Max Helgeson
Call him Money Max Helgeson, at least for one night – besides, his full name is Maxmilion, which is a pretty regal handle.
In any event, freshman forward Max Helgeson of Anchorage sparked UAA, his hometown team, in its return to NCAA play after more than two and a half years dormant. The former Seawolves stick boy, who was playing club hockey a year ago, delivered an insurance goal and an assist Saturday in UAA’s 3-1 win over No. 14-ranked and visiting Western Michigan.
The Seawolves in former UAA defenseman Matt Shasby’s NCAA coaching debut only mustered 11 shots on goal, but that sufficed to savor victory in the program’s official return to the rink. Helgeson racked three of those shots. Though he played club hockey last year at Lindenwood, which is playing an NCAA schedule this season, Helgeson (West High) is not without credentials. He bagged 37-48—85 totals in 95 games over two seasons with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League.
The Seawolves are officially #BACK @UAAHockey l @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/e93wi8xSiL
— EVERYTHING COLLEGE HOCKEY (@TeamECH) October 2, 2022
Also on the NCAA front, Bemidji State women’s goaltender Hannah Hogenson (South High), one night after absorbing a 5-0 loss at No. 10-ranked Clarkson, rebounded to backstop the Beavers to a 2-2 tie at Clarkson on Saturday. She stopped 32 shots. Hogenson is 1-1-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.
In NCAA exhibition play, Providence senior defenseman Cam McDonald of Eagle River (Eagle River High) furnished a goal, five shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday’s 5-2 exhibition win over Western Ontario.
In the NAHL, UAF commit Bryce Monrean of Anchorage pocketed a career high-tying three points – one goal, two helpers – to trigger the Kenai River Brown Bears to a 4-3 road win against the Wisconsin Windigo. Monrean’s 2-6—8 totals in nine games places him second on the team in points and first in assists. He also leads the Brown Bears in shots on goal with 27.
Bryce Monrean
The Brown Bears (6-3-0) already have almost secured half as many victories as last season, when they went 14-41-5. They’ve won three straight games.
The NAHL’s Anchorage Wolverines (3-4-2) fell 2-1 on the road Saturday to the Minnesota Wilderness. The Wolverines’ goal was an all-Anchorage production – defenseman Andy Rasmey of Anchorage scored his first goal this season, and the assists went to Trent Powell and Cooper Morris, both of Anchorage.
Finally, in the Great Britain-based Elite Ice Hockey League, forward Tanner Sorenson of Anchorage has been battling injury, so he’s only played three of the Nottingham Panthers’ seven games. But he’s been productive – three goals in three games. His latest strike came Friday in a 6-2 win over the Dundee Stars. Sorenson flicked a backhander into a yawning net after teammate Andrew Johnston, stationed at the edge of the crease and poised with a great scoring chance, found Sorenson at the right post for a backdoor gimme.