Sports

UAA winger Azurdia is WCHA Rookie of the Week

UAA freshman winger Austin Azurdia was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Rookie of the Week on Monday after scoring two goals and adding an assist in Saturday night's 6-1 home-ice win over then No. 11 Bowling Green.

That victory prevented the last-place Seawolves from being eliminated from playoff contention in the 10-team league. UAA closes the regular season Friday and Saturday when it entertains UAF at Sullivan Arena in the final two games of the four-game Governor's Cup. The Seawolves swept the Nanooks in Fairbanks in January, which marked their last victories before a nine-game losing streak they snapped against Bowling Green.

Azurdia ranks first among UAA freshmen in goals and is tied for second on the team, and he owns 7-5—12 totals in 31 games. Azurdia has posted 5-3—8 totals in the last 11 games.

To qualify for the WCHA playoffs, the Seawolves must sweep the Nanooks and have either Alabama-Huntsville get swept at Bowling Green or Lake Superior State (Michigan) get swept by visiting Ferris State (Michigan).

UAF, tied for fifth in the WCHA, is ineligible for the league playoffs because of NCAA infractions in previous seasons. The Nanooks are riding a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) that ties them for the second-longest current unbeaten streak in Division I, trailing only No. 1 North Dakota's seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1).

UAF is led by junior center Tyler Morley, the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week after racking two goals and three assists in a sweep at Alabama-Huntsville. Morley leads the Nanooks in all three principal scoring categories with 15-22--37 totals in 30 games. He also leads UAF in short-handed goals (2) and is tied for the team lead in power-play goals (5).

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