FAIRBANKS, Alaska – On Friday, the Alaska Nanooks hockey program and head coach Dallas Ferguson proudly announced the participating teams for the 2016 Brice Alaska Goal Rush, which will be held October 14-15, 2016 at the Carlson Center. Joining the Alaska Nanooks in their ninth annual non-conference tournament is the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Canisius College and in-state rival the University of Alaska Anchorage.
"We're extremely excited to be hosting the Brice Alaska Goal Rush for the ninth straight season," head coach Dallas Ferguson said over the phone. "We obviously owe a lot of the credit to the Brice family and Brice Incorporated for their continued support to give our hockey program the chance to host such a competitive tournament year after year. From a competitive standpoint, I can't even begin to describe the value of being able to play two back-to-back non-conference games in front of our home crowd, it's amazing."
After successfully capturing the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Championship earlier this season, the Nanooks will look to obtain their fifth straight Goal Rush title in a row. The Nanooks and the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves are the only two teams to have ever captured the coveted BAGR championship gold pan, with the Nooks leading with six championships (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015), while the Seawolves have won twice (2008 & 2011). Alaska's BAGR overall record currently stands in first at 13-1-2, while Alaska-Anchorage is in second place with a record of 10-5-1.
The 2015 Brice Alaska Goal Rush, which featured the Nanooks, Alaska-Anchorage, American International College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, proved to be the most record-setting year of the tournament, breaking or tying 12 of the 20 different statistical records archived for the Brice. The Nooks broke or tied nine of those records including individual single-game goals (Tayler Munson 2 (twice), Tyler Morley 2), tournament goals (Tayler Munson, 4), tournament assists (Zach Frye, 4), tournament points (Tayler Munson, 6), team single-game goals (7), team single-game shots on goal (51), team tournament goals (11) and team tournament shots on goal (97).
What might make the Brice Alaska Goal Rush so successful is the community support put behind it. The BAGR is ran by a committee of athletic administration, Alaska Hockey staff, Face-Off Club members, Brice, Inc. employees, Alaska Hockey Alumni and incredible volunteers. Additionally, the past two Saturday night BAGR games have drawn the Nanooks biggest crowds of the year, as the 2014 BAGR brought in 3,584 fans and the 2015 BAGR recorded 3,036 Nanook fans, the most this season so far.
"Fairbanks is a hockey town and we're extremely thankful for the community support we get each year during the Brice Tournament," Ferguson said. "It's a great introduction for our new players to see the type of wonderful people we have here in our community, and for us to get to host a Division I tournament here in little Fairbanks, Alaska is pretty special."
Meet the Opponents
No. 14 University of Nebraska-Omaha (16-9-1 overall, 6-9-1 NCHC)
After making an appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four last season, the Mavericks returned most of their team this season, ranking them No. 14 in the nation according to the Feb. 8 USCHO Poll. The 2016 Brice Alaska Goal Rush will be the second time Nebraska-Omaha has participated in the tournament, as the Mavericks went 0-2-0 in the tournament Oct. 14-15, 2011.
"Playing a non-conference home game against a team like UNO, who's had huge success the past couple seasons, is extremely exciting," Ferguson said. "Competing against a team that's made an appearance at the NCAA Frozen Four will be a good challenge for our guys."
Canisius College (8-15-5 overall, 7-8-5 Atlantic Hockey)
With only one senior on this year's roster, the Canisius Golden Griffins will come to Fairbanks with a large veteran squad next season. Under the direction of Dave Smith, the Golden Griffins are off to one of their best conference starts in recent years. Alaska last played Canisius on Oct. 13, 2012 in the Kendall Classic in Anchorage, where the Golden Griffins beat the Nanooks 3-1.
"Canisius has a long history of being one of the better teams in the Atlantic Hockey Conference," Ferguson said of the Golden Griffins. "It's been a while since we've been able to play them but they're definitely a competitive team, we're excited to have them in Fairbanks."
University of Alaska-Anchorage (10-15-3 overall, 7-13-2 WCHA)
Although the Nanooks will never play the UAA Seawolves in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush, they still pose a threat for the Championship. This familiar foe will be coming to the Brice for their ninth straight season, while the Nanooks will be participating in the ninth annual Kendall Classic next season, hosted by UAA. Though never facing each other in the non-conference tournament, the Alaska Nanooks and the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves will square-off in four WCHA games throughout the season, also known as the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.
The Alaska Nanooks are in the midst of a bye-week off this weekend, but return to the Carlson Center Feb. 19-20 to take on the Bowling Green Falcons in a two-game WCHA matchup at the Carlson Center, puck-drop set for 7:07 p.m. AST. The Alaska Nanooks ticket office is hosting a "Date Night with the Nanooks" promotion, where fans can buy one ticket, get one ticket for free if bought in advance.
This promotion will not be available at the Carlson Center.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey page on Facebook.
