The Carlson Center

The Carlson Center, on a very wet, October day in Fairbanks, Alaska

Hockey returned to Fairbanks this weekend, for the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tournament. Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage, American International College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute made up the field.

The AIC Yellow Jackets and Alaska Nanooks during warm ups.

The Alaska Nanooks took on the AIC Yellow Jackets on Friday. It was the first time the two teams had met as Division 1 programs. The last time AIC played either Alaska or UAA, was the 1981-82 season, when all three teams were D-II.

Alaska would win 7-2 on Friday, and UAA won 4-3 over RPI in a great game in the afternoon contest.

“Box Suites” in Fairbanks, AK

On Saturday, UAA beat AIC 6-2, meaning that if Alaska won the nightcap they would win the tourney on goal differential.
The Nanooks started out slow, falling behind 2-0 in the first period, for the third time in four games. Tayler Munson brought Alaska to within one in the second period. Colton Sparrow tied it up in the third, and Peter Krieger of Alaska scored the game winner. Tayler Munson ended the scoring with a short-handed, empty net goal. Munson, a local kid, finished with a 6 point weekend, and took home the tournament MVP.

A fun weekend of hockey, and I was able to see 6 teams compete over two weekends. It was also the first time I have been able to see American International play.