Anchorage trip a homecoming for Eli Zuck

Sports

This weekend’s series

10:07 p.m. today and Saturday

Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska

TV: None

Radio: KTOE 1420 AM, 102.7 FM

College Hockey Gameday: Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage

The Mavericks (14-8-2, 8-8-0 in WCHA) will try to bounce back from last weekend’s series sweep when they travel to Alaska to face the Seawolves (3-13-4, 1-12-3). The two teams met Dec. 7-8 in Mankato with MSU winning 3-1 and 3-0. Minnesota State leads the all-time series 32-21-4 and has lost just once in its last 10 games and twice in its last 16 in Anchorage.

THE 5 HOLE

Five things to know about the series:

1. Line changes: Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings mixed up his lines in practice this week in hopes of creating some more offense. The top line will feature leading scorer Matt Leitner (9-18—27) with Chase Grant (6-7—13) and Bryce Gervais (5 goals), while Zach Lehrke (3-11—14) will get a chance to play center again. “I might go back, but right now, I feel we need an injection of some newness,” Hastings said.

2. In the back: The Mavericks rank third in the WCHA in scoring defense, allowing 2.38 goals per game (they’re seventh offensively at 3.12). Much of that has to do with the play of rookie goalie Stephon Williams (.925, 1.84), but there has been vast improvement from the defensemen, too. Josh Nelson remains out with an injury, but senior Evan Mosey (3-2—5) has filled in admirably in Nelson’s absence.

3. Killer instinct: Minnesota State has allowed just three power-play goals over its last 16 games and none in the last seven. Over that span, the Mavericks have been on the penalty kill 53 times. Overall, their kill has an 83.7 percent success rate. Anchorage has scored just six powerplay goals on 65 chances (9.2 percent) this season.

4. Losing it: The last meeting between MSU and UAA started a Seawolves losing streak that has now extended to eight games, including two losses at No. 1-ranked Minnesota last week. Anchorage’s last win was Dec. 1, a 3-1 victory at home against St. Cloud State. Only two teams in the country are scoring fewer goals per game than the Seawolves (1.95.)

5. Scouting the Seawolves: Anchorage is led in scoring by junior forward Matt Bailey (4-8—12) and freshman forward Blake Tatchell (3-9—12). Sophomore forward Scott Allen (8-2—10) is the top goal scorer. Juniors Rob Gunderson (.881, 3.18) and Chris Kamal (.900, 3.24) have shared time in goal. Kamal played both games in Mankato.

AROUND THE RINKS

MSU women: The Mavericks (9-12-3, 5-10-3 in WCHA) have the daunting task of trying to knock off No. 1-ranked Minnesota (22-0-0, 16-0-0) at 7:07 p.m. today and 3:07 p.m. Saturday at All Seasons Arena. Tonight’s game is autograph night and MAHA night. The Gophers have outscored opponents 126-18 this season.

Gustavus: The second-ranked women’s team (12-0-0, 6-0-0 in MIAC) returns to conference play and will host St. Catherine at 7 p.m. today before traveling to St. Paul on Saturday. The Gusties have outscored foes 37-12, including 18-3 in conference play. The Gustavus men’s team is idle this weekend.

— Shane Frederick

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Eli Zuck

Anchorage trip a homecoming for Eli Zuck

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer The Mankato Free Press Fri Jan 18, 2013, 07:38 AM CST

MANKATO — When Eli Zuck goes back to his hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, it’s not just a special time for him. He and his family make sure it’s special for the entire Minnesota State men’s hockey team.

Zuck is now a senior, so for the fourth and final time, the Mavericks were scheduled to have dinner at his parents’ home on Thursday evening.

“We’ll try to get the pasta and the chicken and salad, the typical Thursday-night deal,” Zuck said earlier this week, before he and the team left Mankato for this weekend’s WCHA series against Alaska Anchorage. “But my dad will be grilling up some halibut and some salmon, try to give a little of that Alaskan spice to the team. I always look forward to that. I miss the good Alaskan seafood.”

Zuck said the meal is special for his parents, Jon and Stephanie, too. They were unable to make it to Mankato two weeks ago when the parents of MSU’s seniors were introduced on the ice.

“But this is their real highlight, having us over, getting a good meal in,” Zuck said. “It’s always nice to have the guys over to my house where I grew up.”

For Zuck the hockey player, no meal will overmatch winning a pair of games against the Seawolves. Coming off a pair of overtime losses at home to Wisconsin, he said getting four points for the WCHA standings and remaining in the hunt for an upper-half league finish is crucial.

“It’s a huge weekend for us,” he said.

The Mavericks have lost just once in Anchorage in Zuck’s career. Zuck has scored just one goal and assisted on one other in Sullivan Arena, the rink where he first started watching college hockey. But, even this year, scoring is not necessarily a priority for the center.

“I think Eli has stepped into a senior role,” MSU coach Mike Hastings said. “For Eriah Hayes, that role is scoring power-play goals and leading off the ice. For Tyler Elbrecht, it’s being a shut-down defenseman and leading off the ice. For Eli Zuck, it’s about being on the No. 1 penalty-killing unit and leading off the rink and in the locker room. It’s about supporting his teamamtes, doing the right thing and saying the right thing.”

Zuck has played in 108 college games. Of the current players, only Hayes and Elbrecht have played more for the Mavericks. Zuck has 12 goals and 30 assists for his career (two and seven this year). But since becoming a key penalty killer this year along with freshman Bryce Gervais, the Mavericks have been nothing short of stifling against opponents’ power plays.

“I really feel like we’ve been a real sparkplug for this team,” Zuck said. “I love killing penalties. I think it’s a real important part. The little things I appreciate like blocking shots and playing good defense. We have a lot of skill on this team; it’s ridiculous, especially up front.”

With Zuck centering the fourth line, the Mavericks have more depth down the middle of their lineup than in any of his first three seasons. Hastings said that gives him the peace of mind to have any line on the ice at anytime — home or away and against any other line in the league.

Zuck moved up to the third line for four games around Christmas when freshman Teddy Blueger played in in the World Junior Championships in Russia, but returned to his role last week.

“Whatever I can do for the team to help us win,” he said. “That’s what it really comes down to, is winning. It sure is refreshing having a lot more wins this year, and hopefully we can continue that.”