Mavs Win 3-1

Grind it out type game, no help from the power play but Mavs come away with the weekend sweep. Final tally UNO shots 40 Anchorage 21.

Goals from White, Sustr and Megna

Three Stars
3. Andrej Sustr
2. Matt White
1. Jayson Megna

Mavs up 2-1 after Two

Deflection goal from Sustr has Mavs up a goal after two periods. Probably the longest period in history. Look up at the scoreboard and UNO has 30 shots after 40 mins, Seawolves at 12.

Mavs continue dismal power play, 0-4 so far this game. Sustr in box for about 33 more seconds to start the third.

Game 1-1 After One Period

Seawolves coming on early, had a sequence of about 4 wide-open shots that all missed high, Mavs running around a bit. UNO settled down, scored a goal and started to carry the play.

Mavs win 4-1

Goals: Sustr, Broadhurst, Raubenheimer, White

Faulkner 19 saves

Mavs 28 shots

Stars of the game:
3. Broadhurst
2. White
1. Sustr

Mavs Remain Ahead 1-0 After 2

Not much happening that period. Pretty dead until Archibald was pulled into the Anchorage net, collided with goaltender Gunderson then a melee ensues. Arhibald, Searfoss and Smith serve time in the box, along with 3 Seawolves.

Mavs had control with about 3 mins remaining but couldn't cash in. Both sides 7 shots in the second.

UNO leads 1-0 After First Period

Andrej Sustr either got the green light to shoot often or he's just feeling it after his goal made it 1-0. Mavs 12 shots in the first period Anchorage only 4, three of which came on the powerplay.

UNO 3 penalties in the first period, 55 seconds remaining on the last one when second period starts. Seawoves didn't get their second shot of the period until the 14:41 mark.

UNO 1-0

Some what of a pile up in front of the Anchorage net, pucks come free to Sustr in the slot 20 feet out, slaps one through the five hole Mavs lead

Friday vs. Alaska-Anchorage

WCHA Conference Points on the Line this Weekend

Lines are as follows

Broadhurst-Hudson-White
Walters-Montpetit-Raubenheimer
Searfoss-Megna-Archibald
Gwidt- Zombo-Simonson

Defensive Pairings
Smith-Sustr
Turgeon-O'Rourke
Young-Aneloski

Faulkner in Goal

Aneloski Taking the Reins at the Blue Line

Nate Tenopir

Sports Editor

As the UNO hockey regular season commenced last weekend, several storylines came to the forefront.

Could the 10 freshmen additions to the roster have the same impact as last season? How would the Mavs deal with the suspension of Alex Hudson? Will John Faulkner develop some consistency with a lead, and on the second game of a weekend series?

One that hasn’t been talked about…how does UNO replace the production that graduated with defenseman Eric Olimb?

After 27 more points last year, Olimb graduated with 62 in his career. That mark is third all-time for a career among all UNO defenseman.

Eddie DelGrosso finished his Maverick career with 109 points, and Greg Zanon is just behind at 107.

Olimb is also tied for fourth in career goals by a defenseman (9), and his 53 career assists is good enough for third among all Maverick defenseman and 13^th overall, regardless of position.

The top returning scorer on the UNO blue line for 2011/12 is junior Bryce Aneloski. His two goals and 17 assists for 19 total points were five ahead of fellow defenseman Michael Young.

Thus far Aneloski has proven to be more than just the next best option for an offensive defenseman. In the Mutual of Omaha Stampede, Aneloski was on the stat sheet for three assists on Friday against Mercyhurst, and added one more Saturday night against Colgate.

With those marks Aneloski is on pace for 72 points in 2011/12. That would put him 11 ahead of the current season record.

Granted any players numbers over the first two games can be expanded out to look overwhelming. Yet, perhaps the one area of production that no one considered for the new season seems to be in very capable hands.

“It’s one of those things I never try to put much emphasis on,” Aneloski says. “I just kind of try to go out and play. [If] you work hard and do the right things, points will come. You can’t really worry about those things.”

Aneloski may dismiss what has happened in the first two games of the new season. But his contributions last year speak to a possible emergence this year.

Aneloski contributed mightily in four of UNO’s major wins last season. In the early season at Michigan, Aneloski had two assist in the Mavericks’ 4-2 win over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.

He also had three assists in the sweep over Wisconsin, an assist in the 8-4 win at North Dakota and two assists over eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth.

Just under half of all his points came in big games at big moments.

“He’s got a lot of offensive ability, said Mav head coach Dean Blais. “He’s got a good shot and gets it off quick. He skates well enough where he can get a shot off and not get it blocked.”

“He doesn’t cost us defensively when he’s looking for his offensive capabilities. Now and then you gotta let him go at times when he sees opportunities. He’s allowed to do that.”

Aneloski’s trip to Omaha is one that is probably unknown to most Mav hockey fans. After a stellar career in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Aneloski signed on to play his college hockey with Providence.

As a freshman, Aneloski started 16 games in the first half of the season, picking up one assist and eight penalty minutes. He eventually went back to junior hockey and finished 2009/10 as the top scorer among all defenseman on his team.

That year alone Aneloski compiled 15 goals and 39 assists for 54 points, and was an All-USHL first team pick. In just 60 games, Aneloski finished second in scoring for the RoughRiders.

“There’s different circumstances with every kid. Bryce, we knew that he had a lot of ability, both offensively and defensively,” Blais said about contacting Aneloski and bringing him to Omaha.

“We need a puck-moving defenseman that can get some points here and there, and that was Bryce.”

While Blais and Aneloski may try to pass off the need for another offensive defenseman to replace the contributions of Eric Olimb, Aneloski’s new partner feels fortunate to be paired with who he is.

“It’s definitely reassuring to have him back there and playing with him,” said Aneloski’s new partner on the blue line Jaycob Megna. “Mostly all the time he’s gonna make the right play and if you do happen to make a mistake or try something that doesn’t work you know he’ll be back there supporting you.”

Though Aneloski was part of the new crop of Mavs in 2010/11 that had a major impact on the season, Megna says that Aneloski hasn’t put too much pressure on what’s expected out of the new kids this year.

“He hasn’t said anything specifically,” Megna said. “So far we’ve had a good pairing together and hopefully we can keep that continuity. He was one of those guys last year.”

“Obviously those are the shoes I’m looking to fill. Hopefully I can do it and contribute like he was and like those other guys were, because we’re a pretty young team and a lot of freshmen are gonna have to step up.”

So far Aneloski has been the one stepping up. While his past in the USHL makes it easy to predict his early success, he really is one of lynchpins upon which the success of the new season depends on.

As Andrej Sustr and Michael Young continue to grow into their roles as second year players, Aneloski may be able to provide an extra element that the coaching staff wasn’t counting on.

“We don’t really have a defenseman that we feel is that gifted offensively,” Blais said. “Bryce is maybe gonna be.”

Coach Blais at the Point

Monday Practice

4-3 Colgate, 2nd Intermission

Colgate's Wilson gets free streaking to the net, deflects a pass from Wagner past Faulkner, Colgate leads 4-3 after 2 periods

Updates on UNO hockey

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Start of the 2nd Period

Less than a minute in, power play for UNO

UNO and Colgate ties 2-2 After First Period

Prockow for Colgate scores with 28.7 left in the period, pass from Goulakos out of the left corner, Prockow scores all alone on Faulkner

Matt White Beast Mode

At the 5 min mark for about 20 seconds Matt White was all over the offensive end creating all kinds of chances for his teammates.

Followed up by a good shift by the Searfoss line.

8:17 left in first 2-1 UNO

Faulkner makes a series of saves 9:20 in. An initial save on the right post, saves a wrap around and another shot on a loose puck from the wrap around attempt.

Colgate earns power play, Mike Young saves a shot that gets past Faulkner sitting on goal line.

UNO leads 2-1 after a flurry of early goals

Colgate shorthanded, Wanger side of the net to an open player who beats Faulkner stickside for 1-0 Colgate

Just 2 and 1/2 minutes later White streaking to net fails to get off initial shot but finds Broadhurst out in front of the net, 1-1

Moments after Broadhurst's goal, Archibald stuffs one in from the left post, 2-1 Mavs

Starters

Lines

Broadhurst-Montpetit-White
Walters-Megna-Archibald
Zombo-Searfoss-Raubenheimer
Simonson-Gwidt-Mausolf

Defensemen

Young-Sustr
Megna-Aneloski
O'Rourke-Ensign

Faulkner in net

Making It Interesting

By Nate Tenopir

With his team up 3-1, Mav goaltender John Faulkner made a key kick save to keep a two goal lead and helped his team finish with a 5-1 victory over Mercyhurst. Though a 5-1 score makes the play sound trivial, Friday’s result may have been much different had the shot gone in.

UNO was leading 3-0 halfway through the third when Mav forward Dominic Zombo was called for hooking.

Thirty-three seconds after the call, Laker centerman Grant Blakey took a spot in the slot to Faulkner’s right and received a pass from the blue line that he quickly fired into the back of the UNO net. Energized by the goal, the Lakers came out of the next faceoff pressuring the Mavs and holding the offensive zone.

In a scramble around the goal, the puck came to Mercyhurst’s Zac Frischmon. Frischmon got off a low wrist shot but Faulkner was able to kick out his left leg and save the puck just inches from the goal line.

“I thought we carried the play for two periods and then the third period… I don’t know I don’t think we were pressing I think the guys might have gotten a little sloppy,” said UNO head coach Dean Blais. “We didn’t execute as well. They get a goal three to one and then John Faulkner makes a big save. If that goes in and they make it 3-2 it doesn’t go 4-1, 5-1 obviously, then we got a tight game.”

But the Mavs held and regained their two goal lead when Johnnie Searfoss scored just over three minutes later. Brock Montpetit’s tap in to make it 5-1 with 2:24 remaining removed any further doubt about the outcome.

UNO outshot Mercyhurst 44-18, jumped out to a 3-0 lead and put five goals on the board. Yet after the game the talk was more about what UNO didn’t do during crucial points of the third period.

“We aren’t playing the game we really should be, Montpetit said. “We come out in that third period and [we] were kind of sloppy up and down the ice. We get into teams like Colgate tomorrow night and WCHA games are really gonna capitalize on that.”

After having two goals in last week’s exhibition with the University of British Columbia, Montpetit followed it up with another two goal performance Friday night. His first of the night came 5:03 into the opening period off another behind the net pass from linemate Matt White.

White found Montpetit out in front of the left side of the Mercyhurst net. Montpetit put White’s pass off of goaltender Max Strang and the left post, but the puck squeezed through for a 1-0 Maverick lead.

Montpetit would bookend the night on a power play and another assist from White. A shot from White at the blue line was saved but Strang then could not corral the puck.

By the time he realized it was sitting right on the doorstep, Montpetit had his blade on it and easily tapped it in.

“Me Terry (Broadhurst), Whitey [have been] on top of it really, Montpetit said. “They’ve been helping me out quite a bit. As you can see my goals aren’t really a one man effort there’s been tap ins, backdoors, open nets for me so I thank them more than anything.”

Montpetit’s maker was one of 18 shots that UNO put on Strang in the first period alone. The Lakers could only muster up six of their own, but only trialed by a single goal to start the second period.

The one goal deficit quickly became two after defenseman Michael Young scored from just inside the blue line. Forty four seconds into the period Terry Broadhurst cycled the puck backwards to avoid defenders.

It came on the stick of Young who saw a lane and took his chance, firing a slapper that got under Strang’s left leg. Freshman Josh Archibald made it 3-0 with 7:21 remaining in the second.

Archibald put a shot on the left side of the Mercyhurst net that initially appeared to have been stopped. Strang couldn’t settle the puck down and it eventually came back into view, behind Strang and over the goal line.

After Blakey’s goal made things interesting at 3-1, Searfoss got an opportunity on a wide-open net. The Mavs’ Zahn Raubenheimer had a shot that rebounded out to the opposite side of the goal.

Searfoss was skating in and easily took the puck on his blade and wristed it into an empty net before Strang could get over. Searfoss’ goal made it 4-1, Montpetit’s tap in would come three and a half minutes later to make the final 5-1.

“You can definitely tell some of the guys had jitters a little bit,” said defenseman Bryce Aneloski. “Over-handling the puck sometimes, not typically playing our style of hockey. But for our first game we played pretty well to our systems.”

Aneloski assisted on the Mavs’ final three goals and earned the second star of the game. Montpetit with his two goals was first, and Matt White chipped in two assists to earn the third star.

After the game, Blais said to expect some changes for tomorrow’s game against Colgate. Regardless of how he felt about the team’s third period performance, Blais said he’s changing it up to be sure all his guys get a chance.

“The lineup will change tomorrow night,” Blais said. “Nothing will be the same tomorrow night as far as the lineup. There’s guys who have worked hard here all summer long. We’ll give them an opportunity tomorrow night.”

Mavs win 5-1

Three Stars

3. Matt White
2. Bryce Aneloski
1. Brock Monpetit

5-1 Mavs just over a minute remaining

Power Play, White fires from the point, shot is saved but sitting on the doorstep, Montpetit easily taps it in 5-1 Mavs 1:36 to go

4-1 Mavs

After Grant Blakely gets Mercyhurst on the scoreboard, the Mavs respond. Raubenheimer fires a slapper off goalie Blakey, puck rebounds out right, Searfoss has a gaping net to shoot back into 4-1 Mavs, 4:54 remaining.

Start of the Third Period

UNO 3-0 on Goal from Archibald, assist Walters

Archibald from the slot, initially looked like a save but found it's way to the back of the net, assist Walters

Start of the 2nd

:45 into the second, Mike Young gets a loose puck a few strides inside the blue line, fires back in under the left leg of goaltender Strang, 2-0 Mavs

UNO vs. Mercyhurst

UNO lines

Broadhurst-Montpetit-White
Walters-Jayson Megna-Archibald
Zombo-Searfoss-Raubenheimer
Gwidt-Schmit-Polk

Defensive Pairs
Young-Sustr
Jaycob Megna- Aneloski
Turgeon-Ensign

Faulkner in Goal

White behind the net to Montpetit 5:03, Montpetit off the goalie and post 1-0 Mavs