Scoreboard

'Wolves crush Lakers, capture BAGR title

Men's Ice Hockey UAA Media Relations

'Wolves crush Lakers, capture BAGR title

FAIRBANKS – A pair of goals by senior Jade Portwood and three points by junior Daniel Naslund helped Alaska Anchorage remain undefeated on the season with a 6-2 victory over Mercyhurst in Game 3 of the Brice Alaska Goal Rush at the Carlson Center.

The victory also gave the Seawolves the tournament title over rival Alaska Fairbanks, which defeated Nebraska-Omaha 4-1 in the nightcap. UAA won the title on goal differential, edging the hosts plus-7 to plus-6. It is UAA's first BAGR title since the inaugural event in 2008, and it marks the first time in four years that the Seawolves have swept both of their preseason tourneys (BAGR and Kendall Hockey Classic).

The Seawolves (3-0-1) struck early in the opening stanza with three goals, followed by one tally in the second and two in the third for UAA's best start since the 2007-08 campaign. The Lakers (0-4-0) continue to be winless against the Seawolves, dropping their fifth-ever game against UAA, and fourth of the season.

Good things come in threes, and that's exactly what happened in the first period of play. The Seawolves took a 3-1 lead over the Lakers on tallies from sophomore Quinn Sproule, Naslund and Portwood.

Sproule, from Hussar, Alberta, picked up his second collegiate goal, putting the Seawolves on the board just 54 seconds into the opening stanza. On a pass from sophomore defenseman Wes McLeod – suiting up for his first game of the season – and junior forward Mitch Bruijsten, Sproule fired a wrister to the left of Lakers netminder Max Strang to beat him glove-side.

It was the second goal in as many nights for Sproule, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Naslund, Portwood and goalie Rob Gunderson, who was responsible for Friday's 3-0 shutout of Omaha.

Naslund, UAA's current point leader with 3-4—7 totals, gave the Seawolves a two-goal advantage at 9:59 and extend his point streak to four games with his first collegiate shorthanded strike. Junior Alex Gellert, who picked up an assist last night, fed Naslund the puck in the neutral zone before Naslund skated it in patiently and found mesh.

The Seawolves led 3-0 at 16:04 when Portwood tallied his first goal of the season and the eventual game winner. Freshman defenseman Austin Coldwell registered his first collegiate helper after firing wide on the net, with Portwood collecting his rebound off the boards and squeezing it by Strang's pads.

The would-be shutout came to an end just a minute and 32 seconds later when the Lakers' Daniel Bahntge got by UAA goaltender Chris Kamal at 17:36.

Finding the back of the net for the first time with the Green & Gold was rookie Sam Mellor, who picked up a rebound in a scramble just outside the crease and fired it home for his third point of the season at 16:46 of the second period. Claiming assists on the power-play goal were Bruijsten and junior defenseman Scott Warner.

At 3:07 of the third, the Lakers brought it within two with a power-play tally at 3:07 – just six seconds into a Mellor slashing penalty. The puck was fired by Nick Jones from the point and deflected off of Elliott Jones for a 4-2 score.

The game would swing back in favor of UAA at 11:08 and 12:32 of the frame with even-strength goals by junior forward Tyler Currier – his first of the season – and Portwood's second strike, respectively. The final goal of the night gave Portwood his first multi-goal game since Jan. 15, 2010 against Michigan Tech.

In addition to Portwood and Bruisjten, Naslund and Gellert registered multi-point games. Naslund, from Nykoping, Sweden, earned the Player of the Game accolade. Also claiming his first collegiate point was rookie Derek Docken with an assist on Currier's goal.

Between the pipes for UAA, Kamal (2-0-0) posted 22 saves and earned the win, while Strang was credited with 38 saves in the loss. The Seawolves tallied a season-high 44 shots on net; marking the fourth consecutive night UAA has placed 30-plus shots on goal.

The Seawolves were 1-for-4 on the man advantage, while the Lakers were 1-for-3. UAA was tagged for only three penalties in 120 minutes of play over the weekend in Fairbanks.

Senior defenseman Curtis Leinweber missed the game with a pulled groin.

UAA will commence Western Collegiate Hockey Association action next weekend with an away series against Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 21-22. The games will be the first meetings between the teams in Omaha.
All-Tournament Team
F - #40 Daniel Naslund, Alaska Anchorage
F - #36 Jade Portwood, Alaska Anchorage
F - #14 Derek Elliott, Mercyhurst
D - #13 Quinn Sproule, Alaska Anchorage
D - #5 Aaron Gens, Alaska
G - #33 Rob Gunderson, Alaska Anchorage

Most Valuable Player: #7 Nik Yaremchuk, Alaska

Tournament Champion: Alaska Anchorage (Tied Alaska with 2-0 tournament record, but won tie-breaker for goal differential by allowing one less goal - UAA outscored opponents 9-2, Alaska outscored opponents 9-3).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Curtis Leinweber

#11 Curtis Leinweber

D
5' 8"
Freshman
L
Jade Portwood

#36 Jade Portwood

F
6' 3"
Freshman
L
Mitch Bruijsten

#12 Mitch Bruijsten

F
6' 4"
Freshman
L
Tyler Currier

#26 Tyler Currier

F
6' 1"
Freshman
R
Alex Gellert

#20 Alex Gellert

F
6' 1"
Freshman
R
Daniel Naslund

#40 Daniel Naslund

F
6' 3"
Freshman
L
Scott Warner

#8 Scott Warner

D
5' 9"
Sophomore
L
Chris Kamal

#35 Chris Kamal

G
5' 9"
Freshman
L
Wes McLeod

#3 Wes McLeod

D
6' 1"
Freshman
L
Quinn Sproule

#13 Quinn Sproule

D
6' 0"
Freshman
L
Austin Coldwell

#5 Austin Coldwell

D
6' 0"
Freshman
L
Derek Docken

#4 Derek Docken

D
6' 0"
Freshman
L

Players Mentioned

Curtis Leinweber

#11 Curtis Leinweber

5' 8"
Freshman
L
D
Jade Portwood

#36 Jade Portwood

6' 3"
Freshman
L
F
Mitch Bruijsten

#12 Mitch Bruijsten

6' 4"
Freshman
L
F
Tyler Currier

#26 Tyler Currier

6' 1"
Freshman
R
F
Alex Gellert

#20 Alex Gellert

6' 1"
Freshman
R
F
Daniel Naslund

#40 Daniel Naslund

6' 3"
Freshman
L
F
Scott Warner

#8 Scott Warner

5' 9"
Sophomore
L
D
Chris Kamal

#35 Chris Kamal

5' 9"
Freshman
L
G
Wes McLeod

#3 Wes McLeod

6' 1"
Freshman
L
D
Quinn Sproule

#13 Quinn Sproule

6' 0"
Freshman
L
D
Austin Coldwell

#5 Austin Coldwell

6' 0"
Freshman
L
D
Derek Docken

#4 Derek Docken

6' 0"
Freshman
L
D