Veterans lead UAA past Mercyhurst, 5-3

ANCHORAGE - The Alaska Anchorage hockey team got two goals apiece from forwards Tommy Grant and Craig Parkinson to knock off Mercyhurst 5-3 in their season-opener Friday in the Kendall Hockey Classic at Sullivan Arena.

Senior forward Josh Lunden picked up two points with a goal and one assists, and senior Jon Olthuis earned the win in goal with 19 saves, giving UAA a chance to play for the tournament title with a strong showing Saturday against 3rd-ranked Michigan.

The Seawolves got on the board first when Grant, a junior from North Vancouver, British Columbia, snapped a close-range shot past Mercyhurst goalie Ryan Zapolski 5:55 into the contest.

The Lakers (0-1-0), from Erie, Pa., would tie it before the period break on Neil Graham's tally, but the Seawolves took the lead for good when Lunden redirected a power-play pass from freshman Lee Baldwin with 68 seconds left in the period.

Grant then recorded his third career two-goal game on an assist from Baldwin at the 8:01 mark of the second, also with the man-advantage, giving UAA 3-1 cushion.

After the Atlantic Hockey visitors made it a razor-thin margin on Cullen Eddy's goal at 16:01, the Seawolves responded quickly on the first goal of the season by Parkinson.

Parkinson, a junior forward from Victoria, British Columbia, added his 16th career goal and his second career short-handed tally at 11:20 of the third to make it a 5-2 game.

Grant boosted his career goal total to 18, while Lunden increased his numbers as UAA's active scoring leader with his 27th goal and points No. 46, 47 and 48.

The Seawolves face Michigan at 7:07 p.m. ADT Saturday, preceded by Alaska Fairbanks vs. Mercyhurst at 4:07 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#21 Josh Lunden: F; 6' 2"; Freshman; R

#30 Jon Olthuis: G; 6' 3"; Freshman; R

#16 Tommy Grant: F; 6' 2"; Freshman; L

#17 Craig Parkinson: F; 6' 0"; Freshman; R

#7 Lee Baldwin: D; 6' 4"; Freshman; L

Players Mentioned

#21 Josh Lunden
: 6' 2"; Freshman; R
: F

#30 Jon Olthuis
: 6' 3"; Freshman; R
: G

#16 Tommy Grant
: 6' 2"; Freshman; L
: F

#17 Craig Parkinson
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R
: F

#7 Lee Baldwin
: 6' 4"; Freshman; L
: D