CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI- The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are on a heater. Winners of six in a row, the Dogs swept their third consecutive series with wins of 7-2 and 3-0 over the Chippewa Steel Friday and Saturday night. The Ice Dogs are 8-2 in their last 10 games and lead the North American Hockey League Midwest Division with a 20-8-0-1 record on the season.
Fairbanks native Billy Renfrew netted his second hat trick of the season during Friday’s offensive explosion. Alexander Malinowski provided helpers on each of Renfrew’s goals, and added two goals of his own, as the Neuharth, Renfrew, Malinowski line produced 11 points, with a plus-5 rating in the 7-2 win over the Steel. Dakota McIntosh and Jake Hale added goals, while Kayden Hargraves stopped 31 of 33 shots to earn the win in net.
It was all about the D-zone Saturday night, as Fairbanks limited the Steel to just 18 shots. Tyler Krivtsov stopped each and every one of them to record his first career NAHL shutout. A shorthanded tally from Jack Ring, combined with a buzzer-beating power play goal from Love Bergvall in the second period put the Dogs in front. McIntosh added an even-strength empty netter to close out scoring in the 3-0, sweep-clinching, win.
The Ice Dogs’ 41 points are tied with New Jersey for the most in the NAHL this season, and their .707 win percentage is third best in the league. The Dogs extended their lead in the Midwest Division to three points over the Springfield Jr. Blues, who sit second with 38 points. The Anchorage Wolverines are six back of Springfield, while Chippewa holds the fourth spot in the Midwest Division standings.
Following back-to-back weekends of scoring double digit goals, the Ice Dogs continue to fill the scoresheet at a torrent pace. The Dogs’ 121 goals lead the league, as does their 4.17 goals per game average. The Dogs’ plus 44 goals-for, goals-against differential is… you guessed it, tops in the league and 16 better than their nearest competitor. Renfrew leads the goal scoring charge with 16 goals, while Malinowski is two back with 14 goals on the season. However, the Swede leads the team in overall scoring adding 23 assists for a total of 37 points through 29 games. Malinowski ranks second in the NAHL in scoring, just four points back of Aberdeen’s Cade Neilson.
DOG BITES
- Ring: 7 game point streak (2nd longest current streak in NAHL)
- Power play percentage (26.4) ranks second in NAHL
- Penalty kill percentage (88) ranks second in NAHL
- 12-0-0-0 when leading after 1st period
- 19-0-0-0 when leading after 2nd period
- 0-4-0-1 when trailing after 1st period
- 0-7-0-1 when trailing after 2nd period
The Dogs next head to Janesville for a 2-game series against the Jets to close out play before the Christmas break. They remain in the Lower-48 for a 2-game series against the Minnesota Wilderness on New Year’s weekend, and a 2-game series against Springfield Jan. 7-8. The Ice Dogs make their 2022 Big Dipper debut Jan. 14 with Club-49 Cup play against the Kenai River Brown Bears. There are 13 home games remaining on the regular season schedule, that’s perfect for a 10-ticket value pack available now online.
