The Anchorage Wolverines began the 2024-25 Robertson Cup playoffs on a high note, traveling up to Interior Alaska and sweeping their in-state rival Fairbanks Ice Dogs in a two-game series over the weekend.
After giving up six goals in their regular-season finale loss to the Chippewa Steel at home, they bounced back in a big way by outscoring Fairbanks 6-2 on the road.
Friday night’s game in Fairbanks opened with a scoreless first period. Then in the second frame, the Wolverines scored all the points they would need for the win with forward Cole Christian drawing first blood after nearly nine minutes came off the clock. Shortly after, fellow forward Daniel Bagnole, who led the team in goals during the regular season, scored his 29th of the year.
The Wolverines were able to avoid overtime and hold on for a 2-1 victory thanks in large part to the 31 saves made by goalie Michael Manzi, who held the Ice Dogs scoreless until there was less than four minutes left to play.
Saturday night’s game saw both teams record a goal in the opening frame, with Fairbanks striking first and Anchorage responding a few minutes later to tie the game up.
The Wolverines were lights out on defense the rest of the way, not allowing the Ice Dogs to score again. Anchorage also kept pouring it on offensively with another two-goal second period to take the lead, which included the second score for Christian in the weekend series. Bagnole scored his second in as many nights as well with an empty-netter in the third period.
By notching the back-to-back victories, the Wolverines will return to Anchorage with a chance to clinch the best-of-five series on their home ice at Sullivan Arena this Friday, or the following night if necessary.
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