# 2016–17 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey season

The 2016–17 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey season was the 38th season of play for the program, the 35th at the Division I level and the 24th in the WCHA conference. The Seawolves represented the University of Alaska Anchorage and were coached by Matt Thomas, in his 4th season.

## Season

After two subpar years, Alaska Anchorage was hoping to get back into the playoff picture. Unfortunately, the team got off to a dreadful start; the Seawolves won just one of their first 14 games and found themselves at the bottom of the WCHA. The team's outlook began to brighten in December when they won games in three separate weekends, including against ranked Bemidji State.
Alaska Anchorage continued to show improvement in the second half of the season, playing .500 hockey for two and a half months. After taking four points in their series against Lake Superior State, the Seawolves were just 5 points out of a playoff spot with four games to play. Their offense, however, failed down the stretch and the team was swept by Ferris State. With only two games against arch-rival Alaska remaining, the Seawolves had to win both games to have any chance at extending their season. When the Nanooks won the first match, it ended any postseason hopes for Anchorage and a second defeat gave UAF their 8th consecutive Governor's Cup.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Anthony Conti | Forward/Defenseman | Canada | Signed professional contract (Mississippi RiverKings) |
| Jared D'Amico | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Tanner Dusyk | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Wyatt Ege | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Ohio State |
| Evan Hauser | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Wisconsin–Stout |
| Blake Leask | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Luke McColgan | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Zack Rassell | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Austin Sevalrud | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) |
| Blake Tatchell | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with Lake Erie Monsters) |
| Chris Williams | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Norfolk Admirals) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Aleksi Ainali | Forward | Finland | 21 | Vihti, FIN |
| Mason Anderson | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Anchorage, AK |
| Conor Deal | Forward | Canada | 23 | Anchorage, AK; transferred from Gustavus Adolphus |
| Tomi Hiekkavirta | Defenseman | Finland | 20 | Helsinki, FIN |
| Nolan Nicholas | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Thunder Bay, ON |
| Rasmus Reijola | Goaltender | Finland | 23 | Vantaa, FIN; graduate transfer from St. Cloud State |
| Jonah Renouf | Forward | Canada | 22 | Mississauga, ON; transferred from Quinnipiac |
| Nathan Renouf | Forward | Canada | 22 | Mississauga, ON; transferred from Quinnipiac |
| David Trinkberger | Forward | Germany | 20 | Landshut, GER |

## Standings

2016–17 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | SOW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Bemidji State† | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 64 | 71 | 44 | 41 | 22 | 16 | 3 | 94 | 79 |
| #19 Michigan Tech* | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 54 | 80 | 59 | 45 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 131 | 100 |
| Minnesota State | 28 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 89 | 68 | 39 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 119 | 95 |
| Bowling Green | 28 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 79 | 65 | 41 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 120 | 102 |
| Ferris State | 28 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 78 | 74 | 37 | 13 | 19 | 5 | 95 | 101 |
| Alaska | 28 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 67 | 84 | 36 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 79 | 113 |
| Lake Superior State | 28 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 78 | 87 | 36 | 11 | 18 | 7 | 103 | 119 |
| Northern Michigan | 28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 69 | 75 | 39 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 93 | 108 |
| Alabama–Huntsville | 28 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 68 | 95 | 34 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 74 | 120 |
| Alaska Anchorage | 28 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 52 | 80 | 34 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 59 | 102 |
| Championship: March 18, 2017 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup); * indicates conference tournament champion (Broadmoor Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 6, 2017 ||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| September 30 | 7:16 PM | vs. Simon Fraser* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Exhibition) | Reijola | W 6–1 | 827 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 7 | 7:07 PM | at #13 Minnesota* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 2,953 | 0–1–0 |
| October 8 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 1–4 | 3,223 | 0–2–0 |
| Brice Alaska Goal Rush ||||||||||
| October 14 | 4:07 PM | vs. Omaha* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush semifinal) | Reijola | L 1–3 | 982 | 0–3–0 |
| October 15 | 4:07 PM | vs. Canisius* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush consolation game) | Mantha | W 1–0 | 463 | 1–3–0 |
| October 28 | 4:07 PM | at #20 Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Mantha | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,306 | 1–4–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 29 | 4:07 PM | at #20 Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Mantha | L 0–4 | 2,564 | 1–5–0 (0–2–0) |
| November 4 | 7:09 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Reijola | L 2–5 | 2,128 | 1–6–0 (0–3–0) |
| November 5 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,771 | 1–7–0 (0–4–0) |
| November 11 | 3:07 PM | at #12 Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | Mantha | L 3–6 | 5,999 | 1–8–0 |
| November 12 | 3:07 PM | at #12 Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | Mantha | L 1–3 | 6,069 | 1–9–0 |
| November 18 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 2–3 | 2,089 | 1–10–0 (0–5–0) |
| November 19 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | T 1–1 $^{SOW}$ | 2,059 | 1–10–1 (0–5–1) |
| November 25 | 3:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | Mantha | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 1,764 | 1–10–2 (0–5–2) |
| November 26 | 3:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | Mantha | L 0–3 | 1,695 | 1–11–2 (0–6–2) |
| December 2 | 7:07 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | W 5–3 | 612 | 2–11–2 (1–6–2) |
| December 3 | 7:07 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 1–4 | 1,798 | 2–12–2 (1–7–2) |
| December 9 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Mantha | W 3–2 | 2,060 | 3–12–2 (2–7–2) |
| December 10 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Mantha | L 1–3 | 2,416 | 3–13–2 (2–8–2) |
| December 30 | 1:37 PM | vs. #15 Bemidji State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | W 4–1 | 1,429 | 4–13–2 (3–8–2) |
| December 31 | 1:37 PM | vs. #15 Bemidji State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 0–1 | 1,544 | 4–14–2 (3–9–2) |
| January 6 | 7:07 PM | vs. Ferris State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | W 4–1 | 1,712 | 5–14–2 (4–9–2) |
| January 7 | 7:10 PM | vs. Ferris State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 1,746 | 5–14–3 (4–9–3) |
| January 13 | 3:07 PM | at #20 Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | Mantha | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 2,736 | 5–14–4 (4–9–4) |
| January 14 | 7:07 PM | at #20 Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | Reijola | T 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 2,887 | 5–14–5 (4–9–5) |
| January 20 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Mantha | L 1–6 | 1,650 | 5–15–5 (4–10–5) |
| January 21 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Mantha | L 0–4 | 2,254 | 5–16–5 (4–11–5) |
| February 3 | 7:10 PM | at Minnesota State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | W 4–3 | 1,924 | 6–16–5 (5–11–5) |
| February 4 | 4:07 PM | at Minnesota State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Mantha | L 0–5 | 2,181 | 6–17–5 (5–12–5) |
| February 10 | 4:37 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Mantha | W 3–2 | 1,863 | 7–17–5 (6–12–5) |
| February 11 | 3:07 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Mantha | T 4–4 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 1,950 | 7–17–6 (6–12–6) |
| February 17 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Mantha | L 1–2 | 2,045 | 7–18–6 (6–13–6) |
| February 18 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Mantha | L 0–3 | 2,490 | 7–19–6 (6–14–6) |
| February 24 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Mantha | L 3–4 | 2,736 | 7–20–6 (6–15–6) |
| February 25 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Mantha | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 3,055 | 7–21–6 (6–16–6) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Alaska Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Matt Anholt | LW | 34 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 20 |
| Tad Kozun | LW | 32 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 8 |
| Jarrett Brown | D | 34 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 51 |
| Mason Mitchell | LW | 31 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 73 |
| Jonah Renouf | LW | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Chase Van Allen | D | 34 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 |
| Nathan Renouf | LW | 24 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 18 |
| Alex Jackstadt | F | 30 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 29 |
| Jeremiah Luedtke | F | 27 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 |
| Nicolas Erb Ekholm | C/RW | 28 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Tanner Johnson | D | 31 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| Austin Azurdia | F | 22 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 45 |
| Nils Rygaard | C/RW | 28 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Brad Duwe | F | 22 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| David Trinkberger | D | 33 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 53 |
| Aleksi Ainali | C | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Dylan Hubbs | RW | 22 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 60 |
| Eric Roberts | D | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 32 |
| Connor Wright | F | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Cam Amantea | F | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Nolan Nicholas | D | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Tomi Hiekkavirta | D | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Rasmus Reijola | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean MacTavish | C | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Corey Renwick | F | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Olivier Mantha | G | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 26 |
| Total | | | 59 | 106 | 165 | 553 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Rasmus Reijola | 6 | 299 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 161 | 0 | .920 | 2.80 |
| Olivier Mantha | 30 | 1764 | 7 | 18 | 4 | 83 | 867 | 1 | .913 | 2.82 |
| Empty Net | - | 16 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 34 | 2080 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 102 | 1028 | 1 | .910 | 2.94 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
USCHO did not release a poll in Week 24.