ANCHORAGE – A 'play-maker' from junior Blake Tatchell lifted the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves over the visiting Lake Superior State Lakers, 3-2 Friday to open Western Collegiate Hockey Association play at the Sullivan Arena.
The Seawolves (4-1-2, 1-0-0 WCHA) used a goal in each frame, winning their WCHA opener, while keeping the Lakers (0-9-0, 0-5-0 WCHA) winless on the season. UAA sits tied with Bemidji State in the league standings at No. 5 with two points.
Opening the night's scoring was rookie defenseman Jarrett Brown with his first collegiate strike. Brown scored at 4:48 after receiving a backdoor pass from Tatchell, whose pass skirted the defense from top of the right circle. The second assist went to senior Austin Coldwell, giving the defenseman a career-high three-game point streak.
The Seawolves started the second by killing off a penalty, before taking a 2-0 lead at 4:40. Tatchell was once again on hand to feed rookie Tanner Johnson out in front of netminder Kevin Aldridge, before Johnson found Docken for his first of the season and Johnson's first collegiate point.
The Lakers responded five minutes later with a power-play goal at 9:37 by Austin McKay. Seawolf goaltender Olivier Mantha made the initial save, but McKay picked up the rebound to cut the lead in half.
UAA would return the lead to two goals with Austin Sevalrud's shot through traffic from the right circle at 12:26, but it wouldn't last as LSSU once again retaliated just 73 seconds later. Tatchell earned the primary assist on Sevalrud's strike, while freshman Anthony Conti furnished his second collegiate assist.
LSSU pulled Aldridge in the final 1:21 of play but couldn't find the equalizer. Aldridge (19 saves) registered the loss, while freshman Olivier Mantha (3-1-1) picked up the victory with 27 saves.
The Seawolves were outshot for the sixth straight night, 29-22.
The 'play-maker' was Tatchell's second of his career. Tatchell, now tied for the team lead with six helpers, was UAA's assist leader last season.
The teams meet again Saturday night at 7:07 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena.
