Sept. 30, 2007
Photo Gallery 
FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks' hockey team made its debut Saturday night as the Blue squad overcame its Gold counterpart behind two goals from senior left wing Aaron Lee, including the game-winner in a three-on-three overtime period.
With the game knotted 1-1 after 60 minutes of play, the teams each put three players on the ice for a 10-minutes extra session. However, it took Lee just 1:16 to secure the go-ahead goal and send the Blue team into an on-ice celebration.
It was a big night for Lee, who in addition to scoring both goals for the Blue Nanooks, was the fastest skater in the skills competition held between the two 30-minute periods, and was randomly drawn for a chance to win a Pontiac G6 in a post game promotion sponsored by UAF and Aurora Motors.
While he didn't win the car, Lee defeated senior defenseman Brandon Gawryletz in the fastest skater final race to exact a little revenge on his classmate: Gawryletz had knocked Lee out in the first race of the previous year's fastest skater competition. "I just got a good start and worked hard and kept moving my feet as I went around the net."
Lee was equally excited for the intangibles both teams displayed throughout the game. "The night was awesome," he said. "Coach (DelCastillo) has been harping on us to be a hard working team and to always move our feet. He wants us to finish our checks and to outwork our opponents every night. It's something we've got to do every night."
DelCastillo agreed that both teams worked hard. "The number one positive thing was when anyone would shoot the puck we would have two or three guys trying to block it," he said. "We had a lot of blocked shots tonight and it shows they're willing to sacrifice for us to be successful.
Freshman left wing Landon Novotney opened the scoring when he gave Gold the advantage at 17:28 of the first period. Sophomore center Dion Knelsen fed Novotney the puck left of the goal, where the first-year skater lifted the puck upstairs past senior goalie Wylie Rogers. "Dion caught Bryant flat-footed and it was a footrace back to the pipe," said DelCastillo. "(Dion) had the positioning on him (Bryant) and made a great play and Novotney went to the net and put it in, but all the credit goes to Dion on that one."
Lee secured the game-tying goal at 10:28 of the second period, with Bryant Molle and junior defenseman Steve Vanoosten assisting the play.
All three goalies saw action with sophomore Erik Largen registering a game-high 11 saves for the Blue Nanooks. Rogers, who split time between the two teams, had 10 saves and junior Chad Johnson turned aside seven shots for the Gold Nanooks.
The hardest shot title went to junior defenseman Tyler Eckford who registered a 98 mph slap shot on his final attempt. Freshman winger Kevin Petovello was second best, notching a 95 mph on his best attempt.
The Gold team defeated the Blue team in the shootout, 4-2. Justin Binab, Ryan Muspratt, Trevor Hyatt and Dion Knelsen tickled the twine for the Gold team while Dustin Sather and Adam Naglich lit the lamp for the Blue.
Alaska plays its final exhibition contest of the season Saturday, Oct. 6, when it hosts Southern Alberta Institute of Technology at the Carlson Center. First face off is at 7:05 p.m. AST. Live stats and video stream will be available at www.alaskananooks.com, and the game will be simulcast on the Fairbanks radio waves of KYSC 96.9 FM and KSUA 91.5 FM, with KSUA also providing a live internet audio stream.
