Safe to say UAF freshman winger Austin Vieth made a favorable first impression on Nanooks fans.
He scored his first college goal Friday in a 4-3 win over Air Force. He did way better tonight. He scored the game-tying goal late and the game-winning goal even later to spearhead a 4-3 comeback win over Air Force that earned the Nanooks the championship of their own tournament at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. Vieth also had a helper tonight.
UAF, The Blagr thinks, is one of three 4-0-0 teams in men's Division I, joining defending national champion Union and Robert Morris. UAA, which tied Penn State 3-3 on Friday at the Brice and beat Air Force 4-1 at the Carlson tonight, is 3-0-1.
Great starts for both Alaska crews. One caveat -- their four opponents this season -- Maine, Wisconsin, Penn State and Air Force -- are a combined 1-6-1 in games other than the Brice and UAA's Kendall Hockey Classic, so that's probably not much help for the power ranking of the Alaska schools.
Anyhow, UAA defenseman Chase Van Allen and center Blake Tatchell were also named to the Brice all-tourney team. We saw that in a Twitter photo of the two, who were being photo-bombed by teammates -- well played, boys.