ANCHORAGE ? The 2008-09 University of Alaska Anchorage hockey schedule was announced today by Seawolf head coach Dave Shyiak.
UAA's 34-game schedule includes 18 home dates and two in-season tournaments. The Seawolves, who will play six non-conference games against five different opponents, alternate home and road series the entire season with no back-to-back series on the slate.
The 30th season of Seawolf hockey commences with the Kendall Hockey Classic, Oct. 10-11. Joining five-time tournament champion UAA at the 18th edition of the Classic are Connecticut, Northeastern and Alaska Fairbanks.
The Seawolves play in the inaugural Alaska Goal Rush tournament in Fairbanks the second weekend of the season (Oct. 17-18), where they'll face two more eastern schools ? Maine and Mercyhurst.
The 16th season of Western Collegiate Hockey Association for UAA begins Oct. 24-25 as it hosts Minnesota Duluth in the first of seven conference series to be played at Sullivan Arena. Also making visits to the 49th State in 2008-09 are Minnesota State (Nov. 7-8), Colorado College (Nov. 21-22), Wisconsin (Jan. 9-10), Michigan Tech (Jan. 23-24), St. Cloud State (Feb. 6-7) and 2008 NCAA Frozen Four semifinalist North Dakota (Feb. 20-21).
UAA's conference road series are at Michigan Tech (Oct. 31-Nov.1), North Dakota (Nov. 14-15), Wisconsin (Dec. 5-6), Minnesota State (Jan. 16-17), Denver (Jan. 30-31), Minnesota (Feb. 13-14) and Minnesota Duluth (Mar. 6-7).
Not making the trip to Anchorage are Minnesota and Denver, while UAA won't make outings to Colorado College and St. Cloud State.
For the first time since the 1998-99 season the Seawolves will face UAF just two times in their annual Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup series, as the Alaska schools will play a home-and-home series Feb. 27 (at UAF) and Feb. 28 (at UAA). The Seawolves, who have won the Governor's Cup the last two seasons, are unbeaten in their last eight games (6-0-2) against the Nanooks.
UAA plays two exhibition games during the preseason, as it hosts the U.S. National Under-18 Team (Sept. 25) and the University of British Columbia (Oct. 4). Both exhibition tilts are being played at the Curtis Menard Ice Arena in Wasilla.
All Seawolf home games, with the exception of the Kendall Hockey Classic, will face off at 7:07 p.m.
2008-09 UAA Hockey Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
Sept. 25 U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM (exh.) WASILLA
Oct. 4 BRITISH COLUMBIA (exh.) WASILLA
Oct. 10 KENDALL HOCKEY CLASSIC ANCHORAGE
Northeastern vs. Alaska Fairbanks (5:07 p.m.)
CONNECTICUT vs. ALASKA ANCHORAGE (8:07 p.m.)
Oct. 11 KENDALL HOCKEY CLASSIC ANCHORAGE
Connecticut vs. Alaska Fairbanks (4:07 p.m.)
NORTHEASTERN vs. ALASKA ANCHORAGE (7:07 p.m.)
Oct. 17 vs. Maine (at UAF Tournament) Fairbanks
Oct. 18 vs. Mercyhurst (at UAF Tournament) Fairbanks
Oct. 24-25 MINNESOTA DULUTH* ANCHORAGE
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Michigan Tech* Houghton, Mich.
Nov. 7-8 MINNESOTA STATE* ANCHORAGE
Nov. 14-15 at North Dakota* Grand Forks, N.D.
Nov. 21-22 COLORADO COLLEGE* ANCHORAGE
Dec. 5-6 at Wisconsin* Madison, Wis.
Jan. 9-10 WISCONSIN* ANCHORAGE
Jan. 16-17 at Minnesota State* Mankato, Minn.
Jan. 23-24 MICHIGAN TECH* ANCHORAGE
Jan. 30-31 at Denver* Denver, Colo.
Feb. 6-7 ST. CLOUD STATE* ANCHORAGE
Feb. 13-14 at Minnesota* Minneapolis, Minn.
Feb. 20-21 NORTH DAKOTA* ANCHORAGE
Feb. 27 at Alaska Fairbanks# Fairbanks
Feb. 28 ALASKA FAIRBANKS# ANCHORAGE
Mar. 6-7 at Minnesota Duluth* Duluth, Minn.
Mar. 13-15 WCHA First Round Playoffs TBD
Mar. 19-21 WCHA Final Five St. Paul,Minn.
Home games at Sullivan Arena in BOLD CAPS
# Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup
* Western Collegiate Hockey Association game
All times are Alaska Daylight/Standard Time
