MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Nanooks hockey team heads to Minnesota for a matchup with the No. 3/4 Gophers. 

Friday, Nov. 29
at Minnesota | 4 p.m. AKST
3M Arena at Mariucci | Minneapolis, Minn. 

Watch Here | Live Stats | Listen Online | KSUA 91.5 FM

Saturday, Nov. 30
at Minnesota | 2 p.m. AKST
3M Arena at Mariucci | Minneapolis, Minn. 

Watch Here | Live Stats | Listen Online | KSUA 91.5 FM

Last Time Out
The Nanooks are fresh off of a series split at Alaska Anchorage to kick off the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. On night one, the Nanooks picked up a 3-2 victory behind goals from Brendan Ross, Matt Koethe and the game-winner in OT from Broten Sabo. In game two, the Nanooks fell 6-1. 

#NookNotes

• Since Oct. 19 at Notre Dame, the Nanooks are 4-1-2 with wins at nationally ranked Notre Dame (No. 18/18), RV Clarkson, and RV/No. 20 Union. 
• This is the sixth series of the season against a team in the polls or receiving votes. 
• Alaska's last trip to Minnesota came in 2021-22; after dropping game one 4-1, they knocked off the No. 8/8-ranked Gophers 3-2. Filip Fornaa Svennson started the scoring before Brayden Nicholetts made it 2-1. Markuss Komuls scored the game-winner 17:59 into the second.
• Broten Sabo leads the Nanooks with two game-winning goals this season. His last came against Alaska Anchorage in game one of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup, a 3-2 OT win.
• He is tied for the lead among independent skaters and 13th in the nation.
• Chase Dafoe leads the Nanooks with 99 faceoff wins this year; that total is good for 62nd in the country and third in the independent ranks. 
• Nicholas Grabko is T-12th in the country with his one shutout and T-1st among independent goalies. Grabko also ranks 36th in the country with his 2.51 GAA. This is second in independent ranks. Daniel Duris of LIU leads (2.22).
• Alaska has scored 64 points this season with 38 assists; good for 54th and 56th in the country. Inside those numbers are 15 skaters with 2+ points and 20 total who have tallied a point this season. 
• Matt Koethe and Broten Sabo lead the way for the Nanooks with seven points each on three goals and four assists. All seven points for Sabo have come in the last eight games, including a two-point showing at Union with a pair of apples.
• Koethe has five points in the past four games including back-to-back multipoint performances on 11/9 at Union (W, 6-4) and 11/15 at Alaska Anchorage (W, 3-2 OT).
• William Lawson-Body leads the Nanooks with a +6 plus/minus this season. Will Hilfiker follows with a +5 and Haden Kruse and Luke LaMaster both have a +4.
• Kruse has made an immediate impact for the Nanooks. Through three games, the rookie has three points on two goals and one assist.
• Lawson-Body and Peyton Platter lead the Nanooks in blocked shots with 16 this year, good for over one block per game. 
• As a team, the Nanooks are averaging 12.25 blocks per game with 147 on the season. 
• Alaska will return to Fairbanks next week after 61 days away. Awaiting them is the new ice, boards and look of the Carlson Center. The Borough has completed the new lower bleacher upgrades, installed the new ice and boards as the 'Nooks make the jump to the NHL size from the Olympic sheet. 

Meet the Opponents

• Minnesota enters this weekend's matchup with the Nanooks at 12-2-0, 6-0-0 B1G. They are also defending home well, at 4-0-0.
• The Gophers are led by Jimmy Snuggerud, who through 14 games has 20 points on seven goals and 13 helpers. Following him is Matthew Wood with 18 points on four goals and a team-high 14 assists. 
• Brody Lamb leads Minnesota with nine goals. He's fourth on the team with  14 points. Connor Kurth is third with 16.
• Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere have both spent quality time in net for the Gophers. Airey has appeared in eight games, posting an 8-0-0 record with a 2.38 GAA and .902 save percentage while Souliere is 4-2-0 with a shutout. He holds a 1.49 GAA and .940 save percentage. 
• Oliver Moore, Jimmy Clark, and Aaron Huglen lead the charge in the faceoff circle for Minn. as Moore has 113 wins and a .518 FO win percentage. Clark follows with 104 wins and Huglen has 98 with a .521 winning percentage. 
• Minnesota is fresh off of a sweep at Notre Dame on 11/22-23. Minnesota has played three common opponents as Alaska and is 6-0-0 against team's Alaska has faced or will face this season. 
• The Gophers have one of the deadliest power play units in the country; they've scored 14 power-play goals this season, with Brody Lamb leading the way with six. 
• They have scored first in seven of their 14 games this season. 

Looking Ahead

• Alaska will finally be home next week after 12 games away from home. The 'Nooks were last home Oct. 5-6 when they hosted Penn State to open the season. 
• They'll welcome Augustana to the Carlson Center for the second time in program history. The Vikings visited last season as well and split.
• During the holiday break, the Nanooks will face UConn in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee. They'll play either Wisconsin or Ferris State on day two. 

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