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Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey
Hockey current event Current season
Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey athletic logo
University University of Alaska Anchorage
Conference WCHA
First season 1979–80
Head coach Matt Curley
3rd season, 7–53–10 (.171)
Alternate captain(s) Nils Rygaard, Cam Amantea, Nolan Nicholas, Eric Sinclair
Arena Seawolf Sports Complex
Capacity: 800[1]
Location Anchorage, Alaska
Colors Green and Gold[2]
         
NCAA Tournament appearances
1990, 1991, 1992
Conference regular season championships
1987
Current uniform
WCHA-Uniform-UAA

The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). They play at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska.[3]

History[]

UAA began its ice hockey program in 1979, playing 8 of its 31 games against Division II Alaska–Fairbanks (winning all) before beginning a full D-II schedule the following season. The Seawolves rose quickly in the Division II ranks, narrowly missing out on the NCAA tournament in 1984 but promoted the team to Division I that summer when the entire D-II division collapsed.[4]

Anchorage played as an independent for a year before being a founding member of the first west coast conference, the Great West Hockey Conference. The league was very short-lived, lasting only three seasons before the two non-Alaska schools dropped hockey entirely, but it did provide UAA with its first league title in 1987.[5] The Seawolves were once again without a conference in 1988–89, but a year later they posted their first 20-win season at the D-I level and were selected to the NCAA Tournament.

The Seawolves dropped both games to Lake Superior State but returned the following year after another 20-win campaign and this time they were able to win their first NCAA round, defeating the Boston College Eagles. 1991–92 provided UAA with its best record, with the team going 27–8–1 and garnering a third consecutive NCAA berth (the last such for UAA as of 2019). After one more winning season the Seawolves joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The stability of their new conference came as a double-edged sword, however, as the Seawolves would spend the next 20 years finishing with losing records. To make matters worse the team would lost both games in the opening round of the WCHA tournament most of the time and only twice could manage a First Round series win.

The college hockey world changed in 2013 when the Central Collegiate Hockey Association collapsed due to the formation of the Big Ten and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.[6] This caused the WCHA to replace many of its departing members with weaker teams but even in the new WCHA UAA was still a bottom-half team. After making the conference semifinals the first season the Seawolves missed the playoffs each of the next five years.

An ongoing budget crisis in the state of Alaska had created the possibility of the state's two division I schools Alaska-Fairbanks_Nanooks and Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves either having funding drastically cut, the programs being merged into one, one program being eliminated, or both programs being eliminated for the 2017-18 season.  Both programs were spared from the chopping block in early November when it was announced that Alaska-Fairbanks would cut its cross country ski teams and that Alaska-Anchorage would cut its ski and indoor track programs.

On May 29, 2019 it was announced that for the 2019-20 season the team moved its home games from Sullivan Arena to the on campus Wells Fargo Sports Complex. The arena has been the teams practice facility.  The facility will have the seating expanded over the next few years.[7]

On August 19, 2020 it was announced that the men's ice hockey program would be cancelled effective the end of the 2020-21 playing season. Rumors of the program being cancelled have been going for several years as the state of Alaska has been hit with severe budget constraints prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On November 13th, the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves announced that they would opt out of the 2020-21 season due to concerns over the pandemic. This marks the end of the program as it was already scheduled to be cancelled after the 2020-21 playing season.[9]

The University of Alaska Board of Regents offered the hockey team a chance at reinstatement in September if they could raise 2 seasons worth of expenses, approximately $3 million by February 2021. The fundraising was divided into 2 parts: $1.5 million in cash and the remainder in firm pledges. As of December 2020, the team began fundraising for the needed money.[10] On August 31, 2021, the university announced that enough donations had been received to save the program. The team is expected to return for the 2022–23 season.[11]

Season-by-season results[]

[12]

Head Coaches[]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1979–1996 Brush Christiansen 17 287–229–30 .553
1996–2001 Dean Talafous 5 50–108–22 .339
2001–2005 John Hill 4 39–89–21 .332
2005–2013 Dave Shyiak 8 80–177–33 .333
2013–2018 Matt Thomas 5 48–105–21 .336
2018–2020 Matt Curley 2 7–53–10 .171
Totals 6 coaches 41 seasons 511-756-137 .413

As of completion of 2019–20 season. Records includes regular season and playoffs games.[13]

Statistical Leaders[]

[14]

Career points leaders[]

Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Larson, DeanDean Larson 1989–1992 63 137 200
Sorenson, DennisDennis Sorenson 1981–1984 70 127 197
Hayse, JoeyJoey Hayse 1984–1987 76 93 169
Donald, DerekDerek Donald 1989–1992 74 91 165
McEnaney, PeterPeter McEnaney 1985–1988 54 107 161
Spooner, DougDoug Spooner 1988–1991 75 73 148
Bogoyevac, SteveSteve Bogoyevac 1989–1992 50 96 146
Conn, RobRob Conn 1989–1991 76 70 146
Morris, KeithKeith Morris 1990–1994 73 61 134
Stitt, MarkMark Stitt 1992–1995 45 88 133

Career Goaltending Leaders[]

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Naumenko, GreggGregg Naumenko 1998–1999 30 1692 11 13 5 65 1 .920 2.31
Mantha, OlivierOlivier Mantha 2014–2018 122 6973 28 77 14 350 3 .908 3.01
Kamal, ChrisChris Kamal 2010–2014 71 3850 21 39 2 198 5 .888 3.09
Gunderson, RobRob Gunderson 2010–2014 82 4499 24 41 10 236 1 .886 3.15
Gravistin, ShaunShaun Gravistin 1990–1993 48 2688 29 11 6 142 2 .883 3.17

Statistics current through the start of the 2018-19 season.

Roster[]

As of September 17, 2020.[15]

# S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Flag of New York Perrone, BrandonBrandon Perrone Sophomore G 5' 9" (1.75 m) 169 lb (77 kg) 1998-10-26 Hauppauge, New York New Jersey (NAHL)
3 Flag of Michigan Lane, AndrewAndrew Lane Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1997-02-19 Howell, Michigan Shreveport (NAHL)
4 Flag of British Columbia Robillard, TroyTroy Robillard Sophomore D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1998-10-12 Coquitlam, British Columbia Coquitlam (BCHL)
5 Flag of Michigan Martin, JoshJosh Martin Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1999-02-18 Brownstown, Michigan Lone Star (NAHL)
6 Flag of Ontario Fantauzzi, DanteDante Fantauzzi Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2000-05-01 Woodbridge, Ontario North York (OJHL)
7 Flag of British Columbia Head, WyattWyatt Head Freshman D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-03-28 Kelowna, British Columbia Coquitlam (BCHL)
8 Flag of British Columbia Pears, DraysonDrayson Pears Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1998-03-09 Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Victoria (BCHL)
9 Flag of British Columbia Wicks, NickNick Wicks Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 171 lb (78 kg) 1998-04-24 Delta, British Columbia Merritt (NAHL)
10 Flag of Alaska Schachle, TannerTanner Schachle Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1997-06-20 Wasilla, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL)
11 Flag of Ohio Sofo, JoeJoe Sofo Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996-08-07 Sylvania, Ohio Coulee Region (NAHL)
12 Flag of New York Nazzarett, ZachZach Nazzarett Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-08-25 Cheektowaga, New York Youngstown (USHL)
13 Flag of Michigan Frye, AlexAlex Frye Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1998-07-27 Clarkston, Michigan Jamestown (NAHL)
14 Flag of Ontario Nash, JaredJared Nash Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1998-01-16 Stratford, Ontario Penticton (SJHL)
15 Flag of New York Muschitiello, MichaelMichael Muschitiello Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1999-03-27 St. James, New York Topeka (NAHL)
16 Flag of Manitoba Court, ZachZach Court Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 1997-01-04 Winnipeg, Manitoba Merritt (BCHL)
17 Flag of Ontario Masson, ZacZac Masson Senior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1996-02-06 Newmarket, Ontario Langley (BCHL)
18 Flag of Alberta Rybarik, DanielDaniel Rybarik Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999-02-20 Calgary, Alberta Salmon Arm (BCHL)
19 Flag of South Korea Lee, Chong-minChong-min Lee Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1999-05-10 Seoul, South Korea Prince George (BCHL)
20 Flag of Minnesota Gauer, EthanEthan Gauer Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-12-23 Farmington, Minnesota Bismarck (NAHL)
21 Flag of Alberta Boucher, TyrellTyrell Boucher Freshman D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-06-03 Nampa, Alberta Cowichan Valley (BCHL)
22 Flag of Quebec Gauthier, OlivierOlivier Gauthier Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-04-09 Mont-Tremblant, Quebec Cowichan Valley (BCHL)
23 Flag of Ontario Sinclair, EricEric Sinclair (A) Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 1996-02-19 Kenora, Ontario Flin Flon (SJHL)
24 Flag of Alaska Krajnik, ZachZach Krajnik Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-05-13 Eagle River, Alaska Kenai River (NAHL)
25 Flag of Alaska Schachle, PorterPorter Schachle Freshman F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 2000-11-22 Wasilla, Alaska Kenai River (NAHL)
26 Flag of Alaska McPheters, AaronAaron McPheters Senior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 164 lb (74 kg) 1997-03-25 Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL)
27 Flag of Ontario St. Onge, RyleeRylee St. Onge Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1998-04-22 St. Catharines, Ontario Des Moines (USHL)
28 Flag of British Columbia Mussio, DevonDevon Mussio Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1999-03-09 Vancouver, British Columbia Nanaimo (BCHL)
29 Flag of Alaska Weeks, PrestonPreston Weeks Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1999-04-05 Soldotna, Alaska Kenai River (NAHL)
30 Flag of Virginia Carlson, KrisKris Carlson Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1997-08-19 Centreville, Virginia New Jersey (USPHL)
39 Flag of British Columbia Stead, KristianKristian Stead Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1996-10-17 Merritt, British Columbia Nipawin (SJHL)
40 Flag of Saskatchewan Camrud, BraydenBrayden Camrud Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1998-07-24 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Humboldt (SJHL)

Seawolves in the NHL[]

Player Position Team(s) Years Stanley Cups
Jeff Batters Defense STL 1993–1994 0
Jay Beagle Center WSH, VAN 2008–Present 1
Rob Conn Right Wing CHI, BUF 1991–1996 0
Curtis Glencross Left Wing ANA, CBJ, EDM, CGY, WSH 2006–2015 0
Justin Johnson Right Wing NYI 2013–2014 0
Nathan Lawson Goaltender NYI, OTT 2010–2014 0
Gregg Naumenko Goaltender ANA 2000–2001 0
Mike Peluso Left Wing CHI, OTT, NJD, STL, CGY 1989–1998 1
Duvie Westcott Defense CBJ 2001–2008 0

References[]

  1. UAA Hockey team moving back on campus for home games. KTUU (May 29, 2019). Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved on June 10, 2019.
  2. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  3. Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves Men's Hockey. U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved on May 1, 2012.
  4. NCAA page for men's ice hockey. NCAA.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  5. History of the Great West Hockey Conference. College Hockey Historical Archives. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved on February 2, 2013.
  6. "The CCHA is going away, but its history will have a final resting place", USCHO.com, 2013-03-06. Retrieved on 2013-07-23. 
  7. https://www.uscho.com/2019/05/29/fianncial-issues-force-alaska-anchorage-to-move-from-sullivan-arena-to-on-campus-wells-fargo-sports-complex/
  8. https://www.uscho.com/2020/08/19/alaska-anchorage-dropping-hockey-program-after-2020-21-season-with-state-funding-the-root-cause/
  9. https://www.uscho.com/2020/11/13/alaska-anchorage-already-cutting-hockey-program-in-2021-opts-out-of-2020-21-season-due-to-covid-concerns/
  10. Bragg, Beth. "UAA hockey supporters launch Save Seawolf Hockey fundraising campaign", Anchorage Daily News, October 19, 2020. 
  11. "College Hockey Returns to Anchorage; Kraken Get an Assist", si.com, August 31, 2021. Retrieved on September 1, 2021. 
  12. "Alaska Anchorage Hockey Media Guide", Go Seawolves.com. Retrieved on 2018-05-18. 
  13. Alaska-Anchorage Men's Hockey Team History. Retrieved on July 4, 2014.
  14. "Alaska Anchorage Hockey Media Guide", Go Seawolves.com. Retrieved on 2018-05-18. 
  15. UAA Hockey – 2020–21 Roster. GoSeawolves.com. Retrieved on October 31, 2018.

External links[]

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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