SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team travels to South Bend, Ind. this weekend to compete against Notre Dame at the Compton Family Ice Arena. The two teams will square off twice, with both games streaming live on Peacock.

Friday, Oct. 18
at Notre Dame | 7 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. AKT
Compton Family Ice Arena | South Bend, Ind.

Saturday, Oct. 19
at Notre Dame | 6 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. AKT
Compton Family Ice Arena | South Bend, Ind.

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks are coming off a pair of 2-1 losses at Michigan Tech last weekend. The first matchup saw the Nanooks drop their second overtime loss of the season to the Huskies. MTU's Max Koskipirtti kicked off the game with a goal 15 seconds into the first. After the 1-0 advantage for MTU, the Nanooks eventually tied things up 14:39 into the second period. Matt Koethe tallied his first goal of the season after a Kyle Gaffney faceoff win. The alternate captain to alternate captain connection was the equalizer but also acted as the lone goal for the Nanooks. Alaska managed to overcome a strong MTU attack late that saw two goals called off due to a high-sticking and reviewed offside call, but ultimately fell in the overtime period as Elias Jansson netted the winner. Nicholas Grabko had a strong showing in net for the Nanooks, posting 26 saves on the night, including 10 in the third period to help force the extra time.

In Saturday's contest, all of the scoring came in the first period, as 3:30 into the first, Stiven Sardarian scored the opener for Tech, making it 1-0. 13 minutes later, Chase Pietila tallied the game-winner, making it 2-0 Huskies. Alaska managed to get one back on a Chase Dafoe goal 18:29 into the first, but unfortunately, that was it for scoring. Matt Rickard picked up his first point with an assist and Carson Reed added a point with an apple. Alaska saw only one power-play opportunity on the night; they went 0-1. MTU went 1-2; their second goal of the night came on the man-advantage. The Nanooks outshot MTU 30-18.

#NookNotes

• Chase Dafoe and Matt Koethe lead the Nanooks in points, with the two forwards having notched a goal and assist for two points this season.
• Braden Birnie, Luke Johnson and Matt Hubbarde are Alaska's other goal scorers this season, netting one goal apiece.
• Alaska is yet to record a power-play goal this season after their .206 power-play percentage placed them 29th in the nation a season ago.
• The Nanooks have allowed two shorthanded goals to their opponents this season, with Penn State's Braedon Ford and Reese Laubach scoring while down a man in both of Alaska's contests against the Nittany Lions.
• The Nanooks and Fighting Irish square off for the first time since the 2022-23 season when the two teams played each other twice at the turn of the year. Alaska took the first match via a 3-2 decision on December 31, 2022. Chase Dubois netted two goals for the Nooks, while Karl Falk scored the game-winner at the 18:56 mark of the second period. Alaska fell in the next matchup the following day by a final of 2-0.
• Alaska holds a 16-29-3 record vs. Notre Dame since the 1994-95 season.
• Graduate transfer Nicholas Grabko has started three of Alaska's four games between the pipes. His 2.61 goals-against average puts him 40th nationally.
• Dafoe ranks 20th in the nation in faceoff wins, posting 36 for the season. William Lawson-Body ranks behind him in 25th with 34.
• Dafoe and Koethe lead the Nooks with two points this season, both collecting a goal and an assist in four games.
• Carson Reed leads all Nooks in blocks so far, as the freshman defenseman has seven this season.

Meet the Opponents - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish are coming into the weekend having won their first two contests of the season. They began 2024-25 with a trip to Upstate New York, taking down St. Lawrence 4-1 and Clarkson 5-2. They are holding their home opener this weekend against the Nanooks.

Notre Dame ranks third nationally in power play percentage, going 3/7 on the power play for a mark of 42.9%. They are tied for sixth in scoring defense, allowing 1.5 goals per game, while tying for seventh in scoring offense with 4.5 goals per game.

Their netminder duo of Owen Say and Nicholas Kempf have split their two games in goal. Say started their season-opener, allowing one goal and making 32 saves vs. St. Lawrence. Kempf took over the following game against Clarkson, letting in two while stopping 30 Golden Knight shots. Say's save percentage of 97% is the second-best mark in the nation.

Justin Janicke and Cole Knuble are tied for eighth in the nation in points per game, with both forwards logging two per game. Knuble has netted three goals thus far, including a two-goal performance against the Saints. His three-goal, one-assist weekend earned him Big Ten First Star of the Week honors. His three goals tie him for fifth-most in the nation.

The Fighting Irish come in ranked #18 in the USCHO poll released on October 14, jumping two spots from their previous place at #20. They also hold the 18-spot in the USA Hockey poll.

What's to Come
The Nanooks continue their road schedule in two weeks with a trip to Upstate New York to take on Clarkson. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET. / 3 p.m. AKT on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2.

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