After five road games in a span of nearly four weeks, the UAA hockey team is finally back at Sullivan Arena this week.
The Seawolves (1-7-2 overall, 1-2-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) will face Michigan Tech (5-6-2, 3-5-2) Friday and Saturday. The series marks the team's first home action since Oct. 20.
UAA is coming off a shootout win over Alabama-Huntsville. The Seawolves bounced back from a 5-1 loss to the Chargers on Friday to earn a 3-3 tie Saturday. They gained an extra point in the WCHA standings by winning the sudden-death shootout with a Jeremiah Luedtke goal.
All of UAA's goals in regulation in that game — by senior winger Tad Kozun, senior winger Austin Azurdia and junior center Nicolas Erb-Ekholm — came on power plays.
"We obviously responded with a great effort compared to the Friday night game," UAA coach Matt Thomas said by text. "Special teams were the story and it was big to get the two points on the road."
Azurdia has emerged as UAA's offensive leader in the absence of captain Matt Anholt, who led the team in points last season but is out for the season with a leg injury.
Azurdia leads UAA in goals and points with 5-4—9 totals through 10 games. He has scored goals in three straight games, and he has already surpassed his 2-4—6 totals in 22 games last season.
"I think last year I missed quite a bit of time with injuries and whatnot and then I was playing catchup to get back into shape," Azurdia said this week. "I feel confident right now, I feel good in my game and things are going in, so it's working out."
The Seawolves sit in a three-way tie for eighth place in the 10-team WCHA. UAA, UAF and Lake Superior State all have five points; UAA has played four conference games and UAF and Lake Superior State have both played six.
Michigan Tech is tied for third place with Northern Michigan with 12 points.
Thomas said the Seawolves must play well at home.
"I think the big thing about WCHA play is you gotta take care of business in your rink," he said. "We all know how tough travel is."