FAIRBANKS - The 2023-24 season came to a close for the Nanooks hockey team on Thursday, March 7. A 4-1 win over the Stonehill Skyhawks gave the Nanooks a final record of 17-14-3.
Alaska opened the night saying thank you to their celebrated seniors;
Arvils Bergmanis,
Pierce Charleson,
Chase Dubois,
Harrison Israels,
Matt Koethe,
Brayden Nicholetts,
Brady Risk,
Anton Rubtsov and
Jonny Sorenson.
Similar to a night ago, Stonehill struck first. 10:17 into the first period Jake Cady made it 1-0 Skyhawks. An outlet pass up the center of the ice to Cady from Ryan Davies led to a one-on-one with Alaska netminder,
Pierce Charleson. Cady beat Charleson for the early lead.
The 1-0 lead would last through the first intermission and over half way through the second period.
Harrison Israels tallied his 20th-goal of the season to tie the game; not only did Israels capitalize on an unassisted goal for the Nanooks, but it came while short-handed, giving him his third short-handed goal of the season. Israels became the first Nanooks skater to crack the 20-goal mark since Cody Kunyk scored 22 in 2013-14. The 1-1 tie was taken into the third before the Nanooks posted three goals in the third. 1:36 into the final period,
A.J. Macaulay scored the game-winner for the second-straight night, taking a pass from
Jonny Sorenson and beating Stonehill goalie Dylan Meilun for the 2-1 lead on the power play, the Nanooks' lone power-play goal of the evening. Nine minutes later,
Anton Rubtsov scored after exiting the penalty box. After being whistled for a hold 7:57 into the third, Rubtsov came out of the box after serving his penalty and immediately found the puck on his stick and on a breakaway. He beat the Skyhawks netminder making it 3-1 'Nooks with 9:55 to play in regulation.
Jonny Sorenson scored the nightcap with 3:30 remaining in the game. He took a pass from
T.J. Lloyd and once again, scored while short-handed. This is the second game this season that the Nanooks scored multiple short-handed goals; the first coming on Nov. 4, 2023 in their 5-4 win over UAA.
Pierce Charleson picked up his 13th win of the season on Thursday, stopping 10 of 11 shots in net. Seven Nanooks scored a point in the final win; Sorenson picked up two points adding an assist to his goal while Lloyd,
Cade Neilson and
Chase Dafoe added the additional apples.
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