Fansided

Each state’s nominee for America’s Team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the United Center before during the championship game of the 2017 Frozen Four between the Denver Pioneers and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the United Center before during the championship game of the 2017 Frozen Four between the Denver Pioneers and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

Alaska

Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks ice hockey

Options are limited when it comes to Alaska’s nominee for America’s Team. The state doesn’t have a major league franchise in any of the nation’s four most popular sports, and some of the most popular pastimes in the state are individual events (at least for humans) such as dog sledding, hunting, fishing and skiing.

However, there is a strong hockey culture in Alaska, and two hockey programs are worthy of consideration: the minor league Alaska Aces and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks. Unfortunately, the Aces, who won five ECHL regular season titles, eight division championships, four conference titles and three Kelly Cups, are relocating to Portland, Oregon for the 2018 season.

That leaves the Alaska Nanooks, the state’s most successful collegiate ice program in recent years, as the slightly better choice among the state’s two top college programs. The rival Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves made NCAA Tournament appearances in three consecutive seasons from 1991-93 under head coach Brush Christiansen, who posted a 287-299-30 record from 1979-96, but the program has fallen on hard times since Christiansen stepped down. Four couches have combined to go 206-432-31 – a .308 winning percentage – since.

Under the direction of coach Dallas Feguson, who spent five years in the minor leagues, including stints with the Alaska Gold Kings and Anchorage Aces of the defunct WCHL, the Nanooks have posted a 139-151-42 (.419) record since 2008, but has lost 20-plus games in each of the past two seasons.

Ferguson led the team to its first and to date its only Division I NCAA Tournament during the 2009-10 season. The program qualified for the Division III tournament in 1984.

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