The Seawolves are banking on a trip north to halt a free-fall that is rapidly sending their season south.
For UAA -- loser of four straight games, winless in six games and owner of one win in the last 13 games -- there is no better way to emerge from its funk than by solving intrastate rival UAF.
The teams clash Friday and Saturday nights at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks in Games 1 and 2 of the annual Governor's Cup, games that double as Western Collegiate Hockey Association games. The teams wrap up the Cup with a regular-season-ending series in Anchorage in March.
Before the Seawolves headed to the Golden Heart City, coach Matt Thomas tried to reduce the mental strain bracing his club by practicing Monday on the outdoor rink adjacent to Ben Boeke Arena. Instead of the usual drills, system work and conditioning of a normal practice, the Seawolves broke into small teams and played some shinny. They had, you know, fun.
"I just wanted them to love the game, and enjoy it,'' Thomas said. "It was all centered around scoring goals. A lot of 3-on-3 small games, a lot of give-and-goes, and playing off each other.
"I knew we were going to have three hard practices later in the week, so I didn't want it to be four.''
Junior center Blake Tatchell said the outdoor session was a blast -- and a stress reliever.
"It was good to get out of your comfort zone and out of the usual routine, bring back the fun of the game,'' Tatchell said. "At a certain point, you have to sit back and have fun, and enjoy it. You get to be creative and have a good time.''
The Governor's Cup games will surely be exponentially more serious, of course. The rivalry between Alaska's two college teams dates back to 1979. It has been filled with fury, to be expected in a clash for state supremacy and bragging rights and, for the second straight season, pivotal points in the WCHA.
"It always brings out the best in everyone, whether you're a coach, player or a fan,'' said Nanooks bench boss Dallas Ferguson, a former UAF defenseman.
The Nanooks, who sit sixth in the 10-team WCHA, just one point out of fourth, present a tall order for the Seawolves, who are tied for last on the circuit. UAF, coming off a loss and tie at third-place Bowling Green, is 4-1-1 in its last six games and 7-3-0 on home ice. UAA is 0-7-1 in true road games and 0-6-0 in WCHA road games.
Even after the Nanooks in November learned they were ineligible for postseason play this season -- academic-based NCAA infractions in previous seasons prompted that penalty, plus others -- they have played with purpose. Ferguson said the team addressed the bad news the day it came down and resolved to deliver its best effort.
"It's business as usual, and we keep trying to win hockey games,'' Ferguson said.
UAA's Tatchell said UAF's circumstances will serve to ramp up the rivalry more.
"They'll probably try to hype it up because it is their playoffs,'' he said.
It probably won't hurt the atmosphere in the Carlson Center, either, that the Seawolves eliminated the Nanooks from the first round of the WCHA playoffs in March on that very rink.
Junior center Tyler Morley leads the Nanooks in scoring with 7-15—22 totals in 20 games, sophomore winger Marcus Basara (10-8—18 in 22 games) leads them in goals and reigning WCHA Defensive Player of the Year Colton Parayko (4-11—15 in 22 games) anchors the blue line. Parayko, a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, is particularly deadly on the power play -- all four of the 6-foot-5, 224-pounder's goals this season, and 11 of his 15 career strikes, have come on the power play.
"They've got some really talented players, players who bring it,'' Thomas said. "They play fast and play aggressive, and they can skate and make plays. There's a lot of up-ice pressure they create.''
Though UAA has struggled mightily since opening the season 3-0-1 -- the Seawolves have gone 2-11-3 since -- Ferguson believes the rivalry renders records moot.
"We're always going to get their best game out of them,'' Ferguson said. "Some people think because we're a few spots ahead of them in the standings, we should clean up.
"That's not the case. I think this league has tremendous parity, and you have to bring your best to win hockey games.''
Seawolves notes
Thomas likely will keep his top line -- Tatchell centering seniors Scott Allen and Brett Cameron -- assembled after reuniting it in the team's last game, a 3-2 loss to Ferris State. The aim is to get goal production for a team that has managed six goals in the last four games.
"There's a lot of talent and desire and will in that group, and I hope it translates to goals,'' Thomas said.
UAF is holding a silent auction at the Carlson Center both nights to benefit Justin Woods, the Nanooks defenseman from Fairbanks who is undergoing cancer treatment in Seattle. Volunteers will be at arena entrances to hand out a list of items for auction and to register bidders.
Also available for $5 each will be "Team Justin'' wrist bands.
Ferguson said he talked to Woods this week and said the blueliner, who is undergoing chemotherapy, was in good spirits.
"That's the type of kid he is,'' Ferguson said. "He's always going to say, 'Doing good.' ''
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
UAA (5-11-4, 2-10-2 WCHA) at UAF (12-9-1, 7-8-1 WCHA)
Games 1 and 2, Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup
Friday and Saturday, Carlson Center, Fairbanks, 7:07 p.m.
Radio: Live, AM-650 KENI
TV: Tape delay, GCI Channel 1, 10 p.m.
HOISTING HOCKEY HARDWARE
Alaska's two college hockey teams, UAA and UAF, have played the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup series for the past 21 seasons. But only 18 of those Cups are currently counted because NCAA violations prompted UAF to vacate three titles. UAF thus leads 10-8.
Here's the history of the Cup, which has been played in both four-game and two-game formats, and this season is a four-game series in which all games double as WCHA games:
Season Winner
2013-14 Tied 2-2, UAF won shootout 2-1
2012-13 UAF 2-0
2011-12* Tied 1-1, UAF won shootout 2-1
2010-11* Tied 1-1, UAF won shootout 2-0
2009-10* UAF 2-0
2008-09 UAA 2-0
2007-08 UAA 3-0-1
2006-07 UAA 3-0-1
2005-06 UAF 3-0-1
2004-05 UAF 2-1-1
2003-04 Tied 1-1, UAF won shootout 3-2
2002-03 UAF 3-1-0
2001-02 UAF 3-1-0
2000-01 UAA 3-0-1
1999-2000 UAA 3-1-0
1998-99 Tied 1-1, UAF won shootout 2-0
1997-98 UAF 1-0-1
1996-97 UAA 2-0
1995-96 UAA 1-0-1
1994-95 Tied 1-1, UAA won shootout 2-1
1993-94 Tied 1-1, UAF won shootout 3-1
* Cups vacated due to UAF's NCAA violations