Box Score HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team grabbed a sweep of Michigan Tech Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. This marks the first sweep of the Huskies since 2014 and these two wins move Alaska to 2-2-0, 2-0-0-0 WCHA.

In the first period, Sr., D, Tristan Thompson started the scoring off for the Nanooks. 5:18 into the game he took a pass from Fr., D, Roberts Kalkis to find the back of the net. Kyle Marino grabbed his first assist of the season on that same play. The game would become a defensive battle for the next 20 minutes. After seeing 11 Alaska shots on goal, and seven from Michigan Tech, the second period only saw 11 combined shots out of the two teams.

One of those shots, however, found a way to the back of the net for Alaska. Chris Jandric took a pass from Antti Virtanen and Marino, and with the help of the goaltenders skate, scored his first goal of the season. This gave the 'Nooks a commanding 2-0 lead only minutes into the second period. Tech found their shots though. Despite only five shots on goal, the Huskies too, managed to grab a goal. Logan Pietila, a Fr., F for the Huskies, found himself scoring an unassisted, short-handed goal to cut the deficit in half with 6:53 remaining in the second period.

The scoring may have ended in the second period, but the contest was far from over. At the end of second period, after the horn, teams exchanged words and as a result of this, Jr., F, Max Newton of Alaska was given a five-minute major penalty for contact to the head of an opposing player. This resulted in the third period having a one-man advantage on either side for the first seven minutes. At the 13:02 mark of the third period, both sides were back to full advantage and five-on-five play returned.

Gustavs Grigals had another great game in goal for the Nanooks, ending the night with 23 saves, 12 of which came in the third period. He finished the weekend in goal, 2-0-0 with 39 total saves.

Just like the Oct. 11 game, Michigan Tech put the pressure on Grigals late in the third period, throwing anything in their zone towards the net. After dropping the shots on goal category to Alaska in the first period, the Huskies would regain the advantage on the night, outshooting the Nanooks in the third period, 4-12. Fortunately, nothing bounced the Huskies way. With 2:14 left in the game, Michigan Tech had their hopes dwindle when Trenton Bliss was given a five-minute major for spearing, resulting in his ejection from the game.

The 'Nooks would run the remaining two minutes off the clock and run their winning-streak to two-games. Alaska will stay on the road this week and head straight to University Park, Penn. to face the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Head coach Erik Largen had this to say on the Nanooks performance this weekend in Houghton, "These two wins are so important. Whenever you can get points on the road, especially against a really good Michigan Tech team, it means a lot. Now we must get ready for some tough Penn State games."

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