FAIRBANKS - Head coach Erik Largen and the Alaska Nanooks hockey program have announced their first seven signees for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The group of seven includes six forwards and a lone-defenseman. 

Kicking off the list of additions is the one defenseman, Noah Barlage. 

Noah Barlage | D | 6-0 | 185 lbs | Humboldt, Sask. | Madison Capitols (USHL)
Barlage, a 6-0 defenseman, is set to join the Nanooks next year after four seasons with the Humboldt Broncos in the SJHL before joining the Madison Capitols in the USHL for this 2023-24 season. During his time with Humboldt, he posted 89 points in 167 games played. He scored a total of 15 goals and tallied 74 assists in his four seasons. In 2021-22, he posted a career-year with 42 points in 58 games - he scored eight goals and helped on 34. This season with the Madison Capitols, he has skated in 24 games, scoring a pair of goals and posting three helpers for five points. He is a right-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Noah is someone who I think is going to only get better and better during his four years with our program. He is extremely difficult to play against and I believe will be someone who can help us offensively as he gets into our program. We can't wait to get Noah on campus."

We're now introducing the six forwards in the first group of signees for the upcoming 24-25 season. 

Haden Kruse | F | 6-1 | 172 lbs | Nisswa, Minn. | Janesville Jets (NAHL)
Kruse, a 6-1 forward, will be joining the Nanooks next season after this season in the NAHL with the Janesville Jets. Kruse joined the Jets this season after spending the 2022-23 season in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm and Omaha Lancers. Previously, he'd spent time in both the USHL and NAHL during parts of the 2020-21 and 21-22 seasons. In 2022-23 during his time in the USHL, he played in a total of 45 games, posting eight points. He played in 23 games with Tri-City (1G, 2A, 3P) and 22 with Omaha (1G, 4A, 5P). So far this season with Janesville, Kruse has skated in 27 games and posted big numbers. He's scored 11 goals and helped on 24 others for 35 points. Kruse is a left-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Kruser is someone we identified at the beginning of the year to be able to get into our program. Hayden can skate, check and make hard 5-10 ft plays. What impresses me most is his ability to still play on the right side of it. He has a strong work ethic and character and will be someone we rely upon for four years."

Bryce Monrean | F | 5-11 | 165 lbs | Anchorage, Alaska | Anchorage Wolverines (NAHL)
Monrean, a 5-11 forward, will stay in his home-state next season as the Anchorage native will head up to Fairbanks following his time in the NAHL. This is his fourth season and third full season in the NAHL after appearing with the Kenai Brown Bears for three seasons and joining the Anchorage Wolverines for his fourth year. In three seasons with Kenai, Monrean skated in 119 games, tallying 80 points on 26 goals and 54 helpers. This season with him hometown team, the Anchorage Wolverines, he's skated in 23 games and posted 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists. Monrean is a left-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Bryce is an in your face type of player who can get under an opponent's skin. He has an ability to score around the net and make plays in the hard areas. Bryce is someone who is going to work to play the game the right way and is a wonderful person with a strong work ethic and will fit right into our culture."

Fyodor Nikolayenya | F | 5-11 | 179 lbs | Minsk, Belarus | Anchorage Wolverines (NAHL)
Nikolayenya, a 5-11 forward, will also be heading north from Anchorage after joining the Wolverines in the NAHL in 2022-23. Prior to Anchorage, he skated in three games for the Corpus Christi IceRays in the NAHL in the 2022-23 season. Prior to the NAHL, he played one season in the USHL, skating in 35 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers, scoring two goals and five helpers for seven total points. He recorded one assist/point with the IceRays in 22-23 before skating in 47 games for Anchorage a season ago. In that time, he posted 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points. This year he's appeared in 22 games, scoring 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points so far this season. Nikolayenya is a left-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Fedsy has a great combination of skating and skill. He has a strong offensive mind but what I like most about him is his great defensive stick. He has an ability to play heavy down low with the puck and finds a way to get the puck back on his stick every shift. As he rounds out his game Fedsy has a chance to be a heck of a player in college hockey."

Peyton Platter | F | 6-1 | 181 lbs | Eau Claire, Wis. | Chippewa Steel (NAHL)
Platter, a 6-1 forward, will join Alaska after two full seasons and part of three years in the NAHL with the Chippewa Steel. In 2021-22, he appeared in only three games, posting no points. In 22-23, Platter skated in 59 games for the Steel, scoring 31 points on 17 goals and 14 helpers. Platter is still with the Steel as of this season, the 2023-24 season and has appeared in 29 games this year. So far this year he has 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points, pacing himself for a new career-high. Platter is a left-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Peyton is an incredible athlete. He is someone who I could see playing this game for a long time. He is a fantastic person and has all the qualities and characteristics we look for in a player and person. I think Nanook fans will be impressed to see Peyton skating for the blue and gold next season."

Brendan Ross | F | 6-3 | 187 lbs | Calgary, Alta. | Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL)
Ross, a 6-3 forward, has spent the last three seasons in the AJHL with the Blackfalds Bulldogs. So far through three seasons, he's appeared in 133 games and posted 122 points for 0.92 points per game. His first season, the 2021-22 year, he appeared in 44 games, scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists for 18 points. He settled in quickly and posted a huge year in 2022-23, skating in 55 games, scoring 19 goals and helping on 30 for 49 points. This season, through 34 games, he's already posted career-highs in goals scored and points. He has 31 goals this season and 55 points, adding 24 assists. Ross is a right-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"We are thrilled to be adding Brendan to our team for next season. He is only going to continue to get better and better as a player. Brendan is an elite skater and shooter and is continuing to grow his game each and every day. Most importantly he is a hard worker and a great person."

Dean Spak | F | 5-10 | 181 lbs | Calgary, Alta. | Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)
Spak, a 5-10 forward, rounds out this first set of signees for the Nanooks 2024-25 season. He's spent part of five seasons with the Okotoks Oilers in the AJHL and now captains the Oilers for the second-straight season. In 2019-20 and 20-21, he appeared in a total of seven games, posting four points on one goal and three assists, all coming in 20-21. He took a big step forward in 2021-22, skating in 60 games and posting 25 points on 11 goals and 14 assists. Last season, Spak skated in just 31 games while repping the 'C' for the first time in his career, scoring seven goals and adding a dozen assists for 19 points. This year, still assuming the captain role, he has skated in 22 games, scoring nine goals and adding a pair of assists for 11 points this season. Spak is a left-handed shot. 

Largen's Thoughts
"Dean is a great skater and plays incredibly responsible. He can play up and down your line up and has an incredible work ethic. He is a true leader and embodies what our program is all about."

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