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Nanook Nation 2014-2015

F

fairbanks hockey puck

Registered User
Today is the first official practice for THE Alaska Nanooks...Captains will named Wednesday and the annual blue/gold game is Saturday at the Patty Center. Exhibition game vs Western Ontario Friday October 3rd at Carlson Center...
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

They lost a lot of scoring and skilled palyers from last year. Should be interesting to see who will be able to score. Wondering if coach will go back to his defensive style of play that we had the first few years of his tenure. Having Kyunck and Beck in the line-up seemed to change his style to a more open offensive attack, with the defense and goaltending we have I could see the team going into a more conservative style of defense first.
 
birdman said:
They lost a lot of scoring and skilled palyers from last year. Should be interesting to see who will be able to score. Wondering if coach will go back to his defensive style of play that we had the first few years of his tenure. Having Kyunck and Beck in the line-up seemed to change his style to a more open offensive attack, with the defense and goaltending we have I could see the team going into a more conservative style of defense first.
Click to expand...

There's enough in the tank we should be able to reload offensively. Sounds like there are some hotshot freshmen coming in as well.

As is par for the course, we will have a good idea what we have this year after the Kendall and Brice tourneys, plus an early trip to K-zoo will be a good test.
 
birdman said:
Having Kyunck and Beck in the line-up seemed to change his style to a more open offensive attack, with the defense and goaltending we have I could see the team going into a more conservative style of defense first.
Click to expand...

Can you tell me where Kyunck is playing these days? I'm having a hard time finding his name on last season's roster.
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

OK boys, time to show what you’re made of.

We only lost three seniors, but that included two 100+ point career guys who were two of the best forwards in the conference, and the other was one of our top D men. But as last year’s playoffs showed, they might not have been the real spark plugs of the team. But for continued success we need a few boys to step up their offense. No reason we can’t improve on last season.

Quite frankly, our goaltending was not very good the first half last year. And although it improved the second half, some games it really let us down. With three goaltenders returning I think we have a decent crew, we just need someone to step up and be consistent. Like most teams, that will probably be the key to our season.

We have a good mix of talent, speed, youth & experience, goaltending, and a somewhat favorable conference schedule. The team just needs to work hard each and every practice, shift, and game.

After our typical blue/gold game and Canadian exhibition, we start the season off with a solid non-conference schedule. We open conference play on the road in Bemidji on October 31

September 27 - Blue/Gold game
October 3 - Western Ontario
October 10 – Wisconsin (Kendall Classic in Anchorage)
October 11 – Maine (Kendall Classic in Anchorage
October 17 - Air Force (Brice Goal Rush in Fairbanks)
October 18 - Penn State (Brice Goal Rush in Fairbanks)
October 24/25 – Western Michigan (Kalamazoo)

Unfortunately, Justin Woods will have to sit out the season. Everyone is wishing him the very best and a hopeful return next season. There are so many things more important than hockey right now for this young man. Make him proud.

Go Nooks!
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

Below is a quick snapshot of last year’s final standings in case you don’t want to dig for it elsewhere. As you may recall, it was a four-way race. 1) FSU, 2) MSU, 3) everybody else but UAH, 4) UAH. While nobody is fielding the same team they had last year, last year’s finish is a good starting point for predictions.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-tzMr62z/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-tzMr62z/0/S/i-tzMr62z-S.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Schedules are on a different rotation, and while the season will be a grind for everyone, some schedules may be perceived as more favorable as compared to others. If you just did a simple comparison based on last year’s finishes, UAH, LSSU, & BSU would have the toughest schedules this year, while FSU, MTU, & UAF would have the most favorable (this approach is somewhat a self fulfilling prophecy). Here is what the match-ups look like.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-xtjVzVN/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-xtjVzVN/0/S/i-xtjVzVN-S.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Go Nooks!
 
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Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

Below is some info to help look at the WCHA landscape. Very simplistic. Pulled from team web sites a while back, so it is probably only “mostly accurate.” There have been some changes.

I’m a firm believer in the confidence of ignorance, so I’ve included my rankings. Looking mainly at class standings for each team, especially freshmen, who has a good experienced goalie, and what jr. systems did the players come from. I assume last year’s finish is somewhat reflective of gf, ga, pp%, pk% etc. I also looked at sos based on my rankings as a reasonableness check for my predictions. And of course I applied a “homer” factor to the Nooks.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-69pcxQ4/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-69pcxQ4/0/M/i-69pcxQ4-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And even if the Nooks should falter and miss the playoffs, I still support the 8 team playoff format. Every weekend matters, right till the very end.

Go Nooks!
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

mmf said:
Below is some info to help look at the WCHA landscape. Very simplistic. Pulled from team web sites a while back, so it is probably only “mostly accurate.” There have been some changes.

I’m a firm believer in the confidence of ignorance, so I’ve included my rankings. Looking mainly at class standings for each team, especially freshmen, who has a good experienced goalie, and what jr. systems did the players come from. I assume last year’s finish is somewhat reflective of gf, ga, pp%, pk% etc. I also looked at sos based on my rankings as a reasonableness check for my predictions. And of course I applied a “homer” factor to the Nooks.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-69pcxQ4/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-69pcxQ4/0/M/i-69pcxQ4-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And even if the Nooks should falter and miss the playoffs, I still support the 8 team playoff format. Every weekend matters, right till the very end.

Go Nooks!
Click to expand...
Interesting and informative chart even if your order of finish is all screwed up.
Your last category gave me a good chuckle.
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

mmf said:
Below is some info to help look at the WCHA landscape. Very simplistic. Pulled from team web sites a while back, so it is probably only “mostly accurate.” There have been some changes.

I’m a firm believer in the confidence of ignorance, so I’ve included my rankings. Looking mainly at class standings for each team, especially freshmen, who has a good experienced goalie, and what jr. systems did the players come from. I assume last year’s finish is somewhat reflective of gf, ga, pp%, pk% etc. I also looked at sos based on my rankings as a reasonableness check for my predictions. And of course I applied a “homer” factor to the Nooks.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-69pcxQ4/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-69pcxQ4/0/M/i-69pcxQ4-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And even if the Nooks should falter and miss the playoffs, I still support the 8 team playoff format. Every weekend matters, right till the very end.

Go Nooks!
Click to expand...

Have you seen Ferris fans? I think you were a little generous with that "N"
 
It's interesting to note the shift in the Nooks recruiting away from the Canadian leagues. Historically we've always heavily recruited the BC and Alberta leagues, but this is the first I can remember us having the majority of our players from the USHL. I remember when we snagged Andy Taranto that it was a big deal because we rarely pulled guys from the USHL. Now it's common place.

I also noticed that of the NAHL guys, three are Ice Dogs and two are incoming freshmen from their championship team.

mmf said:
Below is some info to help look at the WCHA landscape. Very simplistic. Pulled from team web sites a while back, so it is probably only “mostly accurate.” There have been some changes.

I’m a firm believer in the confidence of ignorance, so I’ve included my rankings. Looking mainly at class standings for each team, especially freshmen, who has a good experienced goalie, and what jr. systems did the players come from. I assume last year’s finish is somewhat reflective of gf, ga, pp%, pk% etc. I also looked at sos based on my rankings as a reasonableness check for my predictions. And of course I applied a “homer” factor to the Nooks.

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-69pcxQ4/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-69pcxQ4/0/M/i-69pcxQ4-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

And even if the Nooks should falter and miss the playoffs, I still support the 8 team playoff format. Every weekend matters, right till the very end.

Go Nooks!
Click to expand...
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

Congratulations to Colton Parayko being named Alaska Nanooks team captain for 2014-15, and Garrick Perry and Tyler Morley being named assistant captains. Good choices and well earned.

Go Nooks!
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

<a href="http://mmf.smugmug.com/Alaska-Nanook-Hockey/Test-GIFs/n-8sh3d/i-5jv6GWg/A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://mmf.smugmug.com/photos/i-5jv6GWg/0/L/i-5jv6GWg-L.gif" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

Blue & Gold game tonight at the Patty at 7:00. Hope we win.
It’s sponsored by, and is a fund raiser for the Face Off Club.
Free hotdog and cookie social after the game.

Also on tap this weekend:
- Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 10:30am, Wedgewood Resort
- Tour of Carlson Center locker rooms from 1:00 - 3:00 if you haven’t had the chance yet.
- Alumni sponsored tailgate party from 5:00 – 7:00 at the Patty.


I would expect us to be able to sign up for the WCHA America One streaming package any day now. I hope UAF, along with a few other schools have got their HD equipment in place and have plans to up their game a little bit in this effort. Some schools do a pretty good job and some schools not so much. It’s more than just equipment.

Go Nooks!
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

Colton Parayko is unreal this year. He's been good before but after the blue/gold game and the skills tests he seems almost too good to be true. Hardest shot at 101 MPH and a close second for fastest skater plus with his top athlete award from the preseason training...boy I'm glad he's on our side and pray we can keep him for the rest of his school years.

Also impressed with Kyle Froese and Zach Frye as freshmen. Cahill seems to really want to top goalie spot but I still think Davis Jones will be a top contender for that. But yeah Parayko makes me excited for the season to start. He's a beast.
 
Re: Nanook Nation 2014-2015

It was great to see the boys back on the ice for the annual Blue & Gold game. I don’t know enough to evaluate the new talent, but I hope the coaches liked what they saw. I thought the goaltenders and the freshman looked good. Not a lot of scoring in the 1-1 contest, so the winner was decided by a shootout for the second year in a row.


A few more shots from tonight’s Blue & Gold game HERE.

Can’t wait till next weekend when we take on Western Ontario in an exhibition contest. Game time is 7:07 at the Carlson.

Go Nooks!
 
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