Former Miami assistant Eric Rud was named Alaska-Anchorage’s head coach in April, and the Seawolves’ first two weekend series this season were against Denver and Michigan.
UAA was outscored, 27-6 in those four games but split against Lake Superior State last weekend when facing more on-par competition.
VFG takes a look at the upcoming series:
WHO: Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (1-5) vs. Miami RedHawks (3-1).
WHERE: Cady Arena (3,049), Oxford, Ohio.
WHEN: Friday — 7:05 p.m.; Saturday — 6:05 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Alaska-Anchorage leads, 3-2.
VIDEO STREAMING: NCHC.tv.
MIAMI RADIO: Miamiredhawks.com (Greg Waddell, PxP).
NOTES: Miami lost all of its first three meetings with Alaska-Anchorage through 1987 — two in Anchorage and one at a neutral site — but the RedHawks hosted and swept the Seawolves in 2024.
Quebecker Oren Shtrom leads UAA with seven points, including six assists, and Tye Spencer is 3-2-5, tops on the Seawolves in goals. Both are sophomores.
Fourth-year Alaska-Anchorage skater Karter McNarland has chipped in four assists after a 21-point season in 2025-26.
On defense, both Cooper Anderson and Ethan Warrener have scored twice. Anderson, who also has an assist, leads the team in TOI with an average of 22:58.
Alaska-Anchorage also has Luke Helgeson on defense, the younger brother of former Miamian Max Helgeson.
Freshman Joey Rocha appears to have taken over the starting job in net after holding Lake Superior State to five goals in last weekend’s series. He has a 3.78 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage in four starts.
Northern Michigan transfer William Gramme started the other two games between the pipes and was Bergeroned for 10 goals vs. Michigan. He finished with a respectable .894 save percentage on an abysmal Wildcats team last season.
Miami has won three straight after an opening-night loss at Northern Michigan three weeks ago, outscoring its opponents, 14-4 during its current streak.
The RedHawks, who finished 12.1 percent on the power play in 2025-26, have already scored six times on the man-advantage and are scoring at a 27.3 percent clip.
On the injury front, Miami is hoping Tim Runtso will make his debut this weekend, and Vladislav Lukashevich is likely not far behind.
Alaska-Anchorage is allowing 5.50 goals per game, dead last in the NCAA, so there’s a good chance Miami could light up the scoreboard this weekend.
