59 Teams in 59 Days Alaska-Anchorage

The 59 Teams in 59 Days tour continues with a trip to Alaska where the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves are featured.

The Seawolves finished with just six wins last year, four in the WCHA, and were the last place team in the conference. Not much will change this year.

Defensemen Derek Smith and forward Eric Walsky are the two leading returning scorers and both only registered 15 points. In fact last year the Seawolves were one of the lowest scoring teams in the country with an average of 1.8 goals per game. There was no one on the team who scored 10 or more goals and only one (Walsky) who had double digit assist totals.

Thought the offense was challenged enough? Well the defense was not very good either. Nathan Lawson and John DeCaro split time in net last year with Lawson having slightly better numbers than DeCaro. Lawson played in more games and was probably the lone bright spot on the team last year. Though only getting four wins all of last year, Lawson's save percentage was decent stoping 90.8% of the shots he faced.

If Lawson wants better numbers than his defensemen will have to help him out. Five defensmen return for the Seawolves including the co-leader in scoring last year on the team in Smith.

Recruiting has been a little bit of a problem in the past for the Seawolves, but with some size this year Anchorage will be better in the years to come.

But for right now the ceiling for the Seawolves is eighth in the WCHA, the gutter is 10th.

Second year head coach Dave Shyiak will need a lot of help. With a young team however the future looks better for Alaska Anchorage. How much better you ask? Only time will tell.

Tommorrow the second team in Alaska will be featured as it will be Alaska-Fairbainks turn in the 59 Teams in 59 Days tour.