ANCHORAGE - The Nanooks hockey team got back in the win column on Friday night at the Avis Alaska Sports Complex in Anchorage. Alaska shutout their in-state rivals, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 5-0, taking a 3-0 advantage in the six-game series for the 2023-24 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.
With the win, the Nanooks improve to 7-5-1 on the season.
Chase Dubois got the scoring started for the 'Nooks in the first period. After Anchorage's Caleb Huffman went to the box for an interference call 9:26 into the first, Dubois struck from the faceoff circle on the man-advantage.
Arvils Bergmanis and
Brady Risk tallied the assists on the opening goal as Dubois put the one-timer past Jared Whale of UAA. That was the only goal of the first as Alaska posted seven shots-on-goal in the opening 20 while Alaska Anchorage had five. The Nanooks went 1-1 on their first power-play opportunity and killed the Seawolves lone opportunity in the first. The Nanooks stayed hot in the second, posting two of their five goals in the middle stanza. Only 4:40 into the period,
Cade Neilson found the back of the net as
Jonny Sorenson earned the apple.
This made it 2-0 Nanooks.
Harrison Israels added another goal to his team-leading 11 16:04 into the second. This goal came on the power play, giving the Nanooks their second power-play goal of the evening. Bergmanis and Risk teamed up for the assists again as Bergmanis fired a pass to Israels who was parked outside of the crease. The redirection beat Whale and made it 3-0 Nanooks. This score stood going into the third.
In the final period, the Nanooks would play add-on and post another pair of goals to grab the 5-0 win. Risk scored his first goal of the night and gave him three points on the night 15:30 into the third. His goal came on the power play and capped off the 'Nooks strong night on special teams, giving them their third power-play goal of the game. The Nanooks ended the night 3-6 on the man-advanage. Only 50 seconds later,
Brayden Nicholetts sealed it for Alaska, scoring and making it 5-0 Nanooks. Alaska Anchorage had four opportunities while up a man and the Nanooks kept them off the board, allowing only three SOG while on the penalty kill.
Pierce Charleson finished the game with 14 saves, earning his first-career shutout. Bergmanis and Risk both ended with three points each, Bergmanis' came on assists while Risk tallied a goal and posted two helpers.
Kyle Gaffney,
Anton Rubtsov and
Jonny Sorenson all picked up the assists alongside Bergmanis' and Risk's.
These two teams meet again tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m.
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