FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team hits the road for a pair of nonconference contests against another nationally-ranked opponent this weekend, taking on the No. 9 University of Denver Pioneers this Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20 in Denver, Colorado. Both games will take place at Magness Arena with puck-drop slated for 5:07pm AKT.
Where to Watch & Listen
Fans who can't make this weekend's games in Denver can stream both games live on NCHC.tv in the link posted above. Fans in the Denver area can also watch the game on TV on Altitude 2. Longtime Nanooks hockey commentator Bruce Cech will be live from Magness Arena on KSUA 91.5 FM or online at ksuaradio.com.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks hosted their first two games of the 2018-19 season at the Carlson Center last weekend, taking on the now-No. 4th-ranked St. Cloud State University Huskies. The Nanooks' late comeback fell short on Friday, falling 3-2 to the Huskies before dropping Saturday's contest 6-2.
All-Time Series
The Alaska Nanooks trail in the all-time series record against the Denver Pioneers, 1-6-0. The first meeting between the two programs resulted in a 12-5 loss at home for the Nanooks on Nov. 2, 1989. Alaska earned their first win over DU on Jan. 31, 1992 with a 7-2 decision at home, but had to vacate the win due to an ineligible player participating in the contest. In their last meeting, Alaska edged Denver 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 18, 2013, eventually claiming the Brice Alaska Goal Rush championship title that season.
#StickIt2Cancer
On Oct. 6, senior defenseman
Jack Weiss appeared in the lineup against Arizona State, less than one year after being diagnosed with testicular cancer last November. Weiss missed the second half of the 2017-18 season to undergo chemotherapy treatment in his home state of Minnesota. After successfully overcoming and defeating cancer, Weiss was cleared to train and get back on the ice over the summer, solidifying his comeback on Oct. 6.
Old Pals
The Denver Pioneers and the Alaska Nanooks coaching staffs have several ties to each other's programs. Denver's assistant coach Tavis MacMillan was the head coach for the Alaska Nanooks hockey team from 2004-07 with fellow Denver assistant coach Dallas Ferguson serving as his assistant. Following MacMillan's departure from the Nooks, Ferguson served as the Alaska Nanooks hockey team's head coach from 2008-17. Furthermore, current Alaska Nanooks head coach
Erik Largen played for MacMillan and Ferguson as a goaltender for the Nanooks from 2006-08 before serving as Ferguson's assistant coach for Alaska throughout the 2016-17 season.
And the fun doesn't stop there. New Alaska Nanooks assistant coach
Joe Howe will be returning to familiar territory, as Howe served as the DU volunteer assistant coach from 2015-17 before becoming the Director of Hockey Operations for the Pioneers last season.
Young Guns
This weekend's series will be a battle between the two youngest NCAA Division I ice hockey active head coaches. When Largen was named the Alaska Nanooks head coach in April, he was dubbed the youngest active head coach in men's DI hockey before DU's David Carle was appointed bench boss over the summer. Carle is 28 years old. Additionally, both coaches hail from the Last Frontier with Largen being a hometown product of Fairbanks, while Carle is from Anchorage.
Out of the Gate
Junior forward
Kyle Marino currently leads the Nanooks in points this season, registering one goal and two assists for three points through four games. Marino scored the Alaska Nanooks' first goal of the 2018-19 season against the St. Cloud State Huskies in Friday's 3-2 loss after the Nooks returned home after being blanked in Arizona. In Saturday's 6-2 loss, Marino picked up two assists, marking his first multi-point game of his career.
Rookie Moves
Freshman defenseman
Chris Jandric is currently riding a two-game point streak, having contributed an assist in each of Alaska's games versus St. Cloud last weekend. C. Jandric is currently tied for first among Western Collegiate Hockey Association rookies with two points through four games.
Goose Tales
Freshman netminder Gustavs Grigals currently leads all WCHA rookie goaltenders in minutes (240:00), saves (52) and shots (60). The Riga, Latvia native has collected a .867 save percentage through two games and one start and a 4.81 goals against average.
Scouting the Opponent – Denver
The undefeated Denver Pioneers face the Nanooks after defeating Air Force 4-1 last Friday before taking down fellow WCHA member Alabama-Huntsville 6-0 on Saturday. Of Denver's 21 skaters, all put eight have registered at least one point this season, led by junior forward Liam Finlay and freshman forward Emilio Pettersen, each with four points through two games. The Pioneers are backed by sophomore goaltender Devin Cooley, who has tallied a .974 save percentage and 0.50 goals against average in two games.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.
