Buoyed by consecutive wins and a 3-1-0 nonconference record crafted in-state to start the hockey season, the Seawolves believe they have regained some equilibrium following second-half stumbling last season, when they lost 11 of their last 12 games.
Yet, UAA hit the road this week knowing more redemptive opportunity remains ahead.
Namely, nonconference success is nice, but serves as a mere appetizer to the entrée of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association schedule, which matters most. And after going 0-13-1 Outside last season – that failure hastened a last-place finish on the 10-team circuit -- the Seawolves aim to shake their Lower 48 funk.
UAA gets a chance on both fronts Friday and Saturday, when it plays Alabama-Huntsville (1-1-0) in the opening WCHA series for both programs.
The Seawolves are coming off two wins at UAF's Brice Alaska Goal Rush tournament in Fairbanks, where they beat Rensselaer 4-3 and American International College 6-2.
"I think we're feeling good about it, but we know this is when the real challenge begins,'' said third-year coach Matt Thomas. "This is the real season. It's time that we make that next step and perform like we're capable of performing, and do it on the road.''
As much as last weekend's goal-scoring encouraged the Seawolves – UAA had not scored as many as 10 goals combined in consecutive games in nearly four years – it's worth noting that Rensselaer and American International are a combined 0-6-1.
And UAA likely will face the goaltender who sent them packing with two losses in Alabama last season. Carmine Guerriero, now a junior, backstopped the Chargers to a series sweep, 3-2 and 2-1, while stopping 58 of 61 shots. In four career appearances against UAA, Guerriero owns a .928 save percentage.
"He was the difference in the series,'' Thomas recalled. "We outshot them in both games and came away empty of points.''
The Seawolves will have to make do without a pair of wingers. Junior Brad Duwe (1-2—3 totals in four games) and freshman Cam Amantea (two assists in three games) are both out with lower-body injuries and didn't travel, Thomas said.
UAA got its top line going against American International on Saturday, when senior center Blake Tatchell, sophomore left wing Tad Kozun and freshman right wing Jeremiah Luedtke accounted for the team's first four goals.
Seawolf notes
UAA's 10 goals last weekend were its most in consecutive games since Nov. 25-26, 2011, when it won 5-4 and tied 5-5 at Minnesota State-Mankato.
The last time UAA scored more than 10 goals combined in consecutive games was Jan. 15-16, 2010, when it won 6-2 and 5-4 at Michigan Tech.
Junior defenseman Chase Van Allen leads the Seawolves in plus-minus at plus-6. Sophomore center Matt Anholt and freshman defenseman Wyatt Ege are tied for second at plus-3.
Kozun leads UAA in shots on goal with 14, and Luedtke and freshman winger Mason Mitchell are tied for second with 12.
Tatchell, UAA's leading active scorer, is more playmaker than goal scorer – witness his 25-59—84 totals in 112 career games – but he's had a tough time cracking Guerriero. Tatchell has one assist in four career games against Guerriero, though he has cranked off 15 shots and earned a plus-4 rating.
Tatchell's four-point outburst against American International -- two goals and two assists – marked his career high for points in a game and the 16th multiple-point game of his career.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockeyblog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
UAA
3-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA
?at
Alabama-Huntsville
1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA
Friday and Saturday, 4:07 p.m. AST