After dropping game one of the Governor’s Cup series on Friday night, Alaska-Fairbanks wanted to come back to tie the series and not go back to Fairbanks without any wins. Fairbanks went with a goalie change and head coach Tavis MacMillan put freshman Wylie Rogers between the pipes and it proved to be a boon as the Nanooks shut out Alaska Anchorage, 6-0, and evened up the Cup series.
Anchorage’s John Hill stuck with Nathan Lawson who Hill believes was the reason they won Friday’s contest. The first period of Saturday’s contest consisted of two UAF penalties and two UAA penalties. The Nanooks scored late into the first on a power play by Nathan Fornataro. Freshman Troy Newton of Fairbanks put UAF ahead 2-0 at the beginning of the second period. Captain Jared Sylvestre put the Nanooks ahead 3-0 and the freshmen for UAF continued to put numbers on the board as Aaron Lee made it 4-0.
Things didn’t get any better for Anchorage as the Nanooks got two more goals from Adam Powell and Ryan McLeod.
As for freshman goaltender Wylie Rogers, who mad 21 saves, he couldn’t be happier about his performance.
“It was unbelivable, the team played great, it was a huge team effort,” said Rogers who collected his first collegeiate shutout, “It was great.”
“The situation was a must win,” said MacMillan. “The team played well. We had great goaltending from Wylie Rogers. Fraser’s line and Sylvestre’s line got it done.”
“They played well, but it is disappointing overall,” said Hill. “After they (UAF) scored the first goal, we tried to seize the momentum but they (UAF) deserve credit tonight.”
The two teams meet again in March at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska to conclude the Governor’s Cup.
