FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team (2-3-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 WCHA) will hit the road this week to open up Western Collegiate Hockey Association play against the Bowling Green Falcons in a two-game conference series this Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. Puck-drop at the Slater Family Arena is scheduled for 3:37pm AKT on Friday and 3:07pm AKT on Saturday.
Where to Watch & Listen
Fans who can't make this weekend's games in Bowling Green can stream the games live on WCHA.tv, as well as every home game and WCHA road contest for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, longtime Nanook hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be broadcasting live from the Slater Family Arena this weekend on ESPN 820 AM Fairbanks or online at 820sports.com.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks participated in a rare home-and-home series last weekend against in-state rival Alaska Anchorage, playing at the Sullivan Arena on Friday before competing in the Carlson Center in Fairbanks on Saturday. The Nanooks earned their first victory and sweep of the season against the Seawolves, defeating UAA 6-2 on Friday before posting a 3-2 victory on Saturday. Although the two games didn't count toward the WCAH standings, the Nanooks take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-six Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup series.
All-Time Series
This weekend's matchup will be the 61st and the 62nd meeting between the Nanooks and the Falcons, as BGSU leads the all-time series 29-23-8. Alaska is 9-14-5 at Bowling Green and currently on a one-game losing streak to the Falcons. The first meeting between the two teams came as a 4-6 loss for the Nanooks on Dec. 27, 1987.
First Timers
Friday's 6-2 victory was monumental for the Nanooks, as not only marked the team's first win of the season, it also was first-year head coach
Lance West and sophomore goaltender
Anton Martinsson's first NCAA Division I win. Furthermore, three Nanooks collected a career-first three-point night, two Alaska skaters registered their first collegiate goals and two other Nooks posted their first collegiate points.
Three's a Crowd
On Friday, redshirt-senior defenseman
Justin Woods, sophomore forward
Colton Leiter and freshman forward
Steven Jandric recorded career-best nights, each collecting three points against the Seawolves. Woods tallied two goals and one assist, including the game-winning goal, while Leiter recorded one goal and two assists, including the game-winning assist, while Jandric registered one goal and two assists for his first collegiate goal.
Leiter, Jandric Honored by the WCHA
Leiter and Jandric both produced a league-best four-points over the weekend, with Leiter (2G, 2A) being named the Offensive Player of the Week while Jandric was tabbed as Rookie of the Week (1G, 3A). Leiter also had a game-winning goal and a game-winning assist on the weekend, while Jandric assisted on Leiter's GWG on Saturday.
Against the Rest
As a team, Alaska leads all WCHA teams in even-strength goals (16) and goals when leading (8) and are tied for first in the league in unassisted goals (2), this period goals (7) and goals in losses (9). Alaska ranks second in the conference in goals (19), assists (31), points (50), goals per games played (3.17), points per games played (8.33) and blocks (94).
Scouting the Opponent – Bowling Green
BGSU kicked-off WCHA play last weekend, splitting with Minnesota State 1-4 and 5-2. Prior to that, BGSU split with Michigan State (4-1, 2-3) and fell 1-3 to Western Michigan. The Falcons are led by rookie forward Cameron Wright, who's registered three goals and three assists for a league-leading six points in five games. Fellow freshman forward Max Johnson has one goal and four assists for five points in five games to follow closely behind. Sophomore goaltender Ryan Bednard and freshman goaltender Eric Dop have been splitting time in the net, with Bednard posting a 1-2-0 record and a .918 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.
