FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team returns home to the Carlson Center for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) match-up against the No. 19 Michigan Tech Huskies this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27-28.
The Nanooks will host the Huskies both nights at 7:07 p.m. (AST), with this weekend's games also being the Alaska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's (SAAC) canned food drive. The Alaska Nanooks ask fans coming to Friday or Saturday's games, to bring canned or non-perishable food items to the game, that will then be donated to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.
Alaska (4-6-2 overall, 2-4-2 WCHA) currently sits in seventh place in the WCHA standings with six points, after being in the eighth place position for the past two weeks. Michigan Tech (7-4-1 overall, 6-4-0 WCHA) and Minnesota State Mankato are tied for first place in the WCHA with 12 points each. With crucial WCHA points up for grabs, Alaska hopes to catch up with Northern Michigan and Alaska Anchorage in the standings, while Michigan Tech looks to breakaway from Minnesota State.
"It's great to be back home, we were able to gather some points on the road but now we need to do the same thing at home," Head Coach Dallas Ferguson explained. "I like how our game is starting to come together but we have to keep growing as individuals and as a team."
Where to Watch & Listen
If fans can't make it to the Carlson Center this weekend, WCHA TV will be streaming all WCHA contests this weekend. Fans can purchase a single game pass for $7.99, watch all WCHA games on a certain day for $9.99 or buy a season pass, which includes all Alaska Nanooks home and away games for $89.99. Hockey fans also have the option to purchase the WCHA season pass, which includes access to every single WCHA game (home or away) for all league teams for $129.99.
Both Friday and Saturday's games will be broadcasted live on ESPN 820am in the Fairbanks area, and also online. Longtime Nanook hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be providing live play-by-play commentary from the Carlson Center.
Last Time Out
It took a second-straight 65-minute effort for the Alaska Nanooks hockey team to earn a point, as the Nanooks capped off a weekend series on the road with a 3-3 tie against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday (Nov. 21) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Nanooks tied the Bulldogs 2-2 on Friday (Nov. 20), with each team earning two points on the weekend.
All-Time Series
Michigan Tech leads the all-time series between the Huskies and the Nanooks 6-3-0, with the first game between the two schools coming as a 6-2 loss for the Nanooks on Nov. 9, 1990. Michigan Tech holds the edge over the Nanooks with a two-game winning streak, as Alaska was swept in Houghton, Michigan on Feb. 23-24, 2015. Alaska's last win over the Huskies was February 15, 2014 in a 7-2 contest.
Heating Up
Freshman goaltender Jesse Jenks remains unbeaten between the pipes, improving his four career starts to a 2-0-2 record after playing both games at Ferris State last weekend. Jenks collected a career-high 39 saves on Saturday (Nov. 21) after a 3-3 overtime tie, saving four of those shots in overtime. Jenks save percentage moves to .928, the second-best in the WCHA.
Thriller
Senior forward Nolan Huysmans scored his first power play goal of the season on Saturday's 3-3 overtime tie at Ferris State in dramatic fashion, as the Ponoka, Alberta native scored with 40 seconds remaining in the third period to tie the game with a two-man advantage to help the Nanooks earn one WCHA point on the night. Huysmans now moves two eight points in 12 games, including two goals and six assists.
Leading the League
Alternate Captain Zach Fyre continues to lead the league in plus/minus with +13 and is first amongst all WCHA defensemen in assists with eight. Frye is also tied for first in defenseman scoring within the WCHA with 10 points (two goals, eight assists).
Freshman are Rollin'
Five of the eight players in the Nanook hockey freshmen class have tallied points this season, while Jenks has recorded two wins and two ties. John Mullally, Jasen Fernsler and Ryker Leer each collected a point last weekend at Ferris State, marking Fernsler and Leer's first collegiate points.
Sweet Carl
The Nanooks return to Fairbanks after a two-week WCHA road trip to Bemidji State (Nov. 13-14) and Ferris State (Nov. 20-21). Alaska went 1-1-2 on the road, moving to 4-6-2 overall and 2-4-2 in WCHA conference play. Alaska is 3-1-0 at the Carlson Center, while going 1-3-2 on away rinks and 0-2-0 on neutral ices.
Shooter McGavin
Senior forward Tyler Morley loves to shoot the puck, as the 2015-16 captain leads the WCHA in shots on goal (53) and shots on goal per game (4.82). After last weekend at Ferris State, Morley now has 104 career points with 48 goals and 56 assists in 111 games.
Ties All Around
According to the WCHA men's ice hockey weekly release, seven of the 12 games involving WCHA teams this past weekend resulted in ties, including five of the eight league games. Alaska versus Ferris State was one of two weekend series that resulted in two straight ties, the other was Minnesota State and Northern Michigan. For the season, nine of the 40 league contests have resulted in ties.
Scouting the Opponent – Michigan Tech
The Huskies enter this weekend in a two-way tie for first place in the WCHA with Minnesota State, as they post a 6-4-0 mark ten games into league play. Michigan Tech is coming off a non-conference weekend series against Michigan State University, defeating the Spartans 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, before coming to a 4-4 tie on Sunday.
Junior forward Tyler Heinonen leads the Huskies with 12 points in 12 games, collecting seven goals and five assists, including two power play goals. Heinonen was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Nov. 23) after a career-high four point game on Saturday, including the game-winner to seal the overtime victory. Heinonen finished the weekend with three goals, three assists for six points and 13 shots on goal. As a team, Michigan Tech outscores their opponent 37-30 in all 12 games.
Senior goaltender Jamie Phillips has played in all games this season for the Huskies, going 7-4-1, the most wins amongst all WCHA goaltenders. Phillips comes to Fairbanks with a .910 save percentage, saving 303 shots this season.
Coaches Corner
"The keys for us this weekend is to eliminate their transition game by managing our puck possessions and checking well in all three zones. Like every weekend in the WCHA, the team that minimizes their mistakes and are able to capitalize on special teams will have the most success." – Coach Ferguson on this weekend's games
