HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team hits the road for the first time in 2018 this week, as they travel to Houghton, Michigan for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association Series against the Michigan Tech University Huskies this Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20 at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Puck-drop both nights is scheduled for 3:07pm AKST.
Where to Watch & Listen
Fans who can't make this weekend's games in Michigan can streak the games live on WCHA.tv, as well as every home and away contest for the remainder of the season. For the fans who are back in Fairbanks, both Friday and Saturday's game will be broadcasted live on KFXF Channel 7 at 3:07pm AKST, while Saturday's game will be rebroadcasted that night at 12am AKST. Additionally, longtime Nanooks hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be live from the MacInnes Student Ice Arena this weekend on ESPN 820am Fairbanks or online at 820sports.com
WCHA Half-Season Packages Available
The WCHA announced that webstreaming packages are on sale for 50 percent off for the remainder of the season. Fans can purchase a league-wide half-season package for $64.99 that includes access to all remaining WCHA.tv games, including the entire 2018 WCHA Postseason Tournament. The WCHA is also offering a single-team, half-season package for $44.99 that includes access to all remaining WCHA.tv games for that team, including any potential games that the teams plays in the 2018 WCHA Postseason Tournament.
#StickIt2Cancer
Alaska hockey junior defenseman
Jack Weiss will miss the remainder of the 2017-18 season after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in early December. Weiss has started to undergo chemotherapy treatment near his hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota and will continue to do so for nine weeks. If fans are interested in support Jack and his family through this fight, use the hashtag #StickIt2Cancer.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks hockey team concluded a four-game homestand by splitting the weekend with the now-ranked No. 8/9 Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. The Nanooks earned their first shutout of the season in Friday's 5-0 victory before falling 5-1 to the Mavs on Saturday.
WCHA Standings
Following the weekend, Alaska remains in seventh place in the WCHA standings with 23 points through 18 conference games. Alaska has registered a league record of 7-10-1-1 with WCHA victories coming against Bemidji State (Nov. 3), Northern Michigan (Nov. 18), Lake Superior State (Dec. 1), Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 8-9), Alabama Huntsville (Jan. 6) and Minnesota State (Jan. 12). In a tight conference race, the Nooks are only one point behind sixth place's Alabama-Huntsville (24) and rank only one point ahead of eighth place's Ferris State (22).
All-Time Series
Alaska trails the all-time series against the Huskies 3-16-0 and is 2-8-0 in Houghton. The first meeting between the two teams came on Nov. 9, 1990, which resulted in a 6-2 loss for the Nanooks on the road. The Nanooks and the Huskies have already met twice this season, resulting in a WCHA conference sweep for MTU as the Nooks lost 5-4 in overtime in night one, before dropping Saturday's game 5-1.
Frye Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Senior defenseman
Zach Frye was named the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, after leading all league defensemen in goals (2), power play goals (2) and game-winning goals (1) over the weekend. In Friday's 5-0 victory, Frye tallied Alaska's first and last goals of the game, both on the man-advantage. The Spokane, Washington native also ranked second in the WCHA in blocks with eight over the two-game series.
Alaska Leaders
For the second-straight week, Frye continues to lead his teammates in scoring with 18 points on the season. Frye averages 0.78 points per game and leads the Nanooks in game-winning goals (2), blocks (39) and is tied for first in power play goals with two. Among fellow WCHA blue-liners, Frye leads the conference in shots on goal per game with a 3.04 average.
Martinsson Earns First Career Shutout
Sophomore goaltender
Anton Martinsson registered his first career shutout on Friday, turning away all 26 shots he faced against the MSU Mavericks. Martinsson's shutout also marks the Nanooks' first of the season, with the Nanooks' last shutout coming on Feb. 3, 2017 against Alabama-Huntsville last season.
Block Party
The Nanooks' defensive play was on fire on Friday, as the team combined for 20 blocks on Mankato's 58 attempted shots on goal. Senior defenseman
Nick Hinz led all NCAA Division I ice hockey players in blocks over the weekend, registering 10, while Frye and sophomore defenseman
James LaDouce placed second and third within the conference with eight and six blocks, respectively.
Taking Charge
The 2017-18 Nanooks are usually quick to get on the board first, as they have been the first team to light the lamp in 15 of their 24 games this season. In their last 10 games, Alaska has scored first on seven occasions and is 8-6-1 when taking a 1-0 lead. Furthermore, Alaska has yet to be shutout this season. The Nooks have scored a goal in each of their 24 contests this season and have scored more than one goal in 16 different games. The last time Alaska was held scoreless was Mar. 3, 2017 at Minnesota State.
Scouting the Opponent – Michigan Tech Huskies
The Michigan Tech Huskies haven't played a WCHA game since Dec. 16, when they tied the LSSU Lakers 3-3. Since then, the Huskies have played four nonconference contests going 2-2 and have been off since Jan. 6. Offensively, the Huskies are led by four different players, including Jake Jackson, Brent Baltus, Jake Lucchini and Mitch Reinke, who have each collected 18 points on the season. On the back end, Junior goaltender Patrick Munson has appeared in 17 games for MTU this season, boasting a .905 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.75
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.
