RedHawks fall to Nanooks

by Michael Truax
12/08/07

WILY WYLIE CONFUSES REDHAWKS
The Alaska Nanooks shocked the Miami RedHawks in Oxford Saturday night, defeating the #1-ranked team 3-0.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, now at 2-9-1, were significant underdogs at the Steve Cady Arena on Saturday, after losing 3-1 to Miami on Friday night.

Miami (14-2-0) was not able to take advantage of power plays and a sloppy Alaska performance in the first period. Alaska recorded their first shot on goal 16:37 into the game.

The Nanooks scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes after their first shot of the game, on a 5-on-3 after Alec Martinez was penalized for interference while trying to kill a power play.

Alaska had five penalties in the period, and Miami went into the game fifth in the nation in punishing on power plays, scoring on 24.3% of their chances this season. Miami, however, could not capitalize on the opportunities.

Miami would finish the game 0-7 in power play opportunities, with 13 power play shots on goal.

"It was definitely a frustrating game for us. They capitalized on their opportunities,” said Miami defenseman Mitch Ganzak. He said Miami had opportunities to score.

“To be ahead 1-0 after the first period was really a tribute to (Rogers),” said Nanooks coach Doc DelCastillo.

Saturday’s game was the first time this season the Nanooks have recorded a shutout. Alaska had allowed 3 or more goals in 10 of their last 11 games. It was Alaska’s first shutout since October 16, 2006.

“Obviously, goaltending was a big part of this game,” said Miami coach Enrico Blasi.

The Nanooks, led by senior goaltender Wylie Rogers, stopped all 32 of Miami’s shots on goal in the game.

“I think they did a good job of eliminating (passing) lanes for us, and we were pressing a little bit. When you get to the third period and things aren’t going your way, you start to press a bit,” said Blasi. “But give them credit, they did a great job and they deserved to win tonight.”

The last time the Nanooks visited Oxford, they split the two-game series with then-#1-ranked RedHawks, a feat they repeated on Saturday night. Monday’s national polls showed the RedHawks drop to second place in the nation behind the University of Michigan (16-2-0).

Miami will next weekend to #16 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) next weekend for a two-game series.

ACHIEVING GOALS
Junior Miami goaltender Jeff Zatkoff went into the game first in the nation with a 1.34 goals-against average. On Saturday, he gave up only two goals. One of the Nanooks’ goals was on an empty net during the final two minutes of the game.

Miami ended its streak of holding opponents to two goals or less in a game this season. Through 15 games, the RedHawks had only allowed as many as two goals.

SURPRISING STOPS
The RedHawks have scored three or more goals in 13 of 16 games this season. They are 1-2-0 when scoring two or fewer goals. Miami entered the game Saturday night as the highest scoring team in the nation, recording 4.6 goals per game, including 11-1 and 9-2 wins against Canisius and Northern Michigan.

FLATPUCK ROCK
The Miami warm-up song, “Heart of a Champion” by Nelly, samples the classic NBA on NBC theme song from the 1990s, written by John Tesh. Ironically (for a hockey game), the original song is called “Roundball Rock.”