FAIRBANKS – Head coach Erik Largen and the Alaska Nanooks hockey program announced the next wave of 2024-25 hockey newcomers. The list includes five defensemen, one forward, and one goaltender.
Starting off the list of introductions are our five defensemen.
Caelum Dick | D | 5-10 | 183 lbs | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Dick, a 5-10 defenseman, is set to join the Nanooks after a two-year stint with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL. In 116 regular season games with the Fighting Saints, Dick tallied six goals and 21 assists for 27 points while notching a playoff goal in 2022-23. Prior to his time in Dubuque, Dick spent two years skating for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the AJHA, posting a career-high 32 points in the 2021-22 season with 10 goals and 22 assists in 58 contests. He went on to notch three assists in five playoff games that season. He is a right-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Caelum was an experienced defensemen in the USHL and we anticipate him playing a big role on our blueline. His transition game and ability to carry the puck will be exciting to watch. His work ethic and grit will serve him well as a Nanook."
Carson Reed | D | 6-0 | 194 lbs | Warroad, Minn. | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Reed, a 6-0 defenseman, joins the Nanooks after spending a season skating for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. In 56 games for the Black Hawks, Reed posted three goals and nine assists for 12 points. Prior to his time with Waterloo, he skated for the Niverville Nighthawks in the MJHL during the 2022-23 season. The blueliner finished with 26 points on five goals and 21 assists in 50 games played for Niverville. In five career playoff games for the Nighthawks, Reed notched one assist. He is a right-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Carson injects energy to our lineup. Carson has a great stick defensively and he's not scared to join the rush offensively. He will fit in well in Fairbanks and in the locker room."
Chris Kobelka | D | 5-11 | 170 lbs | Calgary, Alta. | Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Kobelka, a 5-11 defenseman, comes to the Nanooks after splitting the previous season with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL and the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. After skating for two games for the Silverbacks and tallying an assist, Kobelka joined the Canucks, where he logged eight goals and 15 helpers for a total of 23 points. During the 2022-23 season, he played 57 games at another AJHL team in the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, where he put up career highs with 10 points and 32 assists for 42 points. He also made a stop at the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL, collecting a goal and three assists. He is a left-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Chris will bring a lot of determination to the locker room. Another older player who knows what it takes to keep getting better. He is a 200 foot player who has a lot of grit and perseverance."
Nathan Rickey | D | 6-4 | 170 lbs | New Lenox. Ill. | Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)
Rickey, a 6-4 defenseman, arrives in Fairbanks after a year-long stint with the Oklahoma Warriors of the NAHL during the 2023-24 season. Rickey appeared in 60 games at Oklahoma, finishing the campaign with a career-best 35 points on eight goals and 27 assists. Before joining the Warriors, he skated for the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL in 2022-23, making 59 appearances for the Storm. Rickey posted four goals and 20 assists for Grande Prairie, notching 24 points. He also tallied assists in the playoffs for both the Warriors and Storm in seven games. He is a right-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Nathan has a lot of raw talent. He's a big right-handed defenseman who will be tough to play against and also has some good offensive tools as well. Once he fills out the sky's the limit."
Tyler Waram | D | 6-1 | 192 lbs | Edmonds, Wash. | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Waram, a 6-1 defenseman, is set to join the Nanooks hockey program after four seasons with the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies. He made 171 appearances over his four years in Victoria, compiling six goals and 34 assists for 40 total points. His best season came in 2023-24 when, after being named captain of the Grizzlies, he posted one goal and 18 assists in 53 appearances. He went on to tally five more helpers in eleven playoff games that season. Waram recorded his second-best points total in 2021-22, totaling nine points on two goals and seven assists. In postseason play, Waram notched ten assists in 20 playoff games for the Grizzlies. He is a right-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Tyler's a Washington kid who our staff really likes. He's an experienced junior player and we anticipate him having a seamless transition to college hockey. He is a true leader and will get better and better."
Up next we will introduce our one forward newcomer for the 2024-25 season.
Trent Penner | F | 6-2 | 190 lbs | Winkler, Man. | Winkler Flyers (MJHL)
Penner, a 6-2 forward, has spent the past four seasons with the Winkler Flyers of the MHHL. After skating in one contest for the Flyers in 2019-20, Penner recorded his first points with Winkler the following season, notching two assists for two points in five games. He became a mainstay in the squad the following season, making 46 appearances with six goals and six assists for 12 points. In ten postseason games that year, he notched three goals and one assist for four points. In 2022-23, Penner broke out for the Flyers, appearing in 54 games and recording 48 points on 28 goals and 20 assists. After earning the captain's role in 2023-24, he posted his best season, scoring 29 goals and helping on 49 for 78 points in 56 games. In 15 postseason appearances, Penner logged six goals and eight assists for 14 points. He is a left-handed shot.
Largen's Thoughts
"Trent is a freshman that brings a lot of determination and a positive attitude. He's a gritty, 200 foot player who the crowd will love to watch. He can play both wing and center and is someone who will just keep getting better and better."
Rounding out our introductions will be our one goaltending newcomer this season.
Cole Plowman | G | 6-0 | 179 lbs | Winnipeg, Man. | Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
Plowman, a 6-0 goaltender, will be joining the Nanooks after two seasons with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL. During his first season with the Pistons in 2022-23, Plowman compiled a 17-6-0 record between the pipes, finishing the year with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage while logging three shutouts. The following campaign saw Plowman set career-bests in numerous statistical categories. The netminder finished the year with a 30-6-0 record in goal, recording a 1.81 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, and notched four shutouts. In the 2023-24 playoffs, Plowman posted a 2.28 goals-against average and .915 save percentage, recording a shutout and an 8-5-2 record. Before his time in Steinbach, he spent two seasons with fellow MJHL team, the Selkirk Steelers, finishing with a record of 13-14-3 over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He catches left-handed.
Largen's Thoughts
"Cole's dedication exemplifies our team's spirit. I can't wait to see Cole compete and raise the level of tenacity for the whole team. I believe he will be a great addition to our goaltending group."
Additional newcomers will be announced at a later date.
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