FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 2022-23 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup with a commanding 5-2 win over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Friday night. With the win, the 'Nooks also move to 6-7-2 on the season. 

The Nanooks had a strong start, hopping on the board 7:49 into the first. They capitalized on their first power-play opportunity of the night as Brady Risk struck. After playing the puck back to the blue-line, Garrett Pyke played the puck back to Risk for the one-timer, beating UAA netminder Nolan Kent. Alaska managed to maintain the 1-0 lead into the second, killing both power-play opportunities Anchorage saw. Only 2:21 into the second, the Nanooks made it 2-0 as Zachary Power scored his first collegiate goal. Will Hilfiker played the puck off the glass, up the ice where Chase Dubois handled it into the attacking zone. Dubois found Power near the net on the break and after an initial save, the puck found its way in the net, making it 2-0 Nanooks. 

UAA struck back only 2:09 later as Ben Almquist cut the lead in half. Conor Cole played the puck in the corner near the 'Nooks net before Caleb Hite made a dash to the front of the net. His shot was stopped by Nanooks goalie Matt Radomsky before Almquist followed up for the goal. On their second power play, the Nanooks tallied their third goal of the night. Brady Risk posted his second goal of the night, connecting from just outside the Seawolves crease. Jonny Sorenson got the play started with a shot from the slot, putting it wide of the net. Harrison Israels followed up with a rebound attempt that was stopped by Kent before Risk made it 3-1 Nanooks. This was Alaska's second power-play goal of the night. 

Carson Kosobud pulled UAA within one less than a minute later. After the Seawolves forced a Nanook turnover in their own end, Brand Lajoie found Kosobud for Anchorage's final goal of the night. 

The Nanooks added their fourth goal of the night and the fifth goal of the second period on a Harrison Israels goal. Xavier Jean-Louis tallied his first-career point, sending the puck in from the blue-line before Jonny Sorenson added the primary on Israels' goal. 

Alaska took a 4-2 lead into the third period before Colin Doyle made it a 5-2 final, connecting from the center line on Anchorage's empty net. The 'Nooks finished the night 2-4 on the power play and killed both of UAA's opportunities. They also ended the night with 40 shots-on-goal and held UAA to 20 as Alaska's Radomsky made 18 saves. 

The two teams meet again tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Carlson Center. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. and will conclude the first weekend of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. 

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