ANCHORAGE ? Alaska Anchorage clinched its fifth all-time Nye Frontier Classic title by virtue of its 3-1 shootout victory over Nebraska-Omaha in the tournament's concluding game tonight in front of 3,942 fans at the Sullivan Arena.
The game would go down in the record books as a 2-2 tie, however a shootout was conducted to determine the overall tournament champion. The Seawolves, who remained unbeaten on the young season at 1-0-1, needed to win the shootout over the Mavericks (0-0-2) or Colorado College, who also went 1-0-1 in the two-day tournament would have been crowned champions.
UNO would score on its first shootout attempt, but would be stopped by UAA goalie Nathan Lawson on its final three chances. The Seawolves scored on all three of their shootout attempts, getting goals from senior Charlie Kronschnabel, freshman Josh Lunden and freshman Paul Crowder, claiming their third classic title in the last four years (2003, 2004).
UAA was in position to win the game outright in regulation, but UNO's Scott Parse would punch in a shorthanded tally with 2:31 remaining in the third to knot the game at 2-2. Prior to Parse's goal, the Seawolves had killed off four straight penalties during the opening 14 minutes of the period.
The Seawolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Lunden struck for his second tally of the season with a power-play goal at 12:21 of the first period. Freshman Kevin Clark and senior Merit Waldrop each picked up their first points of the season with assists on Lunden's goal.
The Mavericks would answer with a power-play goal from Parse at 3:19 of the second, but UAA would respond with a put back from Clark at 7:50 of the period. A blast from senior Chad Anderson bounced off UNO goalie Jeremie Dupont to Clark who was waiting at the right post.
UAA generated ample scoring opportunities during the second frame, outshooting the Mavericks 18-4, but Dupont would come up with some huge saves to keep UNO in the game.
UNO would hold a 11-5 advantage in shots in the third, while both teams each attempted two shots on net in the overtime period.
For the second consecutive game the Seawolves out shot their opponent, holding a 37-24 advantage.
Each team would go 1-of-7 on the power play.
Lawson, who bettered his all-time Classic record to 3-1-1 with the tie, stopped 22 shots, while Dupont would snare 35.
The Seawolves would land two players ? Charlie Kronschnabel and Chad Anderson -- on the all-tournament team, while UNO's Scott Parse would be named the tournament's most outstanding player.
UAA resumes its non-conference slate next weekend with the first half of the annual Governor's Cup series at Alaska Fairbanks.
2006 Nye Fronter Classic All-Tournament Team
Chad Anderson, Alaska Anchorage
Jimmy Kilpatrick, Colorado College
Charlie Kronschnabel, Alaska Anchorage
Justin Mills, Merrimack
Drew O'Connell, Colorado College
Juha Uotila, Nebraska-Omaha
Most Outstanding Player: Scott Parse, Nebraska-Omaha
