FAIRBANKS, Alaska Stymied through its first seven attempts of a 3-game series, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs’ power play finally came through, as Billy Renfrew banged home a power play goal at 11:23 of the third period, the eventual winner in a 3-2 Ice Dogs victory over the Janesville Jets Saturday night.
“Altergott was out front and got a good tip that went off the post and I just buried it,” Renfrew said following Saturday’s game. “Our power play was struggling all weekend, so it felt good to get one there.”
Cole Burke Top Gun player of the game
Kayden Hargraves was magnificent, and he had to be as the Jets peppered him with 48 shots, scoring only on power play attempts, one of which came on the 5-on-3 advantage early in the third period. Cole Burke staked the Dogs to a 1-0 lead, scoring the second goal of his rookie campaign at 12:44 of the first period. Jake Cameron made it a 2-1 Ice Dogs lead after 40 minutes of play, scoring his fifth goal of the season, and second of the series at 17:48 of the second period.
“We knew we were not at our best Thursday and Friday night, so it felt good to get the win Saturday night and close out Halloween weekend with a win,” Renfrew said.
Janesville claimed a 3-1 win on Thursday and edged out the Dogs 3-2 in overtime on Friday. Marc Lund accounted for goals for the Dogs in each game. He leads the Ice Dogs with 8 goals on the season.
The three points earned in the series gives the Dogs 23 points through 19 games this season, good for third place in the NAHL Midwest Division. Chippewa is in fourth with 22 points, through 18 games. The Kenai River Brown Bears continue to lead the division with 25 points (19 games), while the Jets are just a point back with 24 points (18 games played). Minnesota, Anchorage, Springfield, and Wisconsin holds the 5th-8th positions respectively.
With their 5-game home stand complete, the Dogs head south to face the Anchorage Wolverines in Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup play. The Dogs and Wolverines are tied for the cup lead, each with four points in the 3-team intrastate battle for hockey supremacy in the state of Alaska. However, the Wolverines’ four points came via a 2-game sweep of Ice Dogs home opening series.
Ice Dogs fans can watch both games from Anchorage at the team watch party location at the Blue Flame Bar and Grill located within the Clarion Hotel Fairbanks, the official hotel of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs hockey team. The Ice Dogs return home to face the Minnesota Wilderness Nov. 11-12.
