Western Collegiate Hockey Association

University of Alaska Anchorage Hockey: 2007-08 Season Preview

The University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolf hockey team took some small steps towards its ultimate goal of contending for a conference championship last season, and all indications are that third-year head coach Dave Shyiak has the team poised for an even bigger leap towards that goal in 2007-08.

"I think we have the most depth we've had in some years and it puts a more competitive environment in our practice sessions," Shyiak said. "On paper, our speed, size and talent is solid and it will only be a matter of time where everybody fits into their rolls."

The Seawolves return 15 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 13-21-3 overall and 8-19-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, including home sweeps over North Dakota and Alaska Fairbanks. The overall win total marked a seven-game improvement from the previous season. UAA also claimed its own Nye Frontier Classic Tournament as well as the annual Alaska Governor's Cup series against instate rival UAF. The Seawolves also posted their first winning season on home ice (9-8-1) in six seasons.

"Our team and program made some progress last year and we're looking to build further upon that foundation heading into this season," Shyiak said. "We learned how to win in some tough arenas on the road and regained a winning record at home. With that being said though, we still have a lot of work to do in order to reach the success we want to achieve in the WCHA."

With 18 underclassmen on the roster, including 10 freshmen, UAA will field one of the youngest teams in the WCHA this season. The youth movement will put pressure on an experienced crew of five seniors.

The biggest void from the loss of last year's graduating seniors will be their leadership both on and off the ice. We have a group of guys in our locker room who we feel can fill that void. Leadership, teamwork, work ethic and consistency will be the foundation of our success this year, and we will need everybody to contribute on a daily basis," said Shyiak.

In 28 previous seasons of play, UAA has posted 12 winnings seasons, but hasn't tasted the ascending side of the .500 mark since joining the powerhouse WCHA in 1993-94. Shyiak believes, however, that the current players in the program are focused to change that recent trend and are determined to help catapult the team into the upper echelon of the WCHA.

"Our players are starting to understand what kind of commitment and dedication is needed to win in this league on a consistent basis," Shyiak said.

As always UAA faces one of the most challenging schedules in college hockey, as it plays 23 of its 34 games against teams ranked in the final USCHO top-20 poll of 2006-07, including four games each against 2007 WCHA regular-season and tournament champion Minnesota, 2004 and 2005 NCAA champion Denver, Colorado College and St. Cloud State.

Forwards: With six of its top-10 leading point producers back up front, including two of their top three scorers, the Seawolves are poised to build upon their increased goal and shot output from last season. UAA scored 22 more goals and increased its shots on goal by 193 attempts, while also producing five 20-point scorers for the first time in five years.

"With our current talent level of forwards, I anticipate us increasing our entire offensive output once again," Shyiak said. "Rather than leaning on the services of just two or three guys to do the majority of our scoring, I would like to see us balance out our attack by getting quality offensive production from six to eight of our guys up front."

Headlining the list of returnees are sophomores Paul Crowder and Josh Lunden, who ranked ninth and 10th in freshman scoring in WCHA games last season. Tied for the team lead in goals at 11, the duo also finished second and third overall -on UAA in points with 24 and 20, respectively. The 6-3, 203-pound Crowder and 6-2, 202-pound Lunden will also play significant roles as the Seawolves' top power-play attackers. Lunden led all UAA skaters with seven power-play goals last season while Crowder tied for second with four.

UAA's career leader in points with 41, senior Merit Waldrop tallied career-best totals in both assists (14) and points (19) last season while finishing sixth overall in scoring. One of the team's top playmakers, more production will be asked from Waldrop as the Seawolves look to counter the loss of last year's leading scorer Justin Bourne (31 points) to graduation.

The team's fourth-leading returning scorer, sophomore Kevin Clark, recorded 8-9-17 totals as a rookie while establishing himself as one of the grittiest players in the WCHA. The 5-9, 167-pounder, one of UAA's most physical players despite his size, led the league and team in penalty minutes last year with 102.

A trio of seniors - Peter Cartwright, Chris Tarkir and Blair Tassone - give UAA's forward unit a solid core of veteran experience and leadership. Cartwright is coming off his most productive season as a Seawolf, posting 5-7-12 scoring figures, while Tarkir and Tassone contributed five points each as juniors.

The 6-1, 208-pound Cartwright can clog a lot of space in front of opponents' nets, while Tarkir, who notched double-digits in points his first two seasons, has the offensive tools to rebound from a down year numberwise. Tassone is arguably the team's hardest working skater and one of its best checking forwards.

Sophomores Jared Tuton and Ken Selby, who gained valuable experience their rookie seasons, both have the skills to produce on a regular basis on the offense end. A high energy player, Tuton played 36 of 37 games on UAA's fourth line, recording two assists after walking on to the program. A quick-footed skater, Selby tallied one assist in 12 games of action.

Joining UAA's forward crew is a gifted class of seven newcomers, including three who ranked among the top 5 in points on their respective teams in juniors last season. Freshmen Tommy Grant (36-39-75), Craig Parkinson (42-37-79) and Winston DayChief (31-43-74) were prolific scorers at the junior level and have the tools to do the same intheir first season against NCAA Division I competition.

Although he didn't record high scoring totals due to injury last season, freshman Brad McCabe could be the standout recruit of this year's class. The 6-0, 200-pounder is a skilled forward who tallied 36 points in 42 games in the NAHL during the 2006-07 season. He ended the year ranked No. 199 in the final NHL Central Scouting ratings.

Others vying for playing time up front are freshmen Nick Haddad and Sean Wiles and junior transfer Brian Bales. Bales brings collegiate experience after a two-year stint at Bowling Green.

Defensemen: Five letterwinners return on a defensive unit that lowered its opponents' shots on goal average from 37.3 shots per game in 2005-06 to 29.8 a year ago and upped its offensive output by 11 points.

"I expect our defensive group to further develop as a unit based on the experience and improvement they attained last season," Shyiak said. "With the additions we have made, I feel we have a solid roster of defensemen who all possess good size, speed and scoring ability."

The list of UAA's returnees is led by the tandem of senior Luke Beaverson and junior Mat Robinson. The 'Wolves' most physical blueliner, the 6-5, 220-pound Beaverson is the team's most experienced skater, having played in a team-best 108 career games. The Minnesota product recorded a career-best nine points and five goals as a junior. Robinson, who hasn't missed a game in his two years with the Seawolves, was paired with Beaverson on UAA's top defensive pairing for nearly the entire season as a sophomore. The 5-10, 174-pounder netted a career-best 9 points last season.

The Seawolves' top returning point producer on defense is sophomore Nils Backstrom, who tallied 1-9-10 totals in a solid rookie season. As was the case last year, Backstrom will see extensive playing time on the Seawolf power-play and penalty-kill units.

The team's two other experienced defensemen are junior Shane Lovdahl and sophomore Trevor Hunt, who will likely vie for spots at the third defensive pairing. Lovdahl, who was limited to 19 games last season, is arguably one of UAA's most skilled offensive blueliners. Hunt gained valuable experience in 15 games as a freshman, while also chipping in three assists.

Looking to challenge for icetime are newcomers Kane Lafranchise, Jeremy Smith and Luka Vidmar. Standing 6-1 and weighing in at over 190 pounds, both Lafranchise and Vidmar could make immediate impacts in their first seasons, as both possess solid skills on both sides of the puck. Vidmar was his team's top-scoring defenseman last season with 28 points, while LaFranchise was second with 35. Smith, a local product who prepped at East High School, notched 35 points in his last stint in juniors during the 2004-05 season.

Goaltending: One key to UAA's seven-game improvement last season was its improved play at the goaltender position, as last season's outfit posted its lowest team goals-against average (3.30) in seven seasons, while also limiting opponents to 14 fewer goals.

"Goaltending will be a key to any success we have this year, as it is with any other team in the league. We are confident as a staff we have capable goalies that have the skills to get the job done in our league," Shyiak said.

Shouldering the load in net will be sophomore Jon Olthuis, who takes over the full-time reigns after the early departure of Nathan Lawson, UAA's all-time leader in career save percentage (.906). Olthuis showed promise as a rookie, posting a 3.59 goals-against average, .887 save percentage and a 3-6-1 record in 14 appearances.

"Jon will get the opportunity to be the number one guy for us this year," Shyiak said. "He played in some tough venues last year and came out of it with a passing grade."

Olthuis gained valuable experience as a freshman, starting seven WCHA contests, including posting wins over CC and MSU. His season- and career-high 44-save outing in UAA's 5-4 overtime triumph at CC helped the Seawolves earn their first win at Colorado Springs in 17 tries.

Backing up Olthuis is freshman Matthew Gordon, who recorded a 3.08 GAA, .905 Sv% and 28-20-0 mark last year with Burnaby of the BCHL. The third goalie will be local walk on Aaron May.