Sports

Quinnipiac drops UAF in Kendall Classic

Granting power plays with generosity didn't damage UAF in its season-opening win over Air Force on Friday, but another dose of charity the Nanooks extended Saturday caught up to them against Quinnipiac.

And Quinnipiac, disappointed with its effort in Friday's loss to UAA, reported for work with lunch pails packed Saturday.

All that generated Quinnipiac's 4-1 victory over UAF at Sullivan Arena in the finale for both teams at the Kendall Hockey Classic.

One night after falling 3-1 to UAA in a game it never led, Quinnipiac cashed in for three power-play goals, received top-end performances from its top-end players and never trailed.

"Friday night, we were a little complacent,'' said Bobcats coach Rand Pecknold. "I give UAA a lot of credit because they competed and worked and we weren't prepared to play.

"Today, we worked.''

Outside the other locker room, UAF coach Dallas Ferguson was concerned as much about the timing of his team's abundant penalties -- the Nanooks issued the Bobcats seven man-advantage opportunities, just as they did Air Force -- as the result.

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"When we started getting some rhythm, we'd take a penalty and kill our momentum,'' Ferguson said.

And the one time UAF made headway against Quinnipiac -- Nolan Huysman's power-play goal late in the second period cut the Bobcats' lead to 2-1 -- it immediately stumbled. A Nanooks turnover preceded Connor Clifton's one-timed laser that regained the Bobcats a two-goal lead at 3-1 less than two minutes after UAF scratched back into contention.

Quinnipiac is the defending national runner-up, but lost 11 seniors off that squad. Friday's defeat felt like a touch of Frozen Four hangover to Pecknold. Saturday, his team delivered an energized performance from the outset.

Defenseman Derek Smith's power-play shot from atop the left circle whistled through a screen in front of UAF goaltender John Keeney (17 saves) less than four minutes into the game. Sam Anas, who also furnished two assists, struck during a two-man advantage in the final minute of the first period to boost the Bobcats' advantage to 2-0.

Sophomore Michael Marteig stopped 23 shots for Quinnipiac, which had a 17-hour turnaround between games because its season opener Friday against UAA started late and stretched for 2 hours, 29 minutes.

Nanooks sophomore defenseman Colton Parayko assisted on Huysmans' goal to give him three helpers in the tournament.

UAF next week plays host in its Brice Alaska Goal Rush at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. The field includes UAA, Denver and Western Michigan.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

Quinnipiac 2 1 1 -- 4

UAF 0 1 0 -- 1

First Period -- 1, Quinnipiac, Smith 1 (Barron, Jonzzon), 3:55 (pp); 2, Quinnipiac, Anas 1 (Peca, Quenneville), 19:11 (pp). Penalties -- Kunyk, UAF (hooking), 1:57; Hibbeler, Quinnipiac, major-game misconduct, served by Luczyk (checking from behind), 7:06; Tateson, UAF (high-sticking), 17:20; Kunyk, UAF (elbowing), 18:10; Van Brabant, Quinnipiac (holding), 19:56; Larson, UAF (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:56; C. Jones, Quinnipiac (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:56; Atkinson, UAF (interference), 20:00.

Second Period -- 3, UAF, Huysmans 2 (Parayko), 15:26 (pp); 4, Quinnipiac, C.Clifton 1 (Anas, Peca), 17:11. Penalties -- B. Morley, UAF (slashing), 5:09; C. Jones, Quinnipiac (tripping), 9:35; Tolkinen, Quinnipiac (holding), 14:34.

Third Period -- 5, Quinnipiac, C. Jones 1 (Anas, K. Jones), 12:29 (pp). Penalties -- Beck, UAF (slashing), 3:40; Peca, Quinnipiac (tripping), 4:23; B. Morley, UAF (high-sticking), 11:48; Erickson, UAF (roughing), 13:18; T. Clifton, Quinnipiac (roughing), 13:18.

Shots on goal -- Quinnipiac 7-7-7--21. UAF 8-8-8--24.

Power-play Opportunities -- Quinnipiac 3 of 7. UAF 1 of 4.

Goalies -- Quinnpiac, Garteig, 1-1-0 (24 shots-23 saves). UAF, Keeney, 1-1-0 (21 shots-17 saves).

A -- 3,240 (6,251). T -- 2:24.

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Referees -- Marco Hunt, Tim Elam. Assistant referees -- Carl Saden, Travis Jackson.

By DOYLE WOODY

dwoody@adn.com

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

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