Vaughn Makar takes the ice. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Goaltender Vaughn Makar is one of nine Alaska products rostered by the Anchorage Wolverines as they embark on the franchise’s fourth North American Hockey League season.
Wednesday morning, he shined in his second start to propel Anchorage to its first victory of the young season.
Makar made 31 saves as the Wolverines surged past the Johnstown (Pa.) Tomahawks 6-2 at the 21st annual NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn. Six different skaters scored in the victory, including Anchorage’s own Cole Frawner as well as returners Danny Bagnole, Drew Nelson and Tai Ushio, a UAF commit.
The defending Midwest Division champion, Anchorage improved to 1-1-1 after playing a pair of division road games before the start of the Showcase. The Wolverines face the New Jersey Titans on Friday in a rematch of the 2022 Robertson Cup championship won by New Jersey. They finish the Showcase on Saturday versus the Colorado Grit.
The NAHL Showcase features all 35 teams in Junior A Tier II league, all playing a trio of games while in Blaine.
All told, Anchorage will play seven games Outside before returning to Alaska for its highly anticipated Oct. 11 home opener against the Kenai River Brown Bears. That’s the evening high-level hockey is set to return to Sullivan Arena for the first time in more than five years.
Not only did Anchorage win the division title last season and advance to the Robertson Cup Final Four, it set a bundle of impressive marks under then first-year coach Nick Walters, a 2006 Chugiak High grad. The Wolverines set club records for regular-season wins (39), points (85), winning streak (12 games) and point streak (19 games, 17-0-2).
But now it’s a new season.
Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Ushio opened the scoring in Anchorage’s three-goal first period Wednesday. The Wolverines led 3-1 after 20 minutes and 4-2 through two periods. Frawner capped the scoring with a short-handed goal at 18 minutes, 40 seconds of the third.
Makar made double-digit saves in each period.
Kenai River is off to a 3-2-0 start after dropping a 4-1 decision to the Maryland Black Bears in Blaine on Wednesday. The Browns Bears close out the Showcase with games against the Danbury (Conn.) Hat Tricks on Friday and the Minnesota Mallards on Saturday. Kenai River starts its home schedule Oct. 4 versus Janesville (Wisc.)
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs improved to 3-1-1 after securing a 4-2 win over New Jersey on Wednesday. Fairbanks concludes the Showcase against the Rochester (N.Y.) Jr Americans and Amarillo (Texas) Wranglers. The Ice Dogs play their first home game Oct. 11 against Janesville.
