ANCHORAGE ? The first goal of freshman forward Tyler Moir's Alaska Anchorage career turned out to be the game-winner in a 6-2 victory over Connecticut in the 18th annual Kendall Hockey Classic Friday night at Sullivan Arena.
After giving up the game's first goal, the five-time Classic champion Seawolves (1-0-0) hit a groove and outscored the Huskies 6-1 the rest of way.
Moir, a right wing from Calgary, Alberta, put the deciding goal past UConn goalie Beau Erickson 5:50 into the second on assists from sophomore forward Tommy Grant and junior forward Paul Crowder. Crowder finished with a career-high three assists, coming on the first three tallies of the night.
UConn (0-1-0) took an early advantage on a power-play goal by sophomore Andrew Olson, but UAA sophomore Tommy Grant answered later in the period to even the score on a Seawolf man-advantage. Fellow sophomore Tommy Grant then made it 2-1 just a minute and a half later on assists from Crowder and junior transfer Brian Bales, also on the power play.
The Huskies, of Atlantic Hockey, struck just 32 seconds into the second period on yet another power play to knot the score, but the Seawolf defense took over from there. In fact, UAA outshot UConn 40-18, including 17-1 in the second period.
After Moir struck at even-strength, returning team MVP and assistant captain Josh Lunden tallied the first of his two goals on a mad scramble in front of the UConn net to make it 4-2.
Mat Robinson, UAA's senior team captain and Kendall Player of the Game, then added another insurance goal early in the third on a rebound of sophomore forward Nick Haddad's shot. Lunden finished the scoring on a wrister from Kevin Clark and Jade Portwood (2 assists) midway through the third.
Sophomore Bryce Christianson earned the victory in goal, making 16 saves.
The win marked the fourth year in a row the Seawolves have won their Classic opener and moved them to 6-0-2 in their last eight tourney openers. UAA also extended its overall non-conference unbeaten streak to 9-0-4, dating back to the beginning of the 2006-07 campaign.
The Seawolves also improved to 6-1 all-time against UConn, having now outscored the Huskies 48-20 in the series.
UAA will meet Northeastern (0-1-1) in the final game of the Classic at approximately 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the Sullivan. Alaska Fairbanks, which tied 2-2 with Northeastern earlier Friday, will play UConn in Saturday's early (4:07 p.m.) game.
