Former UAF defenseman Tyler Eckford, a second-year pro, made his NHL debut tonight for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-2 shootout loss at Nashville.

Eckford logged 9:01 of ice time, including 1:32 on the power play, earned an even rating and blocked three shots.

He also took a hooking penalty late in the second period that led to a go-ahead goal by former Devils center Jason Arnott early in the third period. That marked Eckford's late shift of the game -- he didn't see the ice in the third period or overtime.

The Devils promoted Eckford from Lowell of the American Hockey League earlier this week.

Eckford became, by my count, the eighth former Nanook to play in the world's best league -- gonna pump my own tires since UAF only lists six others in its media guide (they forgot Darcy Campbell played one game for Columbus straight out of college in 2007). The others: Shawn Chambers, Dwayne Zinger, Aaron Voros (current New York Ranger), Jordan Hendry (current Chicago Blackhawk), Kyle Greentree and Corey Spring. Five of those eight Nanooks to make the NHL are/were defensemen.

In case you're counting, UAF leads UAA in NHLers, 8-6. UAA players who reached the NHL are Mike Peluso, the late Jeff Batters, Rob Conn, Gregg Naumenko, Curtis Glencross (current Calgary Flame) and Jay Beagle (current Washington Capital).

(When you're popping off, by the way, you sure as hell hope you didn't miss someone who made it to the NHL from either UAA or UAF. Fingers crossed.)