FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Junior forward Chad Staley earned his first goal of the season in style, as the Kennewick, Washington native posted the game-winning goal in overtime to help the Alaska Nanooks hockey team earn their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory of the season over the Bemidji State University Beavers at the Carlson Center on Friday night. The Nooks defeated the Beavers 4-3 in extra minutes to improve their overall record to 3-4-2 overall and 1-1-1-1 in conference play while BSU drops to 3-2-2 overall and 1-1-1-1 in WCHA contests.

Alaska's win over Bemidji not only counts as their first Friday night victory on home ice this season but it also gives the Nanooks three WCHA points in the conference standings. At the time of article, Alaska is currently in a tie for fifth place with their weekend opponent, as each team has combined for five points in three conference matchups.

Of Alaska's nine games this season, four have now gone into at least one overtime with the Nanooks posting a 1-1-2-1 in contests that have needed more than 60 minutes of play.

Staley's overtime tally came 3:36 into overtime as he tipped in a shot from sophomore blueliner James LaDouce from point. Staley, the team's leading goal-scorer from 2016-17, has been held to only one assist through eight games this season before netting his first of the year on Friday night. LaDouce's assist marks his third of the 2017-18 campaign, while sophomore forward Troy Van Tetering was awarded the secondary for his second point of the night.

Of the 18 skaters (not including goaltenders) that dressed out for the Nanooks on Friday night, nine players found themselves on the scoresheet, including three with a multi-point effort. Led by senior defenseman Zach Frye, who collected one goal and one assist, Van Tetering and LaDouce each tallied two points against the Beavers with the latter two both earning two assists on the night.

Staley wasn't the only Nanook who scored his first goal of the season on Friday, as fellow junior forward Austin Vieth broke open the scoring at the 17:52 mark of the first period to give Alaska a 1-0 lead. Redshirt-senior defenseman Justin Woods' second period goal puts him on a two-game scoring streak with three points in two games while recently-named WCHA Rookie of the Month Steven Jandric now leads all Alaska players with eight points after recording the secondary assist on Woods' goal.

Also cracking the scoresheet against the Beavers was a pair of sophomore forwards, as Ross Heidt and Kyle Marino each tallied an apple.

As a team, Bemidji outshot Alaska 31-27 with double-digit shots in both the first and second period but it was the Nanooks who recorded the only two shots on goal throughout the overtime period. The Nanooks were 0-for-3 on the man-advantage while Bemidji was able to capitalize on the power play, going 2-for-5 on the night.

Between the pipes, sophomore goaltender Anton Martinsson recorded a game-high 28 saves while BSU netminder Michael Bitzer tallied 23.

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team returns to the Carlson Center tomorrow (Saturday), Nov. 4 for another WCHA tilt against the Beavers at 7:07pm AKT. The Alaska Nanooks ticketing office is also continuing their $5 general admission ticket special for Saturday's game, as well.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.