HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Nanooks hockey team hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Michigan for two games against Michigan Tech this weekend.
Friday, Oct. 11
at Michigan Tech | 7:07 p.m. ET / 3:07 p.m. AKT
MacInnes Student Ice Arena | Houghton, MI
Saturday, Oct. 12
at Michigan Tech | 6:07 p.m. ET / 2:07 p.m. AKT
MacInnes Student Ice Arena | Houghton, MI
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Last Time Out
The Nanooks hit the ice for the first time this season last weekend when they hosted Penn State for two games. The first game saw Alaska fall behind 2-0 in the first period with goals from Danny Dzhaniyev and Braedon Ford just four and a half minutes apart, giving Penn State the lead. Just under two minutes later, the Nanooks struck, cutting the deficit in half. The newly minted captain, Braden Birnie, capitalized for the Nanooks' first goal of the season, finding the back of the net after a Brendan Ross feed. Neither team scored again for the remainder of the period and Alaska entered the intermission down 2-1. Midway through the second, JJ Wiebusch scored the only goal of the second period. His tally made it 3-1 Nittany Lions heading into the third.
2:07 into the final stanza, Matt Hubbarde scored his first goal with the Alaska Nanooks. Anton Rubtsov and Peyton Platter picked up the assists on Hubbarde's goal. 53 seconds later, Luke Johnson also scored his first goal with the Blue and Gold. Matt Koethe and Chase Dafoe picked up their first points of the season on the assists. The Dipper erupted into a frenzy after Johnson's game-tying goal, and Alaska and Penn State skated for a scoreless 17 minutes in the third, leading to extra hockey in the overtime period with both teams tied at three.
Despite three looks at goal, the Nanooks could not capitalize; it was Penn State that found the back of the net for the game-winner as Simon Mack netted the game-winning goal and gave PSU the 4-3 win.
The second game started with the Nanooks outshooting the Nittany Lions 10-7, but both sides went into the intermission without a goal. Alaska also went 0-2 on the power play in the first but managed to kill Penn State's lone opportunity.
It took PSU only 44 seconds to find the game-winner in the second period as Matt DiMarsico found the back of the net. Nearly two minutes later, they tallied another on the power play; this time, it was Reese Laubach. He went on to score again seven minutes later to make it 3-0. Before the end of the second, Aiden Fink added a fourth goal. 4:12 into the third, the Nittany Lions added their final goal of the game, taking the second contest 5-0.
#NookNotes
- Alaska went 1-1-1 in three contests against Michigan Tech last season, skating to a 4-1 win and 2-2 tie at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena before falling 3-2 in overtime in the Great Lakes Invitational.
- The Nanooks went 0/13 on the power play last weekend while going 4/5 on the penalty kill vs. the Nittany Lions.
- Nicholas Grabko started in net for the Nanooks during their first game against Penn State, making 21 saves in 62:52 minutes of action.
- Lassi Lehti was the starting netminder for Alaska's second game, playing 53:03 minutes and making 27 saves. Cole Plowman came in for the final 6:57 of the contest.
- Dafoe led the team with 20 faceoff wins, going 20-19 over the weekend. This puts the junior forward at 16th in the nation in faceoffs won.
- The Nanooks posted 36 faceoff wins to 35 losses in the first contest before winning 27 and losing 30 in the second. Their faceoff win percentage of 49.2% from last weekend places them 21st nationally.
- The new faces made an impact for the Nanooks in their first game, with two of the three goals coming from first-year transfers in Johnson and Hubbarde, while freshmen Ross and Platter tallied assists.
Meet the Opponents - Michigan Tech Huskies
Michigan Tech is playing its season-opener this weekend against the Nanooks. The Huskies are coming off a 4-3 win in an exhibition game against Western Michigan. Michigan Tech got on the board just over a minute into the game when sophomore forward Owen Baker scored the opener at the 1:09 mark. Sophomore defenseman Nick Williams scored later in the first, while freshman forward Elias Jansson netted the final two goals on the power play in the third period.
The Huskies are returning their leading point-getter from 2023-24 in CCHA Rookie of the Year Isaac Gordon, who notched 18 goals and tallied 18 helpers for 36 points during his first season in Houghton. His point total last season was the most by a Michigan Tech freshman since 2003. They also bring back their assist leader from last season in Chase Pietila, who collected 19 assists while adding three goals for 22 points. Aside from Gordon, the only double-digit scorer from last season who returns to the Huskies is senior Jack Works, who scored 10 times in 2023-24.
The Huskies are coming off a 19-15-6 season which saw them win the CCHA Tournament, beating Bemidji State 2-1 in the conference championship. The following week, they would fall to Boston College 6-1 in the NCAA Regional Semifinal.
Michigan Tech opens its season receiving three votes in the October 7 USCHO poll.
What's to Come
The Nanooks continue their string of road contests with a trip to South Bend, Ind., for a matchup against Notre Dame. Alaska will play two games against the Fighting Irish at the Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, before heading to the Empire State for contests against Clarkson and Union.
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