FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team officially begins their 2021-22 season this weekend as they host the Clarkson Golden Knights on Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Carlson Center. Both nights are slated for a 7:07 p.m. puck-drop.
Follow Along
For all of the Nanook hockey action, you can watch on FloHockey for a monthly payment. All Alaska home games will be streamed on Flo. Away games will be provided on Flo or other streaming platforms. You can also find live stats and live audio from Bruce Cech, the voice of the Nanooks, in his 33
rd season, above in the table.
Masks Required
Masks are required for all in attendance at the Carlson Center.
Hockey Jersey Night
All fans under the age of 18 who wear their favorite hockey jersey to the Carlson Center on both Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9, will get free admission as the Nanooks take on the Clarkson Golden Knights.
Cashless Ticketing
Using HomeTown Ticketing, you can now purchase all tickets prior to the gates at the Carlson. Buy your tickets, print at home or show them on your mobile device. The Nanooks encourage all fans to purchase tickets at the gate with card. We are moving towards a fully cashless ticketing system.
Welcome Back, #NanookNation
Welcome back, #NanookNation. It's been almost a full 580 days since we last saw you in full power during the 2020 WCHA Playoffs. A lot has changed since then, but we're back and we're ready for you to enjoy Nanook hockey, once again!
Independence Day
The Alaska Nanooks hockey team is officially an Independent Division-I hockey team for the first time since the 1992-93 season. After the folding of the WCHA Men's Hockey Conference, the 'Nooks join the ranks of independent teams and with their schedule-autonomy, Alaska will bring some new squads to the Carlson Center as well as visit some new places and old foes.
New Year, New Nooks
We may look the same, playing in the same sweaters as always, representing the Blue and Gold, however, we've got a lot of new faces this season; let's introduce you to some! This season we welcome 17 Freshman to the Carlson Center and UAF. #1
Daniel Allin, #2
Karl Falk, #9
Matt McKim, #11
Brady Risk, #14
Anton Rubtsov, #15
Antonio Di Paolo, #18
Riley Murphy, #20
Simon Falk, #24
Harrison Israels, #26
Payton Matsui, #28
Brayden Nicholetts, #29 Natan Vertes, #32
Connor Mylymok, #35
Austin Ryman, #37
Jakob Breault, #38
Arvils Bergmanis and finally, #40
Matt Koethe. These 17 will also join
Robert Blueger, a sophomore-transfer, who joined the Nanooks from LSSU in 2019-20, at the Carlson for the first time this weekend versus Clarkson.
Alongside the new players, head coach
Erik Largen, announced two new coaches over the last year and a half. Completing Largen's coaching staff over a month ago was
Chris Brown. Brown joined the Nanooks in the position of Associate Head Coach, joining Largen's bench from Augsburg University (DIII) after 15 seasons as the Auggies head coach. Prior to Brown joining, Largen introduced
Lenny Hofmann as the newest Assistant Coach. On Sept. 28, 2020, the Nanooks announced Hofmann's hiring after he had spent five years as the Director of Scouting for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
Where in the World?
The Nanooks will head all over the United States this season to play some familiar teams and some who they've never faced. On the schedule this year for the first time, is the University of St. Thomas. The Tommies are the newest Division-I hockey program, as they make the jump from the Division-III ranks to the newly re-founded CCHA. St. Thomas will visit the 49th State on Feb. 11-12, 2022.
Another new face the Nanooks will face is Long Island University. The Sharks, a new addition to Division-I hockey in 2020-21, will also make the jump to Fairbanks on March 4-5, 2022, ending the regular-season for the Nanooks. Prior to LIU's visit, the Nanooks will head to Long Island on Feb. 18-19, 2022, playing both of their games at the Northwell Health Ice Center. The Nanooks will head East a total of four times, visiting Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y., Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y., the University of Maine in Orono and the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Postponement
Due to COVID protocol, the Nanooks two-game series with the Minnesota Gophers has been postponed and moved to Jan. 14-15, 2022.
Clarkson
Clarkson enters this weekend's matchup as the #20 team in the USCHO Poll and they are receiving 27 votes in the USA Hockey Poll. They opened the season at #19, however, dropped after not playing in the opening weekend. Clarkson is coming off of an 11-7-0-0, 6-4-0 ECAC season in 2020-21. They saw their season end on Feb. 28, 2021 with a 3-2 victory over Colgate.
Clarkson has been a part of the ECAC since 1962, winning 10 Regular-Season Championships and six Conference Tournament Championships, their last coming in 2019. The Nanooks and Clarkson have met once. Alaska won 4-1 in a neutral-site game on Oct. 8, 2011, however, the win has since been vacated.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.
