By Virg Foss
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota freshman forward Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska) will have bragging rights next summer when he bumps into Bryce Christianson in the land of the midnight sun.
Trupp's sixth goal of the season and third in the last five games lifted the Fighting Sioux to a 3-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Alaska Anchorage tonight despite a strong college debut in goal by Christianson (31 saves), also an Anchorage native.
Trupp's goal, his third game winner of the season, snapped a 1-1 tie at 16:22 of the second period on a power play when he beat Christianson high to the short side off his forehand with a nifty move in tight quarters around the goal crease.
The ninth goal of the season by left wing Andrew Kozek (Sicamous, British Columbia) on a rebound at 7:21 of the third period closed out the scoring and cemented the sixth straight victory for the Sioux (15-8-1 overall, 12-7-0 WCHA).
Earlier, an opening goal by Anchorage defenseman Shane Lovdahl at 14:17 of the first period was answered by the 11th goal of the year for Sioux junior center T.J. Oshie (Warroad, Minn.) at 18:27 for a 1-1 standoff after one period.
The game, played in front of 11,549 fans, marked the 12th consecutive sellout at Ralph Engelstad Arena, a record for the rink that opened in 2001.
The win improved UND's record against Anchorage in Grand Forks to 22-2-3 and moved the Sioux into a tie for second place in the WCHA standings with Denver University, idle this weekend, both with 24 points. The Sioux, though, have played three more league games than the Pioneers.
"We have a pretty good rivalry against each other,'' Trupp said of Christianson, a mid-season pickup for the Seawolves from the British Columbia Junior Hockey League, who finished with 31 saves to 18 for Sioux goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (Sr., Grand Forks, N.D.). "He's a pretty good goaltender.''
Trupp's goal resulted from defenseman Chay Genoway (So., Morden, Manitoba) coming into the attack zone with speed, then dishing the puck to Trupp, streaking down the right side.
"I knew Chay saw me, and he made a really nice play chipping it by him (the defenseman) and I was able to get it to shelf,'' Trupp said.
He had a nano-second from the time the puck hit his stick to make a move on Christianson. "It was quite a reach, but I think that was the only spot open,'' said Trupp, who used his forehand to go high on the short side on Christianson, who had slid to his right and off the post to create the opening for Trupp.
Trupp said he didn't see Christianson moving the other way. "To be honest, I just wanted to get the shot off,'' Trupp said. "Hopefully, if anything, get a rebound out of it.''
Instead, he got the game-winning goal and bragging rights over Christianson. "I didn't say anything to him,'' Trupp said of Christianson. "But hopefully tomorrow, I'll go get another one (goal) on him. Got to get the win tomorrow.''
The Sioux, ranked No. 4 nationally in the polls, outshot Anchorage 34-19 and were 1-6 on the power play while blanking the Seawolves on their three chances.
Trupp and Christianson weren't teammates in youth hockey in Anchorage, but they are friends. "I know him pretty well,'' Trupp said. "He's a good buddy of mine.''
The Seawolves (6-11-6 overall, 2-11-4 WCHA) played the Sioux tough with a lineup featuring 12 players who are 6 feet or taller and 14 of them 190 pounds or more.
"It was the tough game we expected,'' UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "A hard-fought battle for 60 minutes. There wasn't a lot of separation out there. We had a couple of good individual plays by guys to finish off goals.''
Oshie's goal was a lesson in patience.
He carried the puck into the Anchorage zone on the left wing to begin the play. He first deked his way past Anchorage defenseman Luke Beaverson, leaving him sprawled on the ice.
Then he cut across the mouth of the goal, causing another Anchorage defenseman to fall into Christianson. With great patience, Oshie then held onto the puck as he went by the net before turning and wristing a shot high, knocking the water bottle off the top of the net and celebrating his goal with a fist pump.
Hakstol credited Genoway for setting up Trupp's goal.
"That was a heckuva play,'' Hakstol said. 'Chay brought the puck up ice with a lot of speed and that allowed Evan to keep skating. He didn't have to break stride. It was kind of a fearless play for him to take that puck in full stride and still take it to the net.''
Lamoureux was tested far more than his 18 saves would indicate. "Good saves at key times,'' Hakstol said. "I thought both teams got very good goaltending.''
Oshie and Kozek led the Sioux in scoring with a goal and an assist each with junior wing Ryan Duncan (Calgary, Alberta) also assisting on Oshie's goal.
Defensemen Taylor Chorney (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) and Joe Finley (Jr., Edina, Minn.) joined Genoway as defensemen with one assist tonight.
"We're playing solid defensive hockey and getting some bounces of the puck in the offensive zone,'' Finley said. "Anchorage has a big, strong team and they play real strong through the neutral zone. Boy, they come with the forecheck. You can ask our defensemen tonight. They definitely came in there and put our nose to the glass.''
Anchorage coach Dave Shyiak saw his team's winless streak reach six games (0-5-1). "You've got to give UND credit,'' Shyiak said. "I thought they had the jump on us. I thought they were very tenacious on the puck. I thought we looked like a very young hockey team out there. Lot of errors, didn't make any plays. We hung around, but I thought they controlled pretty much the whole game.''
The Sioux will shoot for their second straight home WCHA sweep in Saturday's 7:05 p.m. rematch.
SIOUX NOTES: Kozek and junior forward Matt Watkins (Aylesbury, Saskatchewan) led the Sioux with shots on goal with four each . . . Sophomore center Darcy Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba) hit the post flush on a rebound in the first period and Oshie hit the post early in the third period . . . Lamoureux has started 49 straight games in goal, longest in school history, second-longest in WCHA history and fourth-longest in NCAA history . . . UND has now won at least one game on 22 consecutive regular-season weekends, the longest streak of its kind in the WCHA.
