Hockey hosts No. 9 Western Michigan

November 20, 2012

Jamie Foland
474-6807

The Alaska Nanooks host the ninth-ranked Western Michigan Broncos for a two-game Central Collegiate Hockey Association home series at the Carlson Center this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17 at 7:35 p.m.

Here are the need to know notes about the Western Michigan series and Alaska Hockey:

Alaska is 5-6-3 against Western Michigan with Coach Ferguson at the helm. They are 3-4-3 in the last 10 meetings and 3-3-2 against the Broncos in the last 10 games played in Fairbanks.

Alaska is averaging over 37 shots per game and holding their opponents to 27. They have fired 35 or more shots in every CCHA game this year (averaging over 41 per outing in league games), including a 50-shot effort on Nov. 3: the most since their 2-1 triple-overtime loss against Nebraska-Omaha on Mar. 9, 2008, when they fired 52 shots on goal. After registering their season-low of 26 shots in their season-opener against Air Force on Oct. 12, they have shot no less than 32 times in each subsequent game.

Friday's 1-1 tie marked the Nanooks 99th all-time in program history.

Freshman goalie John Keeney made his CCHA debut against Ohio State, backstopping the Nanooks to a 1-1 tie and 3-1 win, for his first collegiate victory. He is ranks second in the league for goals-against average (0.96) and saves percentage (.970) after turning aside 65-of-67 shots on the weekend and was recognized as the CCHA Goaltender of the Week.

Senior center and team captain Adam Henderson is one of 20 candidates for the Senior Class Award.

Senior right wing Andy Taranto is the team leader for career offense. His totals of 46-50—96 in 119 games put him four points shy of reaching the triple-digit benchmark only 17 other former Nanooks have reached.

Junior left wing Colton Beck scored a power-play goal and assist, giving him the team lead in power-play scoring with three goals and one assist in 10 games. He's tied for fifth nationally in power-play goals and is tied for third in the CCHA for power-play points.

With a win and a tie, the Nanooks are 5-1-4 against the Buckeyes in the last 10 games, 8-3-4 under head coach Dallas Ferguson and 3-1-4 at OSU under his tutelage.

The Nanooks killed 12-of-13 penalties on the weekend bringing their season efficiency to 39-of-44 or 88.6 percent, which ranks 9^th-best in the country and second in the CCHA.

Alaska maintained its shots on goal dominance and season trend, outshooting the Buckeyes in both games over the weekend. Friday's 35-34 shot count marked their slimmest margin in a game this season and was the most shots allowed for an opponent. The Nanooks amassed 45 shots on Saturday, the third time they've had more than 40 in an outing.

Saturday's 3-1 win was the Nanooks first by more than one goal this season. They are 4-0 in one-goal games this season.