So much to catch up on November 27, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey, men's basketball, swimming.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, GNAC, hockey, men's basketball, Nanooks, Nebraska-Omaha, PCSC, swimming, Top of the World, UAF
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Whoa. It’s been over a week. I left for Barrow last Monday morning, and as soon as I returned, jumped in my truck and drove home for Thanksgiving. (We arrived at approximately 3 a.m.). My internet access was limited in Barrow and at home, so here’s a quick update:
Basketball:
The men’s basketball team beat OSU in their second game of the Top of the World Classic. It was obvious in the arena that the fans were really getting into the game and the players fed off that. It was a very exciting game and the Nanooks won by two points. An attempted buzzer-beater three-point shot bounced out of the rim to secure the Nanooks’ victory.
Fairbanks’ own Travis Pew finally made it through the appeals process and got to play in the tournament as well.
Unfortunately, the Nanooks’ momentum didn’t run into the next game, as IUPUI rallied us 82-47.
Hockey:
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Nanook skaters went to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, head coach Doc DelCastillo’s former team (he was assistant coach). Friday night’s game ended 4-3 with great performances from the freshmen, as the three goals were scored by Derek Klassen, Nathan Lawrence and Dustin Sather.
Saturday night fared better as the Nanooks fought to a 4-4 tie after overtime. Down 4-1 nearly halfway through the second period, the Nanooks scrapped their way back up. Adam Naglich started the comeback. More impressive freshman play came from Landon Novotney, who scored two goals in the second period. Sather scored the opening goal of the game for his second collegiate goal in as many nights.
Dion Knelsen also played well in both games, and Danny Martin at the News-Miner wrote an article about him.
Ironically, it was Doc DelCastillo who recruited most of the players on the Omaha team before he became Alaska’s head coach.
Swimming:
Kelly Becker once again qualified for NCAA swimming nationals after the Nike Cup two weekends ago. At the Nike Cup, freshman Mariya Pavlovskaya continued breaking team records left and right.
In the pre-meet release, coach Lemley hoped for both Becker and Pavlovskaya to make A cuts, but Pavlovskaya only got B cuts. Here are the final stats, along with a Day 1 release from Alaska, and a Day 2 release. The Nanooks finished in 15th place out of 21 women’s teams.
Nanooks lose TOWC opener November 17, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in Uncategorized.Tags: Alaska, basketball, GNAC, men's basketball, Nanooks, Top of the World Classic, tournament, TOWC, UAF
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Last night the Nanooks lost the opening game of the Top of the World Classic to the Tennessee State Tigers, 78-64.
Last night the Colorado State Rams took down Oregon State 69-56, despite the fact that the Rams had a huge turnover in players.
Top of the World November 15, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, Div I, Fairbanks, GNAC, men's basketball, Nanooks, Top of the World Classic, UAF
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It’s that time again. The Top of the World Classic is coming to Fairbanks, TONIGHT.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the articles/releases previewing the teams and the tournament itself:
IUPUI Jags- Alaskananooks.com
Oregon State Beavers- Alaskananooks.com, News-Miner
USC Upstate Spartans- Alaskananooks.com
Colorado State Rams- Alaskananooks.com, News-Miner
Akron Zips- Alaskananooks.com, News-Miner
Tennessee State Tigers- Alaskananooks.com, News-Miner
Portland State Vikings- Alaskananooks.com
BP extends sponsorship to 2012
Tall orders at TOWC (News-Miner)
(I can’t guarantee that all of the News-Miner links will work, because anything that doesn’t appear on the “Sports” page you have to search for and the link that takes you there ends up as something like “your search terms have expired” or something like that)
I will definitely have more on this hopefully sometime this weekend. The tournament goes through Sunday, but due to working all day Sunday and flying to Barrow Monday morning and returning Wednesday evening to then drive home for Thanksgiving; I can’t guarantee anything for a while.
Some notes on the tournament if you don’t want to read through all of the links; I’ve only read a couple completely.
Colorado State, like the Nanooks has had a huge turnover. They lost 11 players last year. Six of those who could have returned either quit or were told by their new coach not to return (which is kindof strange).
The Akron Zips finished first last year in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division, but were denied (in many ways) a berth to the NCAA tournament.
Not only is Alaska the only Div-II team in the tournament, we are also the only team without a player that is at least six-foot-ten.
In other Nanook basketball news, former Nanook Brad Oleson, a North Pole-grad, is playing professional ball in Spain. Read this article about him in the News-Miner.
Hockey loses at Michigan November 12, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, hockey, Jeff Lee, Nanooks, UAF
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In Ann Arbor, Mich., the Nanooks dropped two games in what has come to be sortof a rough weekend. Despite Friday’s 4-0 loss and Saturday’s 4-2 loss, the Nanooks also lost a player. Here’s what the News-Miner had to say about Friday’s loss (Mich. scored three goals in the last eight minutes), and Saturday’s loss.
Jeff Lee, younger brother of Aaron Lee, left over the weekend to play major juniors for the Edmonton Oil Kings, surprising both the coach and his older brother Aaron, a senior for the Nanooks. I heard about that early Saturday morning, but wanted to confirm it before I put anything on here, and lo and behold, Danny Martin had an article about it just the next day. That article is no longer accessible on the News-Miner site, I’m guessing because they updated Lee’s situation with the following article:
Here’s an article Martin wrote about the upcoming week off and Nebraska-Omaha games. In the article, he clarifies the reason that Lee left, citing a lack of playing time and an understanding from the coaching staff that he was not going to be a significant contributor this year, which is really a bummer. Jeff was good, and although he only played in two games so far this year, last year he did really well for a freshman. The article says that according to coach DelCastillo, Lee was taking a bit longer to transition to the new systems, so I guess that’s how it goes. Giving up a full scholarship though? DANG. What’s with quitting and then quitting school altogether?
Also, in the previous article that brought up Lee’s leaving, it also said that Justin Binab quit the team three weeks ago because his head is no longer in the game. I’d also heard that but wanted to get it from more than one place before I go starting rumors. I’ve heard more about other players, but I’ll just wait and see how things pan out before I go yapping my mouth about hearsay.
In the current article, Martin also mentions a lot of injuries. Sather and Vanoosten apparently have shoulder injuries, and Trevor Hyatt spent his weekend home with some torn ligaments in his foot from injuries during practice before the MSU series. He’s on crutches, and I think he said he had three weeks to go, so that’s a bummer, but he said it would be a little easier since there’s no games this weekend.
AAD Patrick Lee named to Alaska’s “Top 40 under 40″ November 9, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in Uncategorized.Tags: Alaska, awards, Fairbanks, Patrick Lee, UAF
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Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Patrick Lee has been named to Alaska’s Top 40 under 40. See his page here.
Also from the University of Alaska Fairbanks community on the list is Scott McCrea, UAF’s Director of Marketing and publications, and Scott Jio Wo Kawasaki, a UAF alum and state representative for the Fairbanks area.
Nanooks dunked by Golden Bears November 9, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, GNAC, men's basketball, Nanooks, UAF
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While a fight between a polar bear and a grizz would be no contest, it happened quite the opposite of what one would expect as the Nanook men’s basketball team was dunked by the Cal Golden Bears. 100-42. A “Thumping” as New-Miner reporter Matias Saari called it.
Granted, the Bears are D-I. Last weekend, Alaska coach Clemon Johnson hinted that it was going to be a very difficult game. He attributed the game to former assistant coach Rich Mendoza’s scheduling, before he left. He said he told his coaching staff to thank Rich for the game.
Cal’s roster has five players over six-foot-ten. The Nanooks’ tallest player is Colin Matteson at six-eight, with Mike Anderson and Jason Simmons at six-seven.
Well, at least now the ‘Nooks can focus on the upcoming BP Top of the World Classic next weekend.
Hockey notes November 9, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, hockey, Nanooks, UAF
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Here’s a blurb on freshman Dustin Sather by Danny Martin at the News-Miner.
And another pre-game preview from the News-Miner.
In my last hockey post I linked to an article about Landon Novotney, but unfortunately the link is acting weird. If you sign up on the site and search for him, it will come up with a headline that says something about his fleet feet.
The Nanooks are in Michigan right now, getting ready to face off against the University of Michigan. Just looking at the Michigan roster is pretty impressive. They have 13 gys who were drafted by the NHL (we have two: Tyler Eckford and Chad Johnson). However, they do have a really young team (average age, 2o).
Michigan’s goalie, Billy Sauer, actually has something in common with Nanook Dion Knelsen. Both started their CCHA careers at only 17 years old (which just blows my mind). His first career shutout was against the Nanooks… on his 18th birthday. Well, at least he had a good birthday. (That was in the ‘05-’06 season).
According to the “Ice Chips” section of Danny Martin’s article about Sather, the ‘Nooks are out junior Trevor Hyatt with a lower body injury. I’m not sure what the difference is between the lower body and the leg, but I’ll let that rest. That’s a bummer. Trevor isn’t the kind of player that produces a lot of goals, but he works hard and gets a lot of playing time. And either way, losing a player throws a wrench in the lineup.
Michigan was ranked No. 2 in the NCAA polls. Along with that, our other CCHA rivals Miami was ranked No. 1, Michigan State No. 4 and Notre Dame No. 12. It looks like a good year for the CCHA.
Grade A players November 9, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in cross country, volleyball.Tags: Alaska, cross country, GNAC, grades, honor roll, Nanooks, running, UAF, volleyball
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Now that the fall sports are wrapping up, the GNAC is releasing its All-Academic teams.
The Nanook volleyball team placed a conference-high seven girls to the team, while the cross-country team had nine runners.
The volleyball players were:
Jenna Jones (Senior, biology-3.73-third time honored)
Jessica King (Senior, communications-3.31-third time honored)
Alexa Sherman (Sophomore, Arts and Sciences 3.85-highest for the ‘Nooks)
Miranda Trudeau (Junior, Spanish-3.52)
Megan Thigpen (Sophomore, Business-3.58)
Hannah Armstrong (Sophomore, Business-3.45)
Jessica Hill (Sophomore Biology-3.36)
Here’s the whole GNAC volleyball All-Academic team.
The Cross-Country team placed:
Vahur Teppan (Senior, undeclared-4.0 only male with a 4.0 in the GNAC)
Chris Eversman (Senior, Chemistry-3.90)
Marius Korthauer (Senior, Business Administration-3.88-third time honored)
John Parry (Sophomore, Anthropology-3.67)
Elisabeth Habermann (Sophomore, Chemistry-3.86-third time honored)
Julia Coulter (Junior, Biology-3.65-second time honored)
Anna Coulter (Junior, Business Administration-3.45-second time honored)
Krynn Finstad (Senior, Psychology and Criminal Justice-3.45-third time honored)
Tamra Kornfield (Senior, Mechanical Engineering-3.36)
Here’s the full GNAC Cross-Country All-Academic team.
The News-Miner took notice also.
Basketball grabs big win, rebounds from halftime deficit November 7, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, GNAC, Nanooks, UAF
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This weekend the Nanook men’s basketball team had two big wins over Simpson University of the NAIA. Thursday’s game was 110-84. Saturday’s game was 93-81.
Both games started out with back-and-forth action. On Thursday the Nanooks were up by just eight points at halftime. Like most teams that aren’t playing to their potential, they got a talking to by coach Clemon Johnson and stepped it up, running with the game in the second half. Coach at one point even put in all the players that hadn’t played yet, which turned out to be great. Bo Edwards, a walk on from Fairbanks (and boy could you tell because the fans loved him), only played eight minutes but he shot eight points (six of which were off of three-pointers) in those eight minutes.
In Saturday’s game, the Nanooks went into the intermission trailing by four points. They again fought back, and Edwards, whose impressive play Thursday earned him 23 minutes in Saturday’s game, was credited by the coach with the steal that shifted the team’s attitude and got them rolling again.
Despite the fact that only four Nanooks from last year returned; they are performing. Colin Matteson was Friday’s high-scorer with 25 points, and Kevin Atkins, who sat out the Spring semester last year, finished with 24 points on Saturday. Lone senior Mike Titus (No. 2 in scoring on Saturday with 23 points) also performed very well for the Nanooks, and coach Johnson said that those three are essentially his go-to guys for now.
Here’s the News-Miner’s pre-season outlook.
Hockey plays tight games with former champs November 7, 2007
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, hockey, Michigan State University, Nanooks, UAF
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The Nanook hockey team fought to two tight 3-1 losses on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday we started off on the right foot with the first goal from Tyler Eckford on a powerplay early in the game. The Spartans scored pretty soon after that, but we held them to a 1-1 tie all the way through until the very end of the game, when coach Doc DelCastillo called a time out and pulled Chad Johnson for the extra attacker. As often happens with an empty net, and empty net goal was scored, but as coach said after the game, “I could care less if we lose 2-1 or 3-1.” Penalties pretty much killed us in this game. Ten penalties throughout the game, and five of those were in the third period alone.
Saturday night was pretty much the same story. Landon Novotney scored his fifth (officially third since pre-season doesn’t count) goal of the season. He had quite a few excellent chances, but none of them made it past Jeff Lerg, who, just looking at the stats, (see my previous post), I have a great amount of respect for, and DelCastillo said the same in the post-game talks. This time it was Wylie that got pulled in the end of the game, although he was pulled with just 24 seconds left, and not immediately after the time out.
Here’s what the Spartans think of the series.
And here’s what News-Miner reporter Danny Martin has to say about Landon Novotney. Word on the street is that he’s speedy. When I talked to some of the players just before their first game, Wylie Rogers commented on how fast a lot of the freshmen are. Right now, Novotney, Dustin Sather and Dion Knelsen are all on a line (that’s two freshmen and a sophomore) and they’re doing really well. I don’t think it’ll be long before Sather gets to put the puck in the net instead of just getting the assists.
Here’s a little sound clip I made about the weekend as an audio assignment.
