Saturday, March 27, 2010
Captains Blog: Derek Klassen
Well to start off the team is currently in Worcester Massachusetts. In order to get where we are today, we had to fly approximately 4500 miles from Fairbanks to Boston.
Our trip started earlier yesterday which was Tuesday afternoon. After skating at 9:30 at the patty center followed by workouts the team then went home to pack for the trip. The team then met back at the patty center at 2:15 to load team gear and personal bags and headed to the airport for a 4:40 p.m. flight to Seattle.
After a 3 hour flight the team deplaned and had to collect our gear and check in on jet Blue Airlines. The team was excited to fly on a new airline, especially one that has more leg room than we are use to, plus there are televisions in the back of every seat. (Something that everyone enjoyed) This flight was direct from Seattle to Boston which lasted approximately 5 hours. It was a red eye flight so Im sure everyone got at least a couple hours of needed rest
We arrived in Boston are 7:30 a.m. or 3:30 a.m. Fairbanks time. The team felling somewhat tired and hungry was happy to be safely on the ground on the other side of the content. Ironically it is the furthest the team has travelled all year but was by far the teams shortest travel day.
After collecting hockey gear and personal items that team headed to a local diner where we devoured a much needed breakfast. From there we travelled about an hour bus ride to Worcester and checked into the hotel. With some downtime before practice most of the players and staff I’m sure took a pre practice nap.
Practiced started at 3:30 p.m. and the team is always a little tentative to get on the ice with the time change and the all night flight but today the team was ready to go. There is only 16 teams in the country left playing and we are excited to be one of them. After a good hour skate the team felt better than it did before stepping on the ice.
After practice we headed out for supper at a restaurant called 99. Pumped to get a big meal in us we again devoured yet another meal. I nice treat to the supper was Alumni and former CCHA player of the Year Chad Johnson was able to join us and share some stories from his year spent in Hartford and in New York with the Rangers organization.
Now I am here in my hotel room writing this blog. Tomorrow we will continue to get ready for Boston College and a chance at a National Championship. Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.
Friday, March 26, 2010
2010 NCAA MEN’S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
NORTHEAST REGIONAL · DCU CENTER · WORCESTER, MASS.
ALASKA PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MARCH 26, 2010
Head Coach Dallas Ferguson, Junior Forward Derek Klassen,
Senior Forward Dion Knelsen, Senior Forward Kevin Petovello
Opening Statement:
Ferguson: “We’re excited to be here and for the opportunity to compete in the tournament. From a team standpoint a quick turnaround was really important. We found out Sunday and got down here as quickly as possible to get acclimated. Our staff did a great job with the transition. Travel is something we need to do every second weekend in our league. We are pretty accustomed to getting where we need to be efficiently and preparing accordingly. Tomorrow night will be a big challenge with Boston College, but our focus is on our game and the things that we can control. We plan on going out to compete hard and to work together as a group. We look forward to the challenge and are definitely excited to be a part of it.”
On the commute from Alaska:
Klassen: “It was actually the shortest travel day of the year.”
On the jet lag:
Klassen: “Everyone feels good getting here. (Leaving on) Wednesday morning definitely helps.”
On being the first Alaska Nanook hockey team in the NCAA tournament:
Knelsen: “It’s such an honor and so proud to be a Nanook to be here part of the first team. It’s really exciting”
On the campus and community:
Petovello: “Everybody’s excited. We’ve got tons of support from the community and student life up there. So, yeah that definitely is an exciting time for them.”
On being a defensive team:
Ferguson: “It’s something we take a lot of pride in, playing without the puck. Our philosophy is not to sit back and play defense, it’s to play sound without the puck so you get the puck back quicker. Our guys do a tremendous job of working together. When you get into situations like this, defense is really important. I think we create scoring opportunities off a good defense. We are definitely aware of Boston College’s talents and speed up front, but ninety percent of our preparation is focused on trying to control the things we can control. This program has a tradition of success and we are really looking forward to the opportunities and the challenges tomorrow.”
On the team’s inexperience:
Ferguson: “Our group seems pretty loose. They get excited to play. They just love to play hockey and to come to the rink. You could see that they tightened things up at practice today. There are nerves playing on a new rink and as it gets closer to game time. Our leadership is strong in the locker room. One thing that we talk about is keeping our emotions in check. Good things happen and you need to be able to respond the right way, just as bad things happen and you need to respond the right way as well. It’s a really exciting time. On Sunday when we found out, Fairbanks went crazy, the school went crazy, and our players were very excited. But when Monday rolled around we realized that we need to be ready to go down there and play a hockey game. I’m excited to see how our guys respond to being on this stage. Our guys are ready to play.”
What it means to him personally to have made it to the NCAA tournament:
Ferguson: “It’s great. I’m happier for my players, our community, and our alumni, who have all put so much into the program. Nanook hockey is a very prideful group. I’m an alumnus and now I’m the coach and I’m just happy that we have this opportunity.”
On being hockey’s best kept secret:
Ferguson: “We are better with the puck than most people know. We are a developing team. Work ethic and commitment are very important to our program and we take a lot of pride in that. Our guys know that they not only need to be committed to themselves, but also to their teammates and the program. I am so fortunate to work with this group of young men.”
On recruiting to Fairbanks:
Ferguson: “I don’t open up with ‘It’s cold and dark, come on up it’s fun.’ We sell our strengths. We develop hockey players and will give you the opportunity to be successful. Over the past seven years, we’ve had three or four guys who have had an opportunity to play in the NHL. We also sell the development of a person. When they leave we make sure that their education is completed. We try to recruit the kids and families that value the same things that we value.”
On a difficult travel schedule:
Ferguson: “We don’t really talk about it. It is what it is. We are very mindful of their academics when they are on the road and making sure they are prepared physically for the game. Discipline is really important – when we get back from a trip, they need to be ready for class on Monday. The hardest thing to deal with is the time change. As soon as we land, we try to get on a sheet of ice. The most important thing is to not concede to it. We don’t use it as an excuse for our performance.”
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nanooks Prepare for BC
Here are some of the sights from practice:
Coach Meisner on the ice leading the drills for the Nanooks
The group taking instruction from head coach Dallas Ferguson
Former Nanook Chad Johnson, now of the New York Rangers, stopped by practice to watch his former team
Johnson talking to some of his former teammatesTuesday, March 23, 2010
The Alaska Nanooks are on their way to 2010 NCAA Northeast Regional. They loaded up the bus this afternoon before heading to the airport to catch their flight to Seattle and begin their trek to Worcester, Mass.
They face the Boston College Eagles on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (9:30 a.m. Alaska Time).
Don't miss the "Party at the Patty" on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. ADT if you are in the Fairbanks area. Bring a blanket to sit in the bleachers or spread out on the gym floor and watch the live game feed, which will be projected onto a bare wall (approximately 28-feet wide) and synchronized to the house stereo system.
Refreshments will be available for sale in the Patty Center Lobby and should the Nanooks earn the right to play in Sunday's Championship game, the same set-up will be available to the public free of charge on Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ADT. The Northeast Regional Championship Game is slated to begin on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. EDT (1:30 p.m. ADT).
Fans not in the Fairbanks area, or who are unable to make it over to the Patty Center, can follow the Alaska Nanooks at the NCAA Northeast Regional Tournament by clicking this hyperlink.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Nanooks To Play BC in NCAA Regional
Go Nooks!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
at 2010 CCHA Awards Banquet
Taranto pictured with CCHA All-Rookie Team: (Left to right) Joe Hartman (MIA), Terry Broadhurst (UNO),Andy Taranto (UA), Steve Rymsha (CCM), Torey Krug (MSU), Chris Brown (UM), Mike Johnson (ND)
- AND -Mike and Mariam Ilitch Humanitarian of the Year
Dion Knelsen pictured with Dana Ward (President of Olympia Entertainment)
Greenham pictured with CCHA Team's Perani Cup Winners: (From left to right) Blair Riley (FSU), Cody Reichard (MIA),Brian Stewart (NMU), Scott Greenham (UA), Louie Caporusso (UM), Drew Palmisano (MSU), Mike Sander (Perani's),
Alex Hudson (UNO), Tomas Petruska (BGSU), Zac Dalpe (OSU), Rick Schofield (LSSU), Mike Johnson (ND)
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