FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team battled the #4/5 team in the country, the Denver Pioneers, on Saturday, Oct. 7. Despite their best efforts, the Nanooks fell to the Pioneers 7-3 to open their 2023-24 campaign. 

Alaska got off on the right foot, capitalizing 4:47 into the opening period while on the power-play. After a loose puck in front of the DU net was sent back out to the slot, A.J. Macaulay found Jonny Sorenson for a quick one-timer near the faceoff circle, giving the Nanooks a 1-0 lead. Denver would quickly respond, scoring 34 seconds later. Kent Anderson found the back of the net off of Jack Devine and Massimo Rizzo passes. The Pioneers would add another 9:02 into the period to take a 2-1 lead. This time it was Boston Buckberger scoring. Sam Harris and Anderson received the assists for DU's second goal of the night. The 2-1 lead stayed into the second period until Anderson made it 3-1 6:04 into the second. Denver would add another goal only 1:43 later, this time Devine. He made it 4-1 Denver with just over 12 minutes remaining in the second stanza. 

The Nanooks cut the lead in half on a Harrison Israels and Brady Risk tic-tac-toe display off of a turnover. Risk managed to intercept a puck in the attacking zone and after Israels and him went back-and-forth on the passes, it was Israels who lit the lamp from inside the slot, making it 4-2 Denver. The two-goal deficit remained to start the third but only 2:56 in, the Pioneers scored on the power-play. Devine added another to make it 5-2. Nearly 12 minutes later, Denver added another; Aidan Thompson scored making it 6-2. Their final goal of the night also came on the power-play. McKade Webster scored making it 7-2. 

Alaska grabbed one final goal back as Harrison Israels tallied his second of the night to make it 7-3 with 1:46 remaining in the game. 

All three goalies saw time in net for the Nanooks tonight as Pierce Charleson started and played 27:35 in net. He allowed four goals while making 11 saves. Lassi Lehti played for 27:29 and allowed three goals, making 10 saves. William Hambley ended the night in net for the final 4:03 and made three saves on all shots he faced. 

These two teams do battle again tomorrow night at 5:07 p.m. in the Carlson Center.

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