UAF goaltender Steve Thompson entered this season, his senior year, with only three career starts and just five appearances -- that's because he was stuck behind Scott Greenham for three seasons while Greenham was becoming the all-time leader in everything for the Nanooks.

In any event, Thompson made the most of his big chance over the weekend. He became the third different goaltender in three games for the Nanooks when they faced Merrimack at UAF's Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Friday. He stopped 27 shots in a 3-2 win, which earned him the start Saturday against then-No. 2-ranked North Dakota. Thompson delivered 25 saves in a 2-1 win.

All of which would seem to indicate he for the moment has the upper hand over sophomore Sean Cahill and freshman John Keeney.

Thompson's work over the weekend earned him the CCHA Goaltender of the Week award, his first.

By the way, North Dakota fell to No. 4 in the uscho.com Poll this week -- UAA (which lost 5-0 to North Dakota at the Brice, then rebounded with a 6-3 win over Merrimack) is headed to Grand Forks this week to open WCHA play with a series against NoDak. UAF hits the road to open CCHA play at No. 18 Ferris State.

Speaking of UAA, former Seawolves defenseman Lee Baldwin has been placed on the 21-day IR by the ECHL's Greenville Road Warriors.