Anchorage, Alaska | 3/31/22 | Isaac Smoldon
Anchorage escaped with a point in their shootout loss to the Chippewa Steel, losing by a score of 2-1. The Wolverines came back from a 1-0 deficit halfway through the third period but ultimately fell in the shootout when Matthew Brille and Joseph Grainda scored on back-to-back attempts to end Anchorage’s night. Raythan Robbins and Nick Haas made 27 saves for their respective teams in regulation, with both allowing just one goal apiece. The Wolverines play the Steel twice more this weekend, with games on Friday and Saturday.
The contest was low scoring throughout, with neither team scoring until the 13:13 mark of the second period. Nick Sajevic broke the ice for the Steel, beating Robbins’s glove side. Chippewa carried the lead into the 3rd period, as Nick Haas denied several Anchorage opportunities.
The Wolverines tied the game halfway through the third, when Drake Albers collected a loose puck and went bar-down over the shoulder of Haas. Neither team would score again in regulation, and the overtime frame was no different, so the game would be decided in a shootout. Despite a successful attempt in the first round for Anchorage, two successful attempts for the Steel gave them the extra point, and they won by a final tally of 2-1.
With the single point earned in the contest, Anchorage now sits two points ahead of the Janesville Jets, clinging to the last playoff spot in the Midwest division. The Wolverines have just seven games remaining in the regular season, and will play Chippewa twice more this weekend. The remaining games against the Steel will take place Friday and Saturday at the Ben Boeke, at 7 PM AKST.
Anchorage is wearing their throwback jerseys over the course of the weekend, honoring the original Anchorage Wolverines team that is their namesake. Jerseys are being auctioned off over the next several days, and the silent auction can be accessed from their website, anchoragewolverines.com.
Also taking place this weekend is the Army vs. Airforce hockey game, hosted at the Ben. Game time is at 3PM Saturday, and while tickets are sold out, fans can access a live stream of the game by subscribing to the Anchorage Wolverines email group, which can be done through the team website, anchoragewolverines.com.
