FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team is back in action this weekend, taking on the No. 9 Minnesota State Mavericks on Friday (Oct. 21) and Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Patty Ice Arena. The series marks the first Western Collegiate Hockey Association games for the 2016-17 season for the Nooks (1-3-0, 0-0-0 WCHA), while the Mavericks (4-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) look to improve upon their undefeated record. Puck-drop is slated for 7:07pm AKT on both days.
| Opponent |
Minnesota State Mavericks |
| Time, Dates & Location |
Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:07 pm AKT
Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:07 pm AKT
Patty Ice Arena | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Game Notes |
Nanooks | Mavericks |
| Ticket Information |
Doors Open at:
5:30pm for Season Ticket Holders, Students & Corporate Sponsors
6:15pm for General Public
$19 per ticket |
| Follow Along |
Radio: 820sports.com or ESPN 820 AM Fairbanks
Stream & Stats: WCHA.tv |
| Social Media |
Twitter | Facebook |
Where to Watch & Listen
Nanook fans can watch all four Brice Alaska Goal Rush games live on WCHA.tv on Friday and Saturday. Hockey fans can purchase a single-team season pass for $89.99, which gives live and archived coverage for all Nanook hockey's nonconference home games, all WCHA regular season games (home and away) and all potential 2017 league postseason games (home and away). Other packages include single-team road pass ($44.99), a WCHA monthly pass ($24.99), a single-team monthly pass ($19.99), league-wide nightly pass ($9.99) or a single-team nightly pass ($8.99).
Furthermore, longtime Nanook hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be broadcasting live from the Carlson Center for all four contests on Friday and Saturday's game on ESPN 820 AM Fairbanks or 820sports.com
Last Time Out
Last weekend the Nooks fell in heartbreaking fashion in back-to-back nights, losing in overtime to both the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Omaha Mavericks in the ninth annual Brice Alaska Goal Rush. The Nooks dropped a 2-1 decision on Friday to Canisius before falling 4-3 to Omaha. Alaska now sits with an overall record of 1-3-0 before entering conference play against the Minnesota State Mavericks this weekend.
Welcome Back to the Patty
Due to the Alaska Federation of Natives convention at the Carlson Center this weekend, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team will play in their original home rink for Friday and Saturday at the Patty Ice Arena. The 1,200 person arena serves as the practice facility for the Nanooks throughout the year and also home to the annual Blue vs. Gold game. This weekend's games will be the first time since the Nooks have played a series at the Patty Ice Arena, as they faced Mercyhurst during the 2012-13 season.
All-Time Series
Alaska holds a 13-4-1 advantage over the Mankato Mavericks, with the first game coming as an 8-2 victory on Nov. 14, 1983. Despite being on a two-game losing streak against Mankato, Alaska is 10-1-1 against the Mavericks when playing at home.
Woods Leading
Redshirt-junior defenseman and Fairbanks native
Justin Woods currently leads the team in points with four (one goal, three assists). Woods also leads the team in assists (3), assists per game (0.75), points per game (1.00) and is tied for first in power play goals (one), power play points (two), plus/minus (+4) and blocks (five).
Rookies Stepping Up
Of the nine Alaska hockey freshmen who have dressed in at least one game this season, five have recorded at least one point so far. Defensemen
Tristan Thompson,
Danny Kiraly and forwards
Tyler Cline,
Colton Leiter and
Troy Van Tetering each recorded a point in last weekend's Brice Alaska Goal Rush. Van Tetering is tied for first on the team in goals with two and goals per game with 0.50.
Jenks & Jones
Alaska's two returning goaltenders each played in a game this past weekend in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush, with sophomore
Jesse Jenks getting the nod in Friday's 2-1 loss to Canisius and senior
Davis Jones starting in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Omaha. So far this season, each goaltender has played in two games and are tied in shots-faced with 48 each. Jones leads the duo in saves (43), goals against average (2.47), and save percentage (0.896).
Goal Details
The Nanooks are tied for first in the WCHA in goals when trailing, recording six in four games. Additionally, Alaska is tied for first in the league in assists when trailing with 18.
Alaska is also on a power-play goal streak, posting at least one power play goal in all four games so far this season. Woods (vs. UAA), Frye (vs. Minnesota), Thompson (vs. Canisius) and Basara (vs. Omaha) each have power-play goals under their belt this season.
2016-17 Captains
Earlier this month, head coach
Dallas Ferguson announced this year's Alaska Hockey leadership group, with senior forward
Brandon Morley donning the "C" for the 2016-17 season. Morley becomes the only player in program history to inherit the captainship from his brother in consecutive seasons, as former Nanook standout
Tyler Morley was the captain for the 2015-16 season. Fellow-senior
Josh Erickson, redshirt-junior
Justin Woods and junior
Zach Frye were selected as alternate captains for the upcoming season, with Frye being the only repeat captain from the previous year.
WCHA Preseason Polls
Last month, the Alaska Nanooks were ranked to finish tenth in the Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll and eighth in the Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Media Poll. The Nanooks were picked to finish eighth in both polls last season, falling two spots in the Coaches Poll this preseason. Freshman forward
Colton Leiter was the lone Alaska representative in the individual preseason awards, receiving one vote for the WCHA Rookie of the Year.
Fresh Faces
The Alaska Nanooks hockey team welcomes 12 newcomers to the 29-man roster for the 2016-17 season, which features seven forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders. This year's freshman class hails from three countries, including Canada (6), the United State (5) and Sweden (1).
Couple Vets
With such a large freshman class, it's easy to overlook all 17 returners from the 2015-16 roster. The remaining classes are made up of four seniors, five juniors and eight sophomores. Positionally, the Nanooks bring back two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
Scouting the Competition - #9 Minnesota State Mavericks
The Mavericks travel to Fairbanks after skating to a nonconference home sweep over St. Cloud State (4-1, 6-4) last weekend. Freshman forward Parker Toumie recorded two goals and an assists last weekend, along with a team-high 10 shots on goal to earn him the WCHA Rookie of the Week honor on Monday. Forward Michael Hunterbrinker is on a four-game point streak after registering a goal and two assists last weekend, tallying one goal and four assists for five points in four games.
Senior goaltender Cole Huggins has played in all four wins for the Mavericks this season and boasts a 1.50 goals against average and a .938 save percentage.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.
