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Seawolves rope Mavericks at Sullivan

Men's Ice Hockey UAA Media Relations

Seawolves rope Mavericks at Sullivan

ANCHORAGE – Sophomore forward Daniel Naslund scored midway through the third period to snap a tie and freshman goalie Rob Gunderson made the lead hold up as Alaska Anchorage earned a 3-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory over 13th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night.

The Seawolves (11-15-3, 10-13-2 WCHA) also got goals from seniors Sean Wiles and Tommy Grant as they ran their Sullivan Arena winning streak to five games – their longest such string since winning six straight on home ice from Dec. 4, 1998-Jan. 16, 1999.

The Mavericks (18-11-2, 14-7-2) got goals from Joey Martin and Alex Hudson, but the visitors could never take the lead in just their second-ever trip to Anchorage and first as WCHA members.

The victory kept the Seawolves alone in eighth place in the league standings with 22 points, one point shy of Minnesota and Colorado College, who currently share the No. 6 spot. Thirteen points is all that separates first from 10th place in the 12-team league.

UAA struck first Friday when Wiles scored his seventh goal of the season, converting a cross-ice feed from Jade Portwood with 8:18 left in the opening period. Matt Bailey , a freshman center from Winnipeg, Manitoba, earned his 10th helper of the year on the play, running his point streak to six games. Portwood's assist was his seventh on the season.

UNO tied it 1-1 just five minutes later when Martin tallied his 10th goal on an unassisted play after wresting the puck from Gunderson behind the goal.

Gunderson would redeem himself, however, stopping 22 of 24 shots on the night to earn his seventh win in net and improve on his .900 save percentage and 2.70 goals-against average. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native stopped 10 of the Mavericks' 11 shots in the third period and helped UAA hold UNO scoreless on four power plays. UAA's defense was also credited with an impressive 20 blocked shots.

Grant gave UAA a 2-1 lead early in the second period when the British Columbia native scored his team-high 11th goal on a narrow-angle shot to beat UNO goalie John Faulkner (16 saves). Freshman center Alex Gellert earned his seventh assist on another nice cross-ice feed, while freshman defenseman Wes McLeod tallied his fourth assist on the play.

Hudson would tie it once again exactly one minute into the third period, scoring from point-blank range off a face-off win by linemate Matt White.

But the Seawolves responded for a third time when Tyler Currier picked up the puck near the center circle and skated into the Mavericks zone. The sophomore from Anchorage made a spinning move before passing to Brett Cameron , who streaked to the side of the net and fed Naslund for the game-winner – the fifth of the Swede's career.

Naslund's goal was his second of the season and first since Nov. 12 against Bemidji State. Cameron tallied his fifth assist and Currier his second of 2010-11.

UAA's 10th WCHA victory marks its most ever under sixth-year head coach Dave Shyiak , with three league contests – Saturday's rematch (7:07 p.m.) vs. UNO and road games Mar. 4-5 at Minnesota State – remaining.


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Players Mentioned

Tommy Grant

#16 Tommy Grant

F
6' 2"
Freshman
L
Sean Wiles

#27 Sean Wiles

F
6' 3"
Freshman
R
Jade Portwood

#36 Jade Portwood

F
6' 3"
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
Matt Bailey

#21 Matt Bailey

F
6' 1"
Freshman
L
Brett Cameron

#7 Brett Cameron

F
6' 2"
Freshman
R
Rob Gunderson

#33 Rob Gunderson

G
6' 1"
Freshman
L
Wes McLeod

#3 Wes McLeod

D
6' 1"
Freshman
L

Players Mentioned

Tommy Grant

#16 Tommy Grant

6' 2"
Freshman
L
F
Sean Wiles

#27 Sean Wiles

6' 3"
Freshman
R
F
Jade Portwood

#36 Jade Portwood

6' 3"
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
Matt Bailey

#21 Matt Bailey

6' 1"
Freshman
L
F
Brett Cameron

#7 Brett Cameron

6' 2"
Freshman
R
F
Rob Gunderson

#33 Rob Gunderson

6' 1"
Freshman
L
G
Wes McLeod

#3 Wes McLeod

6' 1"
Freshman
L
D