Sports

UAA hockey ranked No. 20, UAF moves up 3 spots to No. 16

Unbeaten in the first four games of the hockey season, UAA moved into the national rankings Monday at No. 20 in the USCHO.com Division I poll.

The Seawolves (3-0-1) squeezed into the Top 20 after a victory and tie last weekend at UAF's Brice Alaska Goal Rush tournament. UAA beat Air Force 4-1 on Saturday after twice responding from two-goal deficits to tie Penn State 3-3 on Friday.

The Seawolves were cool with being ranked, of course, but mindful it's early in the season and they are headed to their first true road series, a weekend nonconference set at Maine (0-4-0).

"It's kudos to the guys, to the team, the coaches,'' said sophomore defenseman Chase Van Allen. "Have we played well? Yes. Have we played our best? No. At the end of the day, it doesn't mean a lot.

"We're just focusing on getting better every day. My dad said it best: 'You can go down as easily as you can go up.' "

UAF (4-0-0), meanwhile, moved up three spots to No. 16. The Nanooks, who won their tournament with 4-3 wins over Air Force and Penn State, are one of three 4-0-0 teams in Division I, joining defending national champion Union, ranked No. 2, and unranked Robert Morris.

The Nanooks play a nonconference series at Western Michigan (1-3-0) this weekend.

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UAA was scheduled to fly out of town Monday night for the series at Maine, which the Seawolves beat 3-1 in the season opener in their Kendall Hockey Classic. Coach Matt Thomas said the team will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Boston, practicing at Boston University and checking out the city before busing to Orono, Maine, on Thursday. The Seawolves play the Black Bears on Friday and Saturday.

Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr

Doyle Woody

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

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