MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team earned their first overtime win of the season thanks to senior forward Alec Hajdukovich's overtime game-winning goal in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association match-up, as the Nanooks defeated the Northern Michigan Wildcats 3-2 at the Berry Events Center on Friday evening. The Nanooks improve to an overall record of 7-12-4 and 5-10-4 in WCHA contests, while the Wildcats drop to 8-9-6 overall and 6-7-4 in WCHA games.
"I mean, it was a very close game all the way through. I think both teams had opportunities to create separation, there was desperation on both sides but I liked the way we competed and stuck with it all the way through tonight," head coach Dallas Ferguson said following Friday's game. "I think it's good to score early and then to get some confidence going into the third period, I felt good about how we were playing. Sometimes I think special teams and power play opportunities can get in your way mentally if you're not scoring on them, so I thought that was something positive for our team to work through that and get the results that we wanted."
Alaska's freshman goaltender Jesse Jenks made 25 saves on the night, while Northern Michigan's rookie goaltender Atte Tolvanen made 26. The Nanooks outshot their opponent for the second consecutive game, peppering 29 shots on net to the Wildcats' 27. Northern Michigan was able to capitalize on 1-of-5 power play chances, while the Nanooks were 0-of-8.
The first period turned out to be a scoreless one, as neither the Wildcats nor the Nanooks were able to light the lamp. Both the Alaska Nanooks and the Northern Michigan Wildcats were having trouble creating momentum throughout the first period, as both teams combined for six penalties in the first 20 minutes of regulation. The Nanooks were 0-of-4 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 opportunity, while the Wildcats were 0-of-2 with the man advantage. Jenks bailed the Nanooks out of more than one shorthanded scare, combining for 15 saves in the first period, while Tolvanen collected 10.
For the first time in three games, the Nanooks put themselves on the board first when freshman forward Ryker Leer's first collegiate goal gave the Nanooks a 1-0 lead at the 4:19 mark of the second period. The play began when Northern Michigan came down on the Nanooks on a 3-on-1 rush before sophomore defenseman Nick Hinz made a big heads-up defensive play, going down on one knee to break-up the pass and chipping the puck out of the zone to send Leer on a breakaway. Leer came down on Tolvanen and faked the shot on his forehand before pulling it backhand and scoring five-hole. Leer's first collegiate goal was his third point of the season and Hinz's sixth assist.
"I thought all of our lines were putting in some good shifts for us, I especially thought our fourth line was pretty effective tonight," Ferguson said. "There were some gaps in their ice time based on special teams but they had some good shifts to get some positive things going for us. Obviously, we need everyone to contribute so Ryker getting his first goal was exciting. It was a good defensive play, which lead to a good transition play and he was able to finish on it."
The fun didn't last long, however, as Northern Michigan's Shane Sooth tied things up two minutes later (6:52) on the power play. Sooth's goal was scored in similar fashion, as he came down the ice alone on a breakaway before scoring five-hole on Jenks. Sooth's fifth goal of the season was assisted by Darren Nowick and Gerard Hanson.
The Nanooks came out hot in the third period, laying on plenty of pressure from the first shift. Alaska built on that momentum and made it 2-1 at the 2:17 mark of the third period. Senior forward Nolan Huysmans was forechecking an NMU defenseman before trapping the Wildcat along the wall, forcing him to pass the puck through center ice. Huysmans intercepted the pass and came in the Northern Michigan zone, using the other Wildcat defenseman as a screen, before firing the puck far-side to score on Tolvanen. Huysman's fourth goal of the season was unassisted.
"I thought Nolan Huysmans had a big game, especially with a nice finish," Ferguson said of the senior. "He was heavy on the boards and heavy around the net and it was nice to see him get rewarded and finish a couple plays for us."
Just like the second period, the Wildcats bounced back after the Nanooks took the lead. At the 11:45 mark of the third period, Northern Michigan's Barrett Kaib put one past Jenks to tie things up once again. The Wildcats threw the puck into the Nanook zone that went wide of the net, before taking a weird bounce that passed the Alaska defensemen and ended up at the top of the face-off circle. Kaib was able to walk into the zone and wind-up for a slapshot to make it 2-2 with assists given to Shane Sooth and John Siemer.
Hajdukovich netted the game-winner at the 3:11 mark of overtime to give the Nanooks two big WCHA points on the night. Northern Michigan turned over the puck right inside the Nanook defensive zone to send Hajdukovich and Huysmans on a 2-on-1 the other way. Huysmans looked to shoot before wrapping the puck around the net, dragging the NMU defenseman with him before dishing the puck on his backhand to Hajdukovich, who was backdoor and able to catch Tolvanen on the other side of the net looking at Huysmans. The overtime winner marks Hajdukovich's third game-winning goal in the last seven WCHA contests, while Huysmans collected a two-point night.
"Going into tomorrow, I think we need to look ourselves in the mirror and look at the opportunity that's been presented here. Tonight was a big win but it's a lot bigger win if we get one tomorrow," Ferguson said going into tomorrow's rematch. "In our situation, it's a last chance for us to get some points before taking a two-week WCHA break. We need to finish this road trip the right way. We can't get a win on Friday and go into Saturday forgetting what it takes to earn those two points."
The Alaska Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 16 for game two against the Northern Michigan Wildcats at the Berry Events Center in Marquette, Michigan. Puck-drop is set for 3:07 p.m. AST. For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey page on Facebook.
