FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The 2019 Blue vs. Gold game saw a lot of offense on Sept. 28, 2019. Both Tyler Cline and Max Newton checked in with two goals for the Blue team. Kyle Marino scored the other goal for Blue while Troy Van Tetering found the net for Gold's lone goal on the night. A night that saw the Patty Ice Arena become packed by the time State Representative Adam Wool made the ceremonial puck drop at center ice.

The Blue squad got the scoring started bright and early. Only one minute into the opening period, Tyler Cline took a pass from Max Newton and Kylar Hope and found and opening to put the Blue team on the board. Max Newton added to the Blue lead about 15 minutes later as he found enough of an opening through a crowded front of the net for a top shelf goal. Newton was not done there. Only five minutes later he again found the back of the net off of assists from Tyler Cline and Kyle Marino.

Going into the half, the Blue team had a commanding 3-0 lead. Special guest head coach, Greg Sparling, the men's basketball coach here at Alaska, had made it clear that he was seeking a big win following last season's 3-0 loss in the Blue vs. Gold game with him at the helm. Thankfully for Sparling, that lead was safe.

Halftime saw a lot of entertainment come to life. To start off the skills competition, the fans saw who the fastest 'Nook on the ice is. That title went home with Didrik Henbrandt after he defeated Jack Weiss in the first round, Steven Jandric in the semifinals and then Colton Leiter in the finals. Following the speed competition was the hardest shot competition. This was over with the second contestant when James LaDouce smoked a 102 mph shot to the back of the net. The closest shot was the last of the night when Marino hit the triple-digit mark at 100.

To end the skills competition, each player took a shot in a shootout; the Blue team pulled that victory out 5-4 to claim the last win.

Tyler Cline got the second half started where the Blue team left off. Off of a rebound and loose puck, Cline made it 4-0, Blue.

The Gold team did not go away easy, Troy Van Tetering gave them a glimpse of hope as he added their first goal just one minute later. The momentum shift would not last long. Back-and-forth hockey would ensue until the midway point of the final period when Kyle Marino would strike for the fifth and final goal for the Blue team.

After making it 5-1 and hearing the final buzzer sound, both teams met in center ice to give the fans some appreciation.

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team begins their 2019-20 season next weekend on Oct. 5 and 6 when they host the University of Denver Pioneers. Denver is coming off of a 24-12-5, 2018-19 season that saw it end in the third round of the NCAA tournament with a loss to UMass.

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