DENVER, Colo. - The Nanooks hockey team heads to Magness Arena for a matchup with the #1/2-ranked Denver Pioneers this weekend. 

Friday, Jan. 6
#1/2 Denver | Live Video ($$) | Live Stats | KSUA 91.5 FM (Listen Online)
5:00 p.m. AKT | Magness Arena | Denver, Colo. 

Saturday, Jan. 7
#1/2 Denver | Live Video ($$) | Live Stats | KSUA 91.5 FM (Listen Online)
4:00 p.m. AKT | Magness Arena | Denver, Colo. 

Where to Watch
This weekend's games can be viewed on NCHC.tv for a pay-per-view price. Live stats can be viewed using the link above or you can listen for free on KSUA 91.5 FM or KSUAradio.com as Bruce Cech brings you all of the action from Magness Arena in Denver, Colo. 

#NookNotes

• MATT RADOMSKY enters this weekend's games as the Hockey Commissioners Association December Goalie of the Month for December. RADOMSKY posted a 5-0 record with a 1.04 GAA and save percentage of .955.
• He ended the month with a 3-2 win at then #17/19 Notre Dame that saw his streak of 170 shutout minutes come to an end. He posted two shutouts in the month, Dec. 16-17 (4-0, 1-0) on the road at Alaska Anchorage and recorded a point (assist) in the 4-0 win. 
• The Nanooks lead all independent teams and are third in the nation for scoring defense (2.05).
• HARRISON ISRAELS is in the top-15 nationally for two categories; faceoff wins (222) and short-handed goals (1). He is tied for 15th with his one short-handed goal and is 11th in the nation with 222 faceoff wins. He leads all Independent skaters for faceoff wins. 
• RADOMSKY is sixth in NCAA Division I for goals against average. His 1.91 is sixth in the nation and leads all Independent netminders. Ian Shane of Cornell leads the nation with a 1.53 GAA. RADOMSKY is 30th in the nation and first Independently in winning percentage (.550), 19th in nation/second Independent in save percentage (.921) and ninth/second in shutouts with two. 
• JONNY SORENSON has the other short-handed goal for the Nanooks this season. Their two as a team is third most Independently and 20th in the nation. 
• SIMON FALK and BRADY RISK are tied for first in the Independent ranks with two GWG. They are tied for 23rd nationally. 
• The 2-0 loss to Notre Dame snapped a seven-game points streak for Payton Matsui. The sophomore foward posted seven points on one goal and six assists from Nov. 22 to Dec. 31 with a point in each game played. 
• RADOMSKY's assist was the first by a Nanooks' goalie since ANTON MARTINSSON on Feb. 15, 2020 against Bowling Green in Fairbanks. 
• The Nanooks received votes from both the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Poll. They received one vote in the USCHO.com Poll and 10 votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Poll. This is the first time since the 2019-20 season the 'Nooks have received votes. 
• Alaska currently sits in 22nd in the PairWise Rankings. 
• This season they've played two teams that currently sit in the top-five of the PairWise (Denver #3, Penn State #4). As of Jan. 5, 2023, they hold the 27th hardest schedule in Division I hockey. 
• ERIKS ZOHOVS has officially left the Nanooks hockey team, turning pro with Fehervar Hockey Club (Hungary).

Meet the Opponents

• The Pioneers enter this weekend's matchup the #1 team with 29 first-place votes in the USCHO.com Poll and second in the USA Hockey Poll with 14 first-place votes. Minnesota checks in at #1 in the USA Hockey Poll with 15 first-place votes. 
• Denver is 16-4-0, 8-2-0 NCHC on the year and is currently riding a seven-game winning streak, the longest current streak in the NCAA Division I hockey ranks. 
• Magness Arena has been a tough place to play for opponents of the Pioneers as Denver is 10-2-0 on home-ice and 6-2-0 on the road. 
• Denver currently sits in the top-spot of the NCHC standings with 23 points. St. Cloud State is the only other NCHC team with 20 or more points (20) and sit in second behind the reigning national champs. 
• Massimo Rizzo leads the Pioneers with 26 points. He's one of three with 20+ points through 20 games. He has a team-high 18 assists as well. Three of his eight goals have come on the power play. Casey Dornbach follows with 22 points through 20 games and two power-play goals. He is second in scoring with nine goals and 13 assists.
• Carter Mazur leads Denver with 15 goals and six power-play tallies. He's averaging a point a game with 20 points on the season. 
• Mike Benning has seen the most time in the box for the Pioneers with nine penalties and 18 minutes to his name. He's added seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points through 20 games played. 
• Kyle Mayhew puts his body in front of a lot, blocking a team-high 34 shots this season. Sean Behrens joins him with 30. The only other Pioneer with over 20 is Justin Lee who has blocked 28 shots this season. 
• Denver is outscoring their opponents in every period. They have 71 goals to their name this season while allowing 45. They are outscoring their opponent 18-13 in the first, 23-15 in the second and 27-16 in the third. They've tallied three OT winners this season and lost one OT game to St. Cloud State on Nov. 4, 2022. 
• Magness Chrona is the mainstay in net for the Pioneers. Chrona is 12-4-0 in net through 16 starts. He holds a 2.32 GAA with 37 GA and 361 saves (.907%). He's posted one shutout on the season. Matt Davis is the other netminder. He is 4-0-0 in goal with one shutout, a 1.76 GAA, 78 saves (.918%) and seven GA.
• Alaska is well connected to the Denver coaching staff as head coach David Carle was born and raised in Anchorage. Dallas Ferguson and Tavis MacMillan are both Alaska alum and former coaches. MacMillan was the Nanooks boss bench from 2004-07 while Ferguson was from 2008-2017. Alaska bench boss Erik Largen played goalie under both coaches before joining Ferguson's staff as an assistant.
• Denver is currently #3 in the PairWise Rankings and #3 in the RPI Rankings. 
• According to NCAA Statistics, Denver has the 12th-hardest schedule as of Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Their past opposition has a win percentage of .559 and their future opponents have a win percentage of .540 for a cumulative opposition of .550 this season.

Looking Ahead

• On Jan. 6-7, 2023, the Nanooks will travel to Magness Arena and face the current #1/2 Denver Pioneers. The Pioneers and Nanooks met last year to open the new year and the 'Nooks left Magness 0-1-1. A day after falling to Denver, the Nanooks tied the eventual national champions 4-4 OT.
• The Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup will be back in motion on Jan. 27-28, 2023 when the Nanooks head to Anchorage for game one of the home-and-home before returning home on Jan. 28, 2023 for the trophy presentation and game six of the season series. 
• The Nanooks will welcome Arizona State in the first weekend of February. The Sun Devils will make their third-ever trip to Fairbanks for a two-game weekend on Feb. 3-4, 2023 in the Carlson Center. 
• Following ASU, the Nanooks will play four-straight against Long Island - they'll head to LIU on Feb. 10-11 before coming home on Feb. 17-18 for the final two against the Sharks. 
• Alaska will then head to Arizona State to end February before opening March for their final series against Lindenwood in Fairbanks.

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.