back into the game by out working the Nooks…
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877997893&k=pcSCfCr&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-pcSCfCr/0/L/20131101-217-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Although Kunyk didn’t officially end up with any points, his play was instrumental in the win. But that still leaves him two shy of the 100 point club…maybe tonight.
<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/33174333_TR9wMT#!i=2877999555&k=4D8bHNc&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/2013-14-Season/UAF-vs-Northern-Michigan-Nov-1/i-4D8bHNc/0/L/20131101-238-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>


[sorry for the poor quality: high angle, far away, highly cropped, embedding photo work-arounds]

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

mmf, your photos are usually better than we we see in the News Miner or at alaskananooks.com. Nothing low quality about them.

Attendance looked a little low last night....wonder if the freezing rain had anything to do with it.

 

[Rms123]

Re: Alaska Nanooks 2013-14 Season Thread - On the Road to Perdition...

mmf, your photos are usually better than we we see in the News Miner or at alaskananooks.com. Nothing low quality about them.

Attendance looked a little low last night....wonder if the freezing rain had anything to do with it.

2549.
I wish I could have made it, but I work shift work, and can't attend this weekend. I’m not sure we are going to see attendance through the roof being in the new league (other than the Anchorage games) with no real big named schools. That was/is a fear of mine when the "shift" occured.

 

[Squarebanks]

2549.
I wish I could have made it, but I work shift work, and can't attend this weekend. I’m not sure we are going to see attendance through the roof being in the new league (other than the Anchorage games) with no real big named schools. That was/is a fear of mine when the "shift" occured.

I've thought the same thing, but we cleared over 3000 for both Brice games, and DU and WMU aren't exactly big names in the general sports world. Historically the Brice has been a pretty low attendance draw.

Missing the days when we averaged over 4000. That's what deployments, a decade of rising ticket prices combined with an economic downturn, and Doc DelCastillo will do.

Go look at our historical attendance averages...it tanked when Doc was coach and has never really recovered back to the Gadowsky and MacMillan levels, despite the program being as strong as it's ever been.