FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team dropped a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest on Friday night, falling 6-1 to the No. 4th-ranked Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks at the Carlson Center. The loss drops Alaska's overall record to 9-19-3 and 9-14-2-2 in conference play, while the Mavericks improve to 25-6-2 on the season and 20-4-1-1 in league games.

Minnesota State walks away from Friday's game with three conference points, totaling 61 throughout the conference season. With their victory against the Nanooks on Friday, MSU clinched the WCHA's regular season championship title and were presented with the McNaughton Cup by the conference following Saturday's contest.

Although Alaska didn't collect any WCHA points on Friday, the Nooks remain seated in seventh place in the league standings with 31 points.

"You know, I thought we played really well in the first period and then all of a sudden, it's a five-on-three and you blink and they got three power play goals," head coach Erik Largen said on Friday. "Quick goals like that, it changes the whole complexion of the game. With all the stoppages and penalties, the second period have no flow to it. Give credit to Mankato, they earned their opportunities. They're a tough team to play against and they've had a great season so far, they were just crowed the regular season champions, so we need to be better tomorrow."

Minnesota State opened up the scoring on Friday night, as Ian Schied netted an even-strength tally at the 6:09 mark of the first period to make it 1-0. Schied's goal was assisted by Jared Spooner and Reggie Lutz.

At the conclusion of the first period, Alaska's junior forward Kyle Marino was assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing. Unfortunately for the Nooks, Minnesota State scored three power play goals on that five-minute kill, making it 4-0 in a hurry. Scoring for Minnesota State was Parker Tuomie (2:29), Lutz (3:18) and Marc Michaelis (4:14).

Before the second period concluded, the Mavericks continued to pour it on, as Josh French made it 5-0 at the 11:10 mark, assisted by Josh French.

Junior forward Kylar Hope scored Alaska's only tally on the night, earning a 5-on-3 power play goal 37 seconds into the third period. Junior defenseman Tristan Thompson kicked the puck low to sophomore forward Steven Jandric, who was parked alongside the post. S. Jandric was able to redirect Thompson's shot to Hope, who was sitting backdoor. With a goal on Friday, Hope earns his sixth goal of the season, while S. Jandric and Thompson pick up their 12th and 13th assists, respectively.

At the 11:56 mark, MSU's Connor Mackey scored the Mavericks' final goal of the night with an even-strength goal assisted by Jack McNeely and Dallas Gerads.

Minnesota State was 3-for-9 on the power play, while Alaska went 1-for-4. The Nooks were outshot by their opponent, 30-24.

In net, freshman goaltender Gustavs Grigals made 24 saves, including 13 in the second period. On the other side of the ice, Mankato's freshman netminder Dryden McKay earned 23 saves.

The Nanooks will face the No. 4 Minnesota State Mavericks in their final home game of the season tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 23) at 7:07pm AKST at the Carlson Center. Saturday's game will also serve as senior night, with the pre-game ceremony set to begin at approximately 6:55pm AKST.

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