FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team welcomes the Arizona State Sun Devils for a big weekend matchup at the Carlson Center.
Friday, Feb. 3
Arizona State |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
KSUA 91.5 FM
7:07 p.m. | Carlson Center | Fairbanks
Saturday, Feb. 4
Arizona State |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Tickets |
KSUA 91.5 FM
7:07 p.m. | Carlson Center | Fairbanks
CUP STAYS HOME
The Nanooks hockey team is fresh off of their 2022-23 sweep of the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Last weekend, they grabbed a pair of 4-3 OT wins; one in Anchorage and one in Fairbanks. On night one, the Nanooks, in Anchorage, came storming back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 2-2 with just a few minutes remaining in the third. UAA took the lead back before Alaska tied it with under a minute remaining. Only moments into overtime, the 'Nooks had the win as
Payton Matsui slotted home the winner. A night later in Fairbanks, the Nanooks had to come from behind, once again, this time they were trailing 3-1 in the third. Two goals while on a five-minute major penalty tied the game at 3-3 before
Harrison Israels put the winner on the board less than a minute into overtime. The win sparked a huge celebration in the Carlson Center and capped off a historic head-to-head season against UAA as the 'Nooks became the first team in the rivalry to go undefeated against the other since UAA was awarded all six wins in 1981-82 after both Nanook victories were changed to losses due to inelgible players.
LUAU NIGHT
It's Luau Night in the Carlson Center on Friday, Feb. 3! If you're dressed in an Aloha shirt, you're in free! Enjoy a free lei from the Nanooks marketing team, kick back and enjoy the game!
RESEARCH NIGHT
On Saturday, Feb. 4 the Nanooks will recognize all of the research departments at UAF. They'll be tabling around the mezzanine area, dropping the puck pregame and running some research based trivia during timeouts and intermissions!
INDEPENDENT RIVALS
The Nanooks and Sun Devils have now played each other each of the last four seasons (not counting 2020-21). A season ago, the Nanooks went undefeated against ASU, grabbing three wins in four matchups and tying in the fourth matchup on Feb. 26, 2022. Alaska went to Tempe, Ariz. and picked up a 5-3 and 4-3 victory before coming home three weeks later and beating the Sun Devils 3-2 OT before the tie. ASU won the first three matchups in head-to-head history, the first of which came on Oct. 10, 2015 in Anchorage (L, 1-2).
NANOOKS LEADERS
Payton Matsui and Jonny Sorenson lead the charge for the 'Nooks as each have 16 points on the season. Sorenson has been at or near the top for most of the season with his team-leading eight goals while Matsui has been on a fire storm of a points streak over the last two months. Since game one at RPI, Matsui has posted 14 points including a seven-game points streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 31, 2022. He's currently riding a three-game point streak that saw him grab three on assists in game two of the UAA series this past weekend.
VOTE FOR RADS
Matt Radomsky is the lone Hobey Baker nominee for the Nanooks hockey program. through 24 starts he has played 1406:09 minutes while saving 498 shots, allowing 50 goals, posting a .909 save percentage and 2.13 GAA for a 13-9-2-2 record. You can vote for Radomsky once a day at HobeyBaker.com/Vote.
MEET THE SUN DEVILS
The Arizona State Sun Devils come to town with a 13-16-0 record. They're riding a two-game winning streak over St. Thomas on Jan. 27-28 in Arizona. Their sweep over the Tommies snapped a four-game losing streak that occurred Jan. 13-Jan. 21 against Minnesota State and RIT. The Devils are led by Robert Mastrosimone with 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists. He has a team-high 113 shots and a shot percentage of .080. Josh Doan is the only other ASU skater with 20+ points. He currently has 22 on seven goals and 15 assists on 82 shots. Defensively, Ethan Szmagaj leads ASU with 50 blocks through 29 games. He has tallied seven points, all on assists.
In net, TJ Semptimphelter will likely see most of the time. He's played in all 29 games, starting all contests and holds a 13-16-0-5 record. In 1639:55 minutes in net, he's allowed 75 goals, stopped 837 shots and holds a .918 save percentage and 2.74 GAA.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Nanooks will head to Long Island for a matchup with LIU next weekend. After their trip to NYC, they'll come back and host LIU on Feb. 17-18. After, they'll hit the road one last time at ASU before ending the regular-season with Lindenwood at home on March 3-4.
