POTSDAM, N.Y. - The Nanooks hockey team is back in action this weekend with a pair of contests in Potsdam, N.Y. against the Clarkson Golden Knights.

Friday, Nov. 1
at Clarkson | 7 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. AKT
Cheel Arena | Potsdam, N.Y.

Saturday, Nov. 2
at Clarkson | 7 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. AKT
Cheel Arena | Potsdam, N.Y.

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks split their series at No. 18/18 Notre Dame two weeks ago, losing the first game 4-1 before securing their first victory of the season in a 1-0 shutout. Notre Dame opened up the first game by notching the first goal in the opening period. 12:48 into the opener Cole Knuble made it 1-0 Fighting Irish. In the first, Alaska was outshot 14-8 but they killed off the one UND power play. 5:41 into the second period, the Fighting Irish added a second goal; the game-winner was scored by Henry Nelson and made it 2-0 going into the final period of play. Alaska would cut the lead in half on a Broten Sabo goal from the slot 5:01 into the third. After three shots by the Nanooks, Sabo found himself with the puck in the slot; he buried his shot, making it a 2-1 deficit. Unfortunately, 1:51 later, Justin Janicke extended the UND lead back to two before Grant Silianoff capped the game off with Notre Dame's fourth goal.

Both teams started the second game tied at 0 after one. The Nanooks outshot the Fighting Irish 11-7 in the first but went 0-2 on the power play, including a five-minute power play after a Ryan Helliwell game misconduct. In the second, Broten Sabo tallied the lone goal, picking up his first-career game-winner. 11:50 into the second, Noah Barlage found Sabo in the left faceoff circle; off of the one-timer, Sabo beat UND netminder Nicholas Kempf for the 1-0 lead. This was Sabo's second goal of the weekend and season. Alongside scoring the lone goal in the second, the Nanooks managed to kill three Notre Dame power-play opportunities. With 5:55 remaining in the second, Nicholas Grabko made the save of the game, diving across the crease to make a second save after an initial save moments before. The diving stop kept Notre Dame off the board and helped secure the victory. In the third, the Nanooks put three shots-on-goal and withstood 10 from the Fighting Irish. Grabko shut the door for his first shutout of the season and first victory with the Nanooks.

#NookNotes

• The Nanooks and Golden Knights square off for the first time since October 2021, when they played four games in two weeks. The Nanooks split the series at home on October 8-9, dropping the first contest 2-1 before flipping the script and taking the 2-1 victory the following evening. Brady Risk and Filip Fornaa Svennson were the goalscorers for Alaska, with Risk scoring a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the second period and Fornaa Svennson adding a power play goal at the 11:44 mark in the third. Gustavs Davis Grigals got the win in goal for Alaska.
• The two sides continued with another series two weeks later, with Clarkson taking both games in Potsdam.
• Graduate transfer Matt Hubbarde leads the Nanooks with three points this season. The forward has scored one goal and collected a pair of helpers in four games played.
• Sophomore defenseman Broten Sabo is Alaska's top goalscorer after his two-goal series against Notre Dame.
• Nicholas Grabko has started five of Alaska's six contests this season, recording a .922 save percentage and a 2.37 goals against average in his first season with the Nanooks. The two marks rank 29th and 35th in the nation, respectively.
• Chase Dafoe leads the Nanooks in faceoff wins with 50. The Nanooks rank 40th in the nation in faceoff win percentage with a mark of 47.0%.
• The Blue and Gold are still searching for their first power play goal of the season, having started their 2024-25 campaign going 0-23 on the power play. Conversely, they have gone 12/15 on the penalty kill.

Meet the Opponents - Clarkson Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have opened their season winning five of their first seven games. They are currently on a three-game winning streak entering this weekend, earning road victories over Vermont (3-1) and two against Michigan Tech (4-1, 2-1 OT). 

Clarkson is a perfect 3-0 on the road this season, while going 2-2 at the Cheel Arena. 

This is Clarkson's first season under new head coach JF Houle, who took over as bench boss for the Golden Knights this past June. Houle, a 1997 Clarkson graduate, returns to Potsdam after spending nine seasons in the American Hockey League. For the past three seasons, he has served as head coach of the Laval Rocket, the top development team of the Montreal Canadiens. 

The Golden Knights are led by junior defenseman Trey Taylor, who has collected a team-leading six points on two goals and four assists this season, The reigning ECAC Defenseman of the Year is coming off a season that saw him finish with four goals and 14 helpers for 18 points.

Clarkson has the ninth-highest power play percentage in the nation with 27.3%.

Clarkson received 31 votes in the latest USCHO poll released on October 28. They came in just outside the top 20 in the USA Hockey poll, collecting 33 votes.

Starting off Strong
Alaska netminder Nicholas Grabko picked up NCAA Division I Independent Hockey Co-Goalie of the Month after his solid start to his time as a Nanook.

Grabko has posted a 2.37 goals against average and .922 save percentage in his first five contests with Alaska. His save percentage tops all independent goaltenders this season. 

Grabko's 37-save shutout against No. 18/18 Notre Dame helped the Nanooks pull off the upset and earn their first win this season.

Head coach Erik Largen shared his thoughts on the graduate netminder's start to the season. "Nich earned the honor with his stellar work ethic and team-first attitude. He stole our first win for us in Notre Dame. We are looking forward to seeing him continue his progress with us."

What's to Come
The Nanooks stay in the Empire State for their next two matchups, as they head down to Schenectady for a series against Union. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, November 8, and noon on Saturday, November 9.

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