Seawolves: Defensive Depth Diminished By Injuries

The UAA Seawolves may have to go with just five defensemen -- the usual complement is six -- again this weekend in facing No. 2-ranked and visiting North Dakota.

Senior defenseman Nils Backstrom remains out while recovering from an offseason wrist injury. Senior blueliner Trevor Hunt, recovering from offseason wrist surgery but practicing with limited contact this week, is listed as questionable by coach Dave Shyiak. And junior defenseman Luka Vidmar, out with a groin/hip injury, is listed as doubtful by Shyiak.

Backstrom and Hunt have missed all four UAA games this season, and Vidmar sat out Saturday's 5-3 loss to Robert Morris in Fairbanks, leaving the Seawolves with just five defensemen -- Jared Tuton, Kane Lafranchise, Curtis Leinweber, Lee Baldwin and Drew Darwitz.

At a couple points against Robert Morris, particularly when defensemen were in the penalty box, Shyiak was so thin on the backline while facing two-man disadvantages, that he had to use two forwards and a defenseman as his penalty killers as opposed to the usual two defensemen and one forward. Wingers Sean Wiles and Jade Portwood got those duties in one instance when UAA was down two men to the Colonials.

Missing Backstrom, Hunt and Vidmar hurts UAA not just because of the experience they bring to the lineup -- 221 career games, combined -- and their leadership, but because all three usually play on the Seawolves' special teams.

The Seawolves have two other defensemen on the roster, but they are transfers who are not yet eligible to play because of NCAA transfer rules. Brad Gorham of Anchorage will be eligible in the second half of the season after transferring from Ohio State and Scott Warner of Anchorage will not be eligible until next season after transferring from Army.