For the second time in as many springs, Wisconsin assistant Kevin Patrick was passed over for the same job.

 Alaska, a Central Collegiate Hockey Association school based in Fairbanks, will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. Central Time Thursday to announce Dallas Ferguson as its new coach.

 Patrick, a UW assistant since 2005, was the other finalist for the job.

 A year ago, Patrick was a finalist to coach the Nanooks, a job that ultimately went to Doc DelCastillo.

 "I put my best foot forward,'' Patrick said, adding that he still has a "great situation'' at UW.

 Fairbanks athletic director Forrest Karr, a former Madison Edgewood High School goaltender, presumably wanted to stay in-house after venturing outside the program to hire DelCastillo last May.

 Ferguson was a top assistant under DelCastillo, who abruptly resigned after the 2007-08 season.