Seawolves Looking For Respect
Move over, Rodney Dangerfield.
For the past two years the University of Alaska Anchorage hockey team has been picked in pre-season polls by the league's head coaches to finish last in the WCHA race.
Over those same two seasons, Coach Dean Talafous' Seawolf squad has confounded those prognosticators by ranking as high as third in each campaign before finishing up sixth and seventh respectively - each time just a few points out of fifth place and the WCHA first round playoff home-ice advantage that goes with it.
Exceeding the expectations of others has become a mantra of sorts for UAA hockey in recent years. The team's own expectations entering the 2000-01 season have never been higher or more attainable.
"We really feel prepared to bring things to fruition," says fifth-year Coach Talafous, whose team went 15-18-3 in 1999-2000 and whose steadily-improving teams of the past two seasons nearly doubled the win totals of the previous two years.
"We've taken many steps to get to this point - it's been the culmination of steady improvement in so many areas. We've developed an identity along the way - team-oriented, fast, tough and disciplined hockey - and we've raised the bar on our level of talent. When you combine those factors with a winning attitude, the natural result is high expectations.
Alaska Anchorage, a leader in sportsmanship, is also well-known for its stifling defense. The Seawolves allowed just 2.72 goals per game over the past two seasons and led the nation for the fourth straight season in fewest penalties taken, averaging just 8.2 minutes in the box per game. As a result, UAA allowed an all-time team record 14 power-play goals.
Along with their strong team defense, Alaska Anchorage has transformed into a more aggressive, offensive-minded team. Last year the Seawolves outshot their opponents in the majority of their games. UAA's goal output increased, while its power-play goals rose.
The Seawolves are built for speed and continue to increase their quickness each year. Junior center Steve Cygan could be the fastest skater in the Div. 1 ranks.
After being one of the youngest teams in the conference the past couple of seasons, this year's roster includes 16 returning letterwinners, eight of whom are upperclassmen. Led by an all-junior line of Cygan (14-13=27), Mike Scott (8-15=23) and Gregg Zaporzan (8-12=20), the Seawolves return seven of their top 10 scorers from a year ago and 74% of their point production. Also returning up front is senior captain Reggie Simon (5-10=15), the No. 4 scorer last year.
On the blueline, UAA will be led by last year's mainstays, junior Corey Hessler (2-7=9) and 1999-2000 freshman sensation Matt Shasby (1-8=9).
Sophomore Corey Strachan (9-10-1, 2.89 GAA, .887 SV%) returns in goal after seeing action in 21 games last season.
The recruiting class is full of promise. Among the nine newcomers (five forwards, two defensemen and two goaltenders), four hail from the state of Alaska.
UAA's 2000-2001 schedule is arguably its toughest ever. The Seawolves play Michigan and Michigan State in the Johnson Nissan Classic, take on intra-state rival Alaska Fairbanks four times for the annual Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup, and launch their WCHA season with three straight road series, playing at Minnesota, Wisconsin, and MSU Mankato. The first home conference series is against defending NCAA champion North Dakota on Dec. 1-2. After New Year's, the Seawolves play five of their final eight WCHA series at home.
So what about that lack of respect?
"We can't concern ourselves with what others think," said Coach Talafous. "We have high expectations of ourselves - we are building a championship-level program and we will continue to do it with class."
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