FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Freshman Wyatt Ege capped a three-goal third period for the University of Alaska Anchorage men’s hockey with the eventual game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Friday at the Carlson Center. With the win, the Seawolves improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Engineers drop to 1-2.
Ege (Elk River, MN/Dubuque Fighting Saints) broke a 3-3 tie at 10:09 of the third period on a wired shot from the right circle. Junior Chase Van Allen (Anchorage, AK/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) picked up the lone assist with the cross-ice feed.
The Engineers pulled RPI senior goaltender Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers) with a little over a minute to play and generated some offensive zone possession in the 6-on-5 situation, but couldn’t find the equalizing goal.
Anchorage junior Dylan Hubbs (Beamont, AB/Olds Grizzlys) opened the scoring at 14:23 of the first period and the Seawolves took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Freshman Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) brought the Engineers level 4:59 into the second stanza, burying a pass from sophomore Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede). Classmate Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) earned the secondary assist.
Rensselaer took a 2-1 lead on the power play, as freshman Meirs Moore (Duluth, MN/Victoria Grizzlies) fired through a screen from the right point. Helpers on the go-ahead marker went to sophomore Mike Prapavessis (Oakville, ON/Toronto Patriots) and freshman Jesper Ohrvall (Halmstad, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs).
Seawolves sophomore Austin Azurdia (Wenatchee, Washington/Langley Rivermen) tied the game at 2-2 just 1:24 into the third, but the Engineers answered quickly on a shorthanded tally by senior Milos Bubela (Banska Bystrica, Slovakia/Dubuque Fighting Saints) at 5:52.
A power play goal by Anchorage sophomore Jarrett Brown (Beaumont, Alberta/Cowichan Valley Capitals) came less than two minutes later, knotting the score at three-all.
Kasdorf finished with 23 saves, while Anchorage sophomore Olivier Mantha (La Tuque, PQ/Penticton Vees) had 27.
FIRST GOALS:
RPI freshmen Evan Tironese and Meirs Moore each netted their first collegiate goals against the Seawolves.
THIRD PERIOD DIFFERENCE:
Anchorage used a 3-1 third period to win the tightly contested game.
SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKTHROUGH:
The Engineers received a power play goal from Meirs Moore and a shorthanded tally from Milos Bubela.
UP NEXT:
RPI takes on the tournament host Alaska Fairbanks tomorrow night (11:07pm ET).
Anchorage faces American International tomorrow (8:07pm ET).
