GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Nanooks hockey team wrapped up their first-ever appearance at the Great Lakes Invitational with a third-place finish. They defeated Ferris State on Friday, Dec. 29 in the third-place game, 3-2, to go 1-1 at the 57th annual Invitational. With the win, the Nanooks cracked double-digit wins, improving to 10-7-1 on the year.
Luigi Benincasa got the scoring started in the afternoon game. 8:55 into the first period, Benincasa found the back of the net making it 1-0 Ferris State. That lead stood for less than three minutes as the Nanooks answered right back on a redirect out in front of the net by
Anton Rubtsov.
A.J. Macaulay fired a shot in towards the slot and Rubtsov, while jumping, found the tip and back of the net to make it 1-1 12:31 into the first. Just over six minutes later, the Nanooks found the back of the net again, this time it was
Braden Birnie. After
Broten Sabo poked the puck loose,
Payton Matsui played it behind the FSU net and found a slashing Birnie who beat Bulldogs netminder, Noah Giesbrecht.
The two sides went scoreless in the second period as neither side capitalized on a power-play opportunity in the middle stanza. Ferris State posted only two shots-on-goal in the second while the Nanooks had 11 SOG in the period.
To open up the third period, Ferris State found the back of the net on the man-advantage, tying the game only 2:06 into the third. Stepan Pokorny beat 'Nooks netminder
Pierce Charleson over the left shoulder to tie it at 2-2. 5:54 later,
Cade Neilson netted the game-winner. After
Chase Dubois found the sophomore in the attacking zone, Neilson put an initial shot on goal that was saved. The rebound found its way on his stick for a second time and he beat the goalie to make it 3-2 Nanooks with 12 minutes to play. The lead would stay and the Nanooks would go on to grab the victory and third-place finish.
Following the GLI championship game, they announced the 2023 All-Tournament Team.
Chase Dubois earned the honor and represented the Nanooks.
Alaska heads to North Dakota next weekend to open up 2024. That game can be watched on NCHC.tv or you can listen to
Bruce Cech on KSUA 91.5 FM.
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