Blue vs. Gold hockey game

September 20, 2018

University Relations

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team will unofficially kick off the 2018-2019 season on Saturday, Sept. 22, with the annual Blue vs. Gold game, presented by the Face-Off Club. The puck will drop at 7:07 p.m. in the Patty ice arena, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Where to watch and listen
The Blue vs. Gold scrimmage will be streamed live through the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal, which is normally used for UAF court sports. Due to equipment technicalities in the ice arena, there will be no audio for the webstream. For play-by-play commentary, listen to Bruce Cech on KSUA 91.5 FM or KSUAradio.com. There will also be no live stats, but a box score will be featured in the post-game recap.

Game Format
The Blue vs. Gold game will consist of two 25-minute periods, with the 2018-2019 Nanooks split into two teams. The intrasquad scrimmage will feature a modified running clock instead of the normal three, 20-minute stop-clock period set up.

Between the first and second periods, there will be a skills competition where the Nooks can showcase their individual talents. The skill competition will feature a hardest shot contest, a race for fastest skater and a shootout for year-long bragging rights.

Admission
Tickets for the Blue vs. Gold game will be sold at the door only, not in advance. Prices include $5 for kids 12 and under, $10 for adults and $25 for families of four or more. All UAF students will be admitted into the game for free with their PolarExpress card. All proceeds for the Blue vs. Gold game will benefit the Face-Off Club, the official booster club of Alaska Nanooks hockey.

Activities
New this year, there will be a beer and wine garden at the lower level of the west side of the arena, courtesy of the Oasis Bar and Lounge. To enter the beer garden, everyone must be over the age of 21 and provide valid identification.

Following the scrimmage, there will be a Skate with the Nanooks and cookie social. Participants will have a chance to meet new players and get autographs from their favorite Nanooks. The Face-Off Club is also sponsoring a cookie social directly after the game.

Hockey season ticket package pickup
Fans can pick up their 2018-2019 Alaska hockey season ticket packages at Saturday’s Blue vs. Gold scrimmage on the mezzanine level of the Patty Ice Arena. If fans aren’t able to pick up their season tickets on Saturday, they will be available for pick up at the Alaska Nanooks Ticketing Office Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Largen era begins
The 2018-2019 season will be the first Alaska Nanooks hockey season under new head coach Erik Largen. Largen was named bench boss of the Nooks in April after serving the past two seasons as the assistant coach to Dallas Ferguson (2016-17) and Lance West (2017-18). The Fairbanks native was a goaltender for the Nanooks from 2006-08 and at 30, is currently the second-youngest head coach among active NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey head coaches.

Out with the old, in with the new
The 2018-2019 Alaska Nanooks hockey roster includes 10 freshmen and 18 returners. Of the new Nooks, five are defensemen while four are forwards and one is a goaltender. The newcomers also include four international students who hail from Canada (two), Finland and Latvia.

Of the returning players, the sophomore class accounts for five players, the junior class boasts nine players and the senior class consists of four players.

The Alaska Nanooks hockey staff also has new faces this season, including new assistant coaches Joe Howe and Karlis Zirnis. Dylan Blankenship and Eric Yancey join the Alaska Nanooks hockey coaching staff as the volunteer assistant and the student volunteer assistant, respectively, while Tom Carroll replaces Kevin Duffy as the equipment manager and Dave Boyd replaces Nick Menietti as the athletic trainer.

Ryan Reinheller returns as the team’s Champs Life coach and volunteer assistant, while Camden Pommenville comes back as the team’s director of hockey operations. Mike Curtin continues to be the team’s head strength and conditioning coach.

Alaska hockey means business
The Alaska hockey team has invited members of School of Management to be on-ice officials for the Blue vs. Gold scrimmage. Associate Dean Kevin Berry and business administrator Josh Lupinek will serve as officials, while John Canoy and James Gilliam will be the linesmen.

Exhibition
The Nanooks will face the Simon Fraser Clan next Saturday, Sept. 29, in the team’s first and only exhibition game of the 2018-2019 season. The game will take place at the Carlson Center, with puck-drop slated for 7:07 p.m. The Alaska Nanooks Family Four-Pack deal will be available, where fans can get four general admission tickets, four drinks and four hot dogs for $50.