Fairbanks, Alaska| 10/8/22 | Isaac Smoldon
The Anchorage Wolverines picked up four points in both the Midwest division and Club 49 Cup standings this weekend, sweeping the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in their home opening weekend. Anchorage won Saturday by a score of 4-2, shocking the over 2200 Ice Dogs fans in attendance. The Wolverines were backstopped by another excellent performance by Shane Soderwall, who made 27 saves on the 29 shots that he faced.
Anchorage would score the first goal of the contest, with Cameron Morris scoring his second of the season two minutes and 38 seconds into the 1st period. Marc Lund responded for the Ice Dogs a minute later, tying the game at one. Six minutes after Lund’s goal however, the other Morris brother would strike on the powerplay for the Wolverines. Copper Morris scored from the point to give Anchorage a one goal lead going into the 2nd period, with Wilson Dahlheimer and Kyle Bauer picking up assists.
In the 2nd, Dahlheimer added to the Wolverines lead, scoring just under eight minutes into the middle frame. Lund would strike back for his team again however, cutting the lead back to one late in the period. Fairbanks would make a push to tie the game in the 3rd, but ultimately they couldn’t penetrate the stout Anchorage defense, and the only goal scored in the final period would be an empty netter by Kyle Bauer to ice the game.
Special teams play was a key factor in both Anchorage wins, as they went 4/5 on the powerplay over the course of the weekend, and conversely held Fairbanks scoreless on their six powerplay chances. The Wolverines will now get a weekend off before hosting the Janesville Jets in their home opening series on October 21st and 22nd at the Ben Boeke Ice Arena. Both games will take place at 7 p.m. AKDT. Tickets are available for purchase at anchoragewolverines.com, and the game can also be live streamed exclusively on HockeyTV.
