newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — The Alaska Nanooks hockey team will conduct its first practice Monday, and the public is invited to the 3 p.m. session in the Patty Center.

Monday is also the reservation deadline for the team’s Kickoff Banquet on Sept. 20 in the Carlson Center. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a social hour, and dinner is set for 7 p.m.

The event features player introductions and the announcement of team captains for this season.

Tickets are $39 per person, $75 per couple, $15 for youths 6-12 and free for ages 6 and younger. For reservations or more information, call Barb Milles at 479-3391.

The Nanooks play their annual Blue-Gold Game at 6:35 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Patty Center and return there the next day to face the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team in an exhibition game at 7:05 p.m.

The Nanooks close out the preseason with an exhibition against the University of British Columbia on Oct. 3 at the Carlson Center.

The Nanooks open the regular season on Oct. 10-11 in the Kendall Classic at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Alaska faces Northeastern on the first night and Connecticut on the final day.

The Nanooks host their inaugural Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Oct. 17-18 at the Carlson Center. Alaska meets Mercyhurst on opening night and ends the tournament against Maine the next night. Alaska Anchorage will take on both those schools but not the Nanooks.

The Nanooks return to the Carlson Center to open Central Collegiate Hockey Aassociation play against Bowling Green State on Oct. 24-25.

Nanooks in training camps

At least five former Nanooks are involved National Hockey League training camps, beginning today.

Left wing Kyle Greentree, Alaska’s leading scorer from 2004-07, opens his first training camp with the Calgary Flames today. The Flames acquired Greentree in July from the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade for defenseman Tim Ramholt.

Defenseman Tyler Eckford, who last season as a Nanooks junior was an All-American, begins his first camp with the New Jersey Devils on Monday. The next day, defenseman Jeff Penner, an Alaska freshman last season, will participate in the Boston Bruins rookie camp. The Bruins open their regular training camp on Sept. 20.

Also Tuesday, Aaron Voros, a Nanooks left wing from 2001-04, skates in his first training camp with the New York Rangers, whom he joined as a free agent in July after spending last season with the Minnesota Wild and their American Hockey League club, the Houston (Texas) Aeros.

Defenseman Jordan Hendry begins his third training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 19. Hendry had a goal and three assists in 40 games for Chicago last season after getting promoted from the Rockford (Ill.) IceHogs, its AHL affiliate.

Dream tryouts

The Alaska Dream, a first-year American Basketball Association franchise coached by former Alaska Nanooks head coach Al Sokaitis, is conducting final tryouts from 9-11 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Moseley Sports Center at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

The tryouts feature 20 players from the first tryout on Aug. 3 and a few players from Outside.

For more information, contact team owner Trey Davis at (907) 250-8369.

Equinox Marathon

The organizers of the Equinox Marathon are seeking volunteers to keep split times during the race.

The race needs several “interested, capable” people to keep split times at six stations along the marathon route on Sept. 20, an e-mail from the Running Club North said.

Timers won’t need to record every racer, just the first 20-30 men and 10-15 women.

Anyone interested is encouraged to e-mail John Estle at sportalaska@gci.net.

Weight pull

The Interior Freight Dog Association will host a demonstration weight pull Saturday during Responsible Dog Ownership Day at Growden Memorial Park.

The pull will be from noon-2 p.m. New dogs are welcome to try. Dogs must be one year or older and weigh at least 20 pounds. Loaner harnesses and educational information will be available.

For more information, call 451-0668.

Local golf

Ying Po Liu of Fairbanks hit a hole-in-one Aug. 31 at the North Star Golf Club. Ying used a 5 wood to ace No. 17, a 165-yard par 3.

Roxy Port won the Wednesday night ladies league at the club, John Story won the Tuesday night men’s league and Lee Williams won his second straight Monday night match play title.

North Star expects to stay open through September, weather permitting.