FAIRBANKS - In front of the biggest crowd the Carlson Center has seen in nearly a decade, the Nanooks hockey team cracked the .500 mark on the season and bested the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves for the second-straight night to take a 2-0-0 series lead for the 2023-24 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. 

March 8, 2014 was the last time the Carlson recorded a 4,000+ attended game. Now it is Nov. 4, 2023 as the 'Nooks skated to victory in front of 4,086 fans. The rowdy bunch saw UAA get on the board first with the lone first-period goal. 15:04 into the opening period, Aiden Westin beat Pierce Charleson to give the Seawolves the early advantage. It'd stay through the first intermission until only 2:15 into the second, Cade Neilson capitalized on a breakaway opportunity and made the most. The sophomore tallied his first-career goal while short-handed, giving the 'Nooks their equalizer and sparking the offense for a big second. Five minutes later, Jonny Sorenson found the back of the net, sneaking one through UAA netminder Jared Whale. This made it 2-1 Alaska and the floodgates officially opened. 

Nearly four minutes later, 11:27 into the second, Harrison Israels made it 3-1 Nanooks on the power play. The junior netted his seventh of the night after Brady Risk and Anton Rubtsov found him. The final goal of the second came from Braden Birnie as the second-year forward netted the 'Nooks second short-handed goal of the night. Payton Matsui managed to intercept a puck played by Whale behind the UAA net and found the slashing Birnie. After his initial shot was turned away, his rebound follow-up was sent home, making it 4-1 'Nooks after 40 minutes of play. UAA would switch goalies at the break, going to Joey Lamoreaux for the third. In the third, Israels capitalized again, tallying his second goal of the night, eighth of the season, and second power-play goal of the night. This made it 5-1, but UAA did not turn away. Less than three minutes later, they were within three goals as Maximilion Helgeson scored to make it 5-2. William Gilson followed up with their second of the period 10:27 into the third and Riley Thompson pulled the Seawolves within one 17:37 into the third. Despite the late pushback, the Nanooks managed to withstand any final attacks from UAA and survive with a 5-4 victory. 

12 Nanooks recorded a point tonight in the victory and Israels posted his fourth multi-goal game of the season. Anton Rubtsov joined him with multiple points, ending the night with a pair of assists. 

The Nanooks hit the road next week; they'll face Stonehill College for the first time in program history.

Follow the 'Nooks
Instagram - @NanooksHockey
X - @NanooksHockey
Facebook - Alaska Nanooks Hockey