Tanner Dusyk's nickname around the rink is Deuce, yet so much patience has been required of him in the last year that Job wouldn't be a bad handle, either.
The UAA red-shirt sophomore center naturally believed better times were ahead for him after he underwent surgery in November to remove a rare tumor in his abdomen. Dusyk sat out last season on a medical waiver – he still had three seasons of eligibility remaining -- and was primed for his return this fall.
After a few weeks of skating with the Seawolves in the second half of last season, though, Dusyk began experiencing pain in his hips. The prognosis: Labrum damage in both, surgery required in both.
Dusyk underwent surgery on his right hip, which was more troublesome, in late March, and surgery on his left hip eight weeks later. Then it was back to the painfully familiar – more physical rehabilitation, more work to regain his strength and more patience required. That has been a challenge for a 23-year-old whose nature is full-speed-ahead – "I've never been one to be half-in,'' Dusyk said -- but has learned restraint through his three surgeries.
Dusyk isn't fully 100 percent, but he was good enough to play the Seawolves' first two games of the season last week. And he impressed UAA coach Matt Thomas enough to keep his spot in the lineup as the Seawolves head to Fairbanks this week for UAF's Brice Alaska Goal Rush tournament.
For a guy who had not played a game in nearly 19 months, skating in UAA's 3-2 season-opening overtime win against Arizona State last Friday proved especially sweet.
"It was obviously a long road back, and it was nice to be in that moment,'' Dusyk said.
Thomas said the Seawolves were thrilled Dusyk cleared significant hurdles to resume his career.
"It's awesome for him to be out there after the awful things he went through,'' Thomas said. "It's just great to see him playing the game he loves.''
As much as Dusyk doesn't like to lessen his workload, he occasionally takes some drills off or cuts practice short when he feels his hips getting fatigued.
"I want to go, go, go,'' Dusyk said Wednesday, after practice and a session in the weight room. "The important thing is to realize when you need to take some time off, pull the reins back a little.
"You obviously want to be 100 percent. That's just not realistic; that's not how it's going to be. It's going to be a process.
"I think the recovery has gone fairly well. I hadn't played a game in a year in a half and, with three surgeries piled on, it takes time.''
First impressions
Two freshmen who impressed Thomas on opening weekend were defenseman Wyatt Ege and winger Mason Mitchell.
Ege, a 5-foot-11, 176-pounder, delivered one goal and one assist, and earned a plus-2 rating while playing in all situations.
"Wyatt Ege showed he's going to be a very, very good college hockey player,'' Thomas said. "He's poised, he can skate. He's legit."
Mitchell scored UAA's lone power-play goal, jamming home a loose puck from the edge of the crease against Arizona State, and tied sophomore wing Tad Kozun for most shots on goal through two games with nine. Thomas said he initially thought the 6-2, 209-pound Mitchell would slot in as a power forward, but now believes Mitchell also brings decent speed to the lineup.
"He'll go through you, and he can go around you,'' Thomas said. "He's more than a one-trick pony.''
Seawolves notes
Sophomore wing Anthony Conti, who furnished 4-6—10 totals in 32 games last season, and freshman center Nicolas Erb-Ekholm both sat out with injuries last weekend, but Thomas said he expects to have them in the lineup Friday.
UAA surely will be looking to improve on special teams – the Seawolves converted on just one of 12 power plays last weekend and surrendered three power-play goals on opponents' 10 man advantages.
No Outside team has won the Brice Alaska Goal Rush in seven previous tournaments. UAF has won its own tournament five times, including the last three years, and UAA has won it twice (2011, 2008).
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockeyblog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
Brice Alaska Goal Rush
At Carlson Center, Fairbanks
Friday
4:07 p.m. – UAA (1-1-0) vs. Rensselaer (1-1-0)
7:07 p.m. – UAF (0-2-0) vs. American International (0-1-0).
Saturday
4:07 p.m. – UAA vs. American International
7:07 p.m. – UAF vs. Rensselaer