Playing in a league that features teams in four time zones, very western Alaska-Anchorage collects the most frequent-flyer miles of any team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Lately, however, the Seawolves have had it easy. Until arriving in Denver on Wednesday, they hadn’t traveled outside Alaska since completing a two-game series at Colorado College on Nov. 27.
They played four home games in December, including a 5-3 loss and 2-2 tie against DU, but were idle from Dec. 11 to Jan. 14. They returned to action in impressive fashion, sweeping CC by 4-1 and 2-1 scores last weekend.
Their games this weekend will be their third and fourth against DU in an all-Colorado, six-game stretch.
“Just the way the schedule set up,” UAA coach Dave Shyiak said Thursday at DU, where the Seawolves were practicing. “It’s not ideal, with the long break, but we have to do the best with what we have. I have to give the guys credit. They worked hard over the break, and I thought our conditioning level and everything else was very good against CC.”
The Seawolves won only once in their first eight games but are 6-5-1 in their last 12. They have not lost twice on a weekend since being swept at Minnesota-Duluth on Oct. 22-23.
“We’re happy, obviously, with the wins and the quality of play, but we’re not looking too far ahead,” Shyiak said. “We’re a team that plays a good, strong team game, and we are playing well right now. We played a very good CC team, very talented, and now we’re up against Denver, one of the most talented teams in the country. We’re not going to change much. We are who we are. We have to play a certain way to have success, so that’s our focus.”
Footnote. Goalie recruit Eric Comrie, the brother of former DU star Paul Comrie, visited DU on Thursday with his parents and midget coach. Eric Comrie, 15, who plays for the L.A. Selects, is considered North America’s top 1995-born goalie. He will choose between college — DU is his only choice — and the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (major-junior), beginning in 2013 or 2014. He was a first-round draft pick (13th overall) of the Americans last year. “I’m just weighing my options,” Eric said. “Great place, unbelievable facility, great coaching, top-notch video. Great program.
