MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team defeated the #18/RV-ranked Northern Michigan Wildcats team 3-2 on Saturday, Nov. 16. This win gave the Nanooks a split on the weekend with NMU and puts the Nanooks at 7-7-0, 5-3-0-0 WCHA. 
 
The Nanooks struck first in game two of the weekend in the first period when Markuss Komuls scored his first collegiate goal 11:11 into the first period as he took a drop-off pass from Colton Leiter and Filip Fornaa Svensson and drove the puck past the goaltender, giving the 'Nooks their first lead in two games. Just a minute and a half later, the Nanooks struck again when Steven Jandric grabbed his second goal of the season after taking a pass from Roberts Kalkis and Justin Young and snuck one top shelf on NMU goalie, John Hawthorne. 
 
The two Nanooks goals was not the only thing to happen in the first; Northern Michigan put the Alaska team on a five-minute penalty after a contact to the head penalty and game misconduct ejection of Hank Sorenson. The Nanooks were unable to capitalize on the five-minute advantage. 
 
Northern Michigan had an answer in the beginning of the second period. Just under three minutes into the second period, Wildcats defenseman, Ben Newhouse grabbed the first goal of the night for NMU, cutting the deficit in half on passes from Caleb Schroer and Garrett Klee, making it a 2-1 Alaska lead. Three minutes later, the Wildcats struck again. While on the power play, Ty Readman, a freshman forward for the 'Cats, took passes from Darien Craighead and Philip Beaulieu and slotted the puck in the back of the net, getting the shot past senior goalie, Anton Martinsson. 
 
While Northern Michigan answered for two goals, the Nanooks kept their composure and worked the Wildcats defense. Just past the midway point of the second, the Nanooks had a push towards the NMU zone. The puck made its way from Didrik Henbrant to Leiter to Young and Young did the rest, finding enough space to get the puck past Hawthorne in net, giving the Nanooks the 3-2 lead. 
 
With the lead heading into the final period, the Wildcats turned up the attack on Martinsson as the 'Nooks took on the defensive side. Northern Michigan outshot Alaska in the third period, 3-11, however, Martinsson saved all 11 shots, giving him 32 on the day, giving him the win in net. 
 
Head coach Erik Largen praised his team's all-around effort in tonight's win, "It was a good team win tonight, from the forwards to defense, to Anton in the net, we needed everyone tonight to beat a really good Northern Michigan team."
 
The Nanooks head back home for a weekend series versus Ferris State next weekend on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23.
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.