# 2018–19 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey season

The 2018–19 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey season was the 40th season of play for the program, the 35th at the Division I level and the 26th in the WCHA conference. The Seawolves represented the University of Alaska Anchorage and were coached by Matt Curley, in his 1st season.

## Season

Any hope that the Seawolves would improve under new head coach Matt Curley were quickly banished when Alaska Anchorage dropped the opener 2–10. While they recovered to win the rematch a day later, the team's offense was too inept to get a second win for over two months. Alaska Anchorage had one of the worst offensive performances in the history of NCAA hockey, scoring just 40 goals in 34 games, and were shut out 11 times during the season. Throughout the season, the team struggled to even get chances on goal, averaging just over 22 shots per game while surrendering nearly 32 attempts on their own goal. Perhaps making the situation worse, Alaska Anchorage squandered many good performances by their goaltenders, who gave the team numerous chances to win, including two 0–0 finishes.
Despite producing the worst season in program history, Alaska Anchorage retained Curley as their head coach.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Mason Anderson | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Matt Anholt | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Austin Azurdia | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Jarrett Brown | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Alec Butcher | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Wheeling Nailers) |
| Alex Jackstadt | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Tanner Johnson | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Tad Kozun | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Olivier Mantha | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (signed with Syracuse Crunch) |
| Brandon Switzer | Forward | Canada | Left program (signed with Killarney Shamrocks) |
| Cameron Trott | Goaltender | Canada | Returned to juniors (Vernon Vipers) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Carmine Buono | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Burnaby, BC |
| Kris Carlson | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Centreville, VA |
| Zach Court | Forward | Canada | 21 | Winnipeg, MB |
| Malcolm Hayes | Defenseman | United States | 23 | Atlanta, GA; graduate transfer from Maine |
| Andrew Lane | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Brighton, MI |
| Jared Nash | Forward | Canada | 20 | Stratford, ON |
| Drayson Pears | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Victoria, BC |
| Tanner Schachle | Forward | United States | 21 | Wasilla, AK |

## Standings

2018–19 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 | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #6 Minnesota State †* | 28 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 68 | 99 | 43 | 42 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 147 | 76 |
| Northern Michigan | 28 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 82 | 57 | 39 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 104 | 96 |
| #13 Bowling Green | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 55 | 77 | 52 | 41 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 133 | 75 |
| Lake Superior State | 28 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 91 | 69 | 38 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 123 | 93 |
| Bemidji State | 28 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 71 | 63 | 38 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 95 | 94 |
| Michigan Tech | 28 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 43 | 68 | 63 | 38 | 14 | 20 | 4 | 90 | 101 |
| Alaska | 28 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 57 | 81 | 36 | 12 | 21 | 3 | 72 | 114 |
| Alabama–Huntsville | 28 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 61 | 93 | 38 | 8 | 28 | 2 | 67 | 129 |
| Ferris State | 28 | 7 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 68 | 96 | 36 | 10 | 23 | 3 | 90 | 123 |
| Alaska Anchorage | 28 | 2 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 86 | 34 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 40 | 115 |
| Championship: March 23, 2019 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Broadmoor Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| September 28 | 7:07 PM | vs. Simon Fraser* | McDonald Center • Eagle River, Alaska (Exhibition) | Carlson | W 5–1 | 1,500 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 6 | 7:07 PM | vs. Colorado College* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Stead | L 2–10 | 2,101 | 0–1–0 |
| October 7 | 7:07 PM | vs. Colorado College* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Claeys | W 4–3 | 1,264 | 1–1–0 |
| October 26 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Carlson | L 0–4 | 1,273 | 1–2–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 27 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Carlson | L 2–3 | 1,326 | 1–3–0 (0–2–0) |
| November 2 | 7:07 PM | vs. Bemidji State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Claeys | L 0–2 | 1,759 | 1–4–0 (0–3–0) |
| November 3 | 7:07 PM | vs. Bemidji State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | L 1–3 | 1,461 | 1–5–0 (0–4–0) |
| November 9 | 7:07 PM | vs. #10 Bowling Green | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Claeys | T 0–0 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 1,692 | 1–5–1 (0–4–1) |
| November 10 | 7:07 PM | vs. #10 Bowling Green | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | L 0–3 | 2,269 | 1–6–1 (0–5–1) |
| November 16 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Claeys | L 0–3 | 2,029 | 1–7–1 (0–6–1) |
| November 17 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Carlson | L 1–2 | 1,921 | 1–8–1 (0–7–1) |
| November 23 | 4:37 PM | at #17 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Carlson | L 2–5 | 11,155 | 1–9–1 |
| November 24 | 4:07 PM | at #17 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Stead | L 3–4 | 11,086 | 1–10–1 |
| December 7 | 4:07 PM | at #3 Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota | Claeys | L 1–4 | 3,780 | 1–11–1 (0–8–1) |
| December 8 | 4:07 PM | at #3 Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota | Stead | L 0–6 | 4,263 | 1–12–1 (0–9–1) |
| December 14 | 4:07 PM | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Carlson | L 1–5 | 2,902 | 1–13–1 (0–10–1) |
| December 15 | 2:07 PM | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Claeys | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,852 | 2–13–1 (1–10–1) |
| December 29 | 4:07 PM | at Omaha | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | Claeys | L 0–3 | 6,605 | 2–14–1 |
| December 31 | 9:07 AM | at Omaha | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | Carlson | L 0–4 | 6,102 | 2–15–1 |
| January 4 | 5:07 PM | vs. Lake Superior State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | L 2–5 | 1,902 | 2–16–1 (1–11–1) |
| January 5 | 7:07 PM | vs. Lake Superior State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Claeys | L 1–3 | 1,842 | 2–17–1 (1–12–1) |
| January 11 | 7:07 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Stead | L 1–5 | 1,562 | 2–18–1 (1–13–1) |
| January 12 | 7:07 PM | vs. Northern Michigan | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | L 1–4 | 1,708 | 2–19–1 (1–14–1) |
| January 18 | 4:07 PM | at Alabama–Huntsville | Von Braun Center • Huntsville, Alabama | Carlson | L 2–6 | 1,708 | 2–20–1 (1–15–1) |
| January 19 | 5:07 PM | at Alabama–Huntsville | Von Braun Center • Huntsville, Alabama | Stead | L 3–6 | 1,109 | 2–21–1 (1–16–1) |
| January 25 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | L 0–3 | 1,711 | 2–22–1 (1–17–1) |
| January 26 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Stead | T 0–0 $^{SOW}$ | 1,958 | 2–22–2 (1–17–2) |
| February 8 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Stead | W 4–1 | 2,220 | 3–22–2 (2–17–2) |
| February 9 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Stead | L 1–2 | 2,468 | 3–23–2 (2–18–2) |
| February 15 | 7:07 PM | vs. Ferris State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Stead | L 1–2 | 1,585 | 3–24–2 (2–19–2) |
| February 16 | 7:10 PM | vs. Ferris State | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Carlson | T 1–1 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 1,856 | 3–24–3 (2–19–3) |
| February 22 | 3:07 PM | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | Stead | L 2–3 | 2,323 | 3–25–3 (2–20–3) |
| February 23 | 3:07 PM | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | Carlson | L 1–3 | 2,575 | 3–26–3 (2–21–3) |
| March 1 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Stead | L 0–4 | 3,009 | 3–27–3 (2–22–3) |
| March 2 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Stead | L 1–2 | 3,429 | 3–28–3 (2–23–3) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Alaska Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Nicolas Erb Ekholm | C/RW | 33 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 14 |
| Jeremiah Luedtke | F | 33 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
| Carmine Buono | D | 29 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 37 |
| Nils Rygaard | C/RW | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 |
| Tomi Hiekkavirta | D | 28 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 14 |
| Drayson Pears | D | 32 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| Tanner Schachle | LW | 28 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 56 |
| Trey deGraaf | F | 30 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Jonah Renouf | LW | 27 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| Drake Glover | C | 29 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| Eric Sinclair | D | 33 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 37 |
| Jordan Xavier | F | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Joe Sofo | F | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| Corey Renwick | F | 34 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 |
| Zach Court | LW | 25 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Cam Amantea | F | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 40 |
| Aaron McPheters | D | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 |
| Andrew Lane | D | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Malcolm Hayes | D | 34 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Jared Nash | C | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Zac Masson | RW | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| David Trinkberger | D | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| Kristian Stead | G | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Nolan Nicholas | D | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 |
| Brody Claeys | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nathan Renouf | LW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Kris Carlson | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| Total | | | 40 | 70 | 110 | 460 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Brody Claeys | 9 | 515 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 234 | 1 | .921 | 2.33 |
| Kris Carlson | 15 | 850 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 49 | 421 | 0 | .896 | 3.46 |
| Kristian Stead | 13 | 672 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 41 | 308 | 1 | .883 | 3.66 |
| Empty Net | - | 19 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 34 | 1058 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 115 | 963 | 2 | .893 | 3.35 |

## 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 | 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 | 26 (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 | - | 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 | NR |
USCHO did not release a poll in Week 25.