Woody on Hockey

Alaska is hockey heaven -- the Alaska Aces are perennial ECHL contenders, the UAA Seawolves play in the nation's premier college league and NHL star Scott Gomez headlines a contingent of pros. Join the conversation about the Aces and Alaska hockey with Doyle Woody, who has covered the game here at all levels for 29 years.

Contact: dwoody@adn.com

Aces v. Idaho

Alaska's Zach Harrison races Idaho's Jace Coyle into the corner in the first period. The Alaska Aces played the Idaho Steelheads in Anchorage on Friday, January 20, 2012.

The Alaska Aces played the Idaho Steelheads in Anchorage on Friday, January 20, 2012.

Aces 3 Stockton 1

Lured out of retirement to aid his injury-depleted former team, Matt Shasby celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game for the Alaska Aces during first-period action against the Stockton Thunder Friday evening January 13, 2012 at Sullivan Arena. Shasby had last scored a goal April 24, 2009, and had last played a game June 5, 2009, the seventh game of the Kelly Cup finals.

Matt Shasby scores a goal and Jim Dahl earns an assist in a 3-1 Alaska Aces win over Stockton January 13, 2012 at Sullivan Arena.

The Blog Is Going Dark For A Spell - 2/6/2012 11:00 pm

This Aces Roadie Isn't Like The Last One - 2/6/2012 5:05 pm

Aces Lose, Seawolves Win - 2/4/2012 11:01 pm

Pre-Game Brawl In Utah; Plus, Minor-League Notes - 2/4/2012 6:32 pm

Where The Aces Stand Historically At The Two-Thirds Pole - 2/3/2012 10:25 pm

J.T. Brown 4, UAA 1 - 2/3/2012 10:18 pm

Coleman's Killer Performance Leads Our Roundup Of Aces In The AHL - 2/3/2012 7:00 pm

An Injury And Its Trickle-Down Effect On Alaska Goalies Conklin And Pearce - 2/3/2012 11:39 am

Stingy Nanooks Move Up Rankings Behind Greenham's Goaltending

Check it out -- UAF is one of just three unbeaten Division I men's teams in the country among squads that have played more than two games.

Today, the Nanooks got some rewards for their 5-0-1 record, which they pumped up with a weekend CCHA sweep of visiting Ferris State. UAF won 3-1 Friday and 3-2 Saturday on the strength of sophomore Scott Greenham's goaltending in both games and Ron Meyers' goal with just 15 seconds left in OT in the series finale of UAF's conference-opening series.

The Nanooks moved up to No. 13 in the USCHO/CBS College Sports Poll, up from 16th, and were 14th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.

Greenham today was named the CCHA's Goaltender of the Week after stopping 47 of 50 shots against Ferris St. He's 5-0-1 this season, and 8-0-2 in his career. His 1.14 goals-against average ranks second in the nation and his .949 save percentage ranks fifth.

UAF has allowed just seven goals in six games. Its 91.3-percent penalty killing ranks fourth in the nation and its 22.9-percent power-play efficiency is strong. Offensively, 12 different players have scored goals for the Nanooks, who next entertain No. 9-ranked Notre Dame.

Keep in mind -- UAF has yet to play a true road game.

Meanwhile, the Nanooks and Irish won't be the only ranked teams in the state this weekend. UAA entertains Denver, ranked No. 2 in one poll and No. 3 in the other.

Oh, those other two unbeatens among teams with more than two games played -- Bemidji State (5-0-1) of College Hockey America and Nebraska-Omaha (4-0-2) of the CCHA.

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