Fairbanks scores shutout win over Ravens

PALMER — While the Fairbanks Arctic Bears and Mat-Su Ravens started their Saturday evening game fast and evenly matched, in the end it was the Bears who ultimately dominated for a 7-0 win at the MTA Events Center.

With a mistake in referee scheduling, the anticipated game was delayed 15 minutes while adjustments were made. Ravens assistant coaches Dave Mulneaux and Tod Richards threw on the stripes for the game, thus making it an unofficial scrimmage. Despite the frustration for this drawback, both teams came out with speed and momentum. Plays were broken down the ice both directions and the Ravens held their own until the final minute of the first period, when too much time was spent in their defensive zone. The Bears walked right down the center and put a screened top shelf shot in the net.

After breaking the ice with that first goal, the Bears held momentum for the rest of the game. Moving into the second period, the Bears shot another top-shelf goal for the 2-0 advantage. Fairbanks worked well at taking every shot available, screening and breaking out. The Bears were keen to notice all poor shift changes made by the Ravens, allowing them to end the period with two more goals.

Maintaining a fast pace, the Bears continued to outskate the Ravens in the third period as well.

“We played them for a period and then they outplayed us for the rest of the game,” Ravens head Coach Mark Engan said.

As a result, frustration from the Ravens was shown as the game ended in the lopsided loss. Ravens goaltender Emma Denny was pelted with 38 shots, while the Ravens only mustered six shots on the Bears’ net.

For a team that has been having the best season to date for the Mat-Su Ravens hockey program, Saturday’s was a game that could fuel the team as the season progresses. It was the first match up between the Ravens and Bears and it won’t be the last. The Ravens make a road trip to Fairbanks next weekend for a four-game series against the Bears.