Ice Dogs sweep Avalanche in Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS — Jon Waggoner notched the hat trick to lead the Fairbanks Ice Dogs to a 7-3 win over the Alaska Avalanche at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks on Saturday.

Not only did the Fairbanks win give the Ice Dogs the weekend sweep, but the Interior club pushed the Avalanche into last place in the North American Hockey League West Division. Kenai River climbed out of last place with a 3-1 win over Wenatchee on Saturday.

Fairbanks scored five times during the final two periods Saturday to notch the win. Alaska blueliner Sean McNeely tied the score for the Avalanche late in the first period, but Waggoner gave the Ice Dogs the advantage by scoring two of his goals in the second.

Fairbanks opened the two-game set with a 5-2 win over the Avs on Friday.

Much like Saturday’s loss, the Avs tied the game in the first period, but watched as their opponent scored three unanswered in the final two frames.

Forwards Zach Smith and Kyle Pichler scored for Alaska.

The Avs are now 11-17-1 overall, and sit in fourth place of the West Division with 23 points.

Next weekend, Alaska will have the chance to move back into third place. The Avs travel to Kenai to face the Brown Bears, the team that currently sits in the third position.

Kenai River is 11-23-3.

Wenatchee is in second place with a 13-11-1 mark.

Fairbanks 7, Alaska 3

Saturday, Big Dipper Ice Arena

Alaska 2-1-0—3

Fairbanks 2-3-2—7

First period — 1. Fairbanks- Waggoner (Nelson, Juola) 6:29, 2. Alaska- No. 17 (Jones, Giles) 9:53, 3. Fairbanks- Saintey (McCabe, Kirtland) 13:58, 4. Alaska- McNeely (Baldwin, Kowal) 14:52.

Second period — 5. Fairbanks- Waggoner (Juola) 2:50, 6. Fairbanks- Waggoner (Juola) pp 5:54, 7. Fairbanks- Saintey (Kirtland, McCabe) 6:52, 8. Alaska- Rounds (Cohen) pp 8:50.

Third period — 9. Fairbanks- McCabe (Kirtland) 12:07, 10. Fairbanks- Schreiner (Nelson) 16:33.

Shots on goal: Alaska 15-10-5—30, Fairbanks 13-15-9—37; Saves: Alaska- Woodring 16, Pellegrino 14; Fairbanks: Phillippi 27; Power plays: Alaska 1-for-4, Fairbanks 1-for-4.

Fairbanks 5, Alaska 2

Friday, Big Dipper Ice Arena

Alaska 2-0-0—2

Fairbanks 2-2-1—5

First period — 1. Fairbanks- Block (Nelson, Pustin) pp 1:05, 2. Fairbanks- Nelson (Martell, Zierke) pp 12:03, 3. Alaska- Smith (unassisted) 13:34, 4. Alaska- Pichler (Belisle, Jones) pp 16:23.

Second period — 5. Fairbanks- Kirtland (Saintey, Nelson) 11:38, 6. Fairbanks- Block (A. McCabe, Darwitz) 17:44.

Third period — 7. Fairbanks- Nelson (Feaval) 12:27.

Shots on goal: Alaska 8-13-8—29, Fairbanks 15-14-8—37; Saves: Alaska- Pellegrino 13-12-7—32, Fairbanks- Phillippi 6-13-8—27; Power plays: Alaska 1-for-5, Fairbanks 3-for-4; Penalties: Alaska 11-for-47, Fairbanks 11-for-36.