FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team is home for the first time in 2025. They open up the new year with Simon Fraser at the Carlson Center on Jan. 10-11.

Friday, Jan. 10
vs. Simon Fraser | 7:07 p.m.
Carlson Center | Fairbanks

Saturday, Jan. 11
vs. Simon Fraser | 7:07 p.m.
Carlson Center | Fairbanks

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Happy New Year
The Nanooks return home for the first time in 2025. Alaska looks for a strong second half of the season after going 1-3-0 on home ice in the first half of the year. Alaska has five home games remaining this season; a pair with Simon Fraser this weekend and a trio of games against Alaska Anchorage to end the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup series. They'll face UAA on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 before a single-game on Feb. 8.

Goalie of the Month - December
On Jan. 2, NCAA Division I Independent Hockey announced their men's ice hockey monthly award winners. Alaska goaltender Lassi Lehti was named December Co-Goalie of the Month among independent teams.

The Nanooks played in four games during the month of December, splitting against Augustana on Dec. 6-7 at home before going 1-1 at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee, Wis. In both of their wins, Lassi Lehti was in net. The junior goalie from Espoo, Finland posted a 2-0-0 record behind 55 saves, a .965 save percentage, and 1.00 GAA.

On Dec. 7 in Fairbanks, Lehti grabbed 29 saves in Alaska's 2-1 win. On Dec. 29 in Milwaukee, Lehti made 26 saves as the Nanooks picked up a 4-1 win over Ferris State to earn a third-place finish at the 2024 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off.

Head coach Erik Largen shared his thoughts on the junior netminder's December performances. "It's great to see Lassi be rewarded for his hard work and team-first attitude. He has jumped into the net and performed extremely well in his two outings this month. We look forward to seeing his progression in the second half of the year."

Last Time Out
The Nanooks are fresh off of a trip to the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off and Minnesota Duluth. Alaska ended 2024 with a 1-1-0 performance at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off, falling to UConn 1-4 before knocking off Ferris State 4-1 in the third-place game. In game one, Chase Dafoe scored the lone goal for the Nanooks. In game two, the Nanooks scored nearly every way possible. Matt Hubbarde opened up with a power-play goal before an even-strength goal from Matt Koethe made it 2-0. Dafoe tallied another goal, this time short-handed before Matt Rickard found the back of the net on an empty-netter, sealing the 4-1 victory. 

Alaska then traveled to Duluth for a two-game series with the Bulldogs. The two teams skated to a 2-2 tie on Jan. 3 with Brendan Ross and Haden Kruse scoring the goals for the 'Nooks. On night two, Nicholas Grabko posted a 39-save win as the Nanooks grabbed a 2-1 OT win over Minnesota Duluth, their first-ever win over UMD. Hubbarde tallied his second goal of the road trip and Broten Sabo scored the game-winner 2:11 into overtime giving Alaska the 2-1 win. 

Stats Update
Kyle Gaffney leads the way in scoring for the Nanooks. The junior forward has 13 points through 20 games this season. He's tallied five goals and eight helpers. His assists total leads the Nanooks. His five goals is also tied for the team lead with Chase Dafoe and Broten Sabo. Sabo's fifth goal was the game-winner at UMD and was also his third game-winner of the season, another team-high. He follows Gaffney with 12 points while Matt Hubbarde has four points, seven assists and 11 points. Matt Koethe is the final Nanooks skater in double-digits with 10 points on four goals and six assists. 

Nicholas Grabko has appeared in 16 games this season. He has spent 966:41 in net, posting a 5-8-3-1 record with a 2.48 GAA and .912 save percentage. Lassi Lehti has now appeared in four games, playing 237:55 in net. He's posted a .917 save percentage and 2.27 GAA for a 2-1-1-0 record this season. 

Alaska's 36 shots on goal at Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 3 was a season-high for the Nanooks. The following night, the Nanooks made the most saves this season with 39. 

Been a While
On Jan. 3 at Minnesota Duluth, the Nanooks posted zero penalty minutes in their 2-2 tie against the Bulldogs. The last time the Nanooks ended a game with 0 PIM was Oct. 16, 2015 against AIC at home. That game resulted in a 7-2 victory. 

Long Time, No See
The Nanooks and Simon Fraser have not met since an exhibition game on Sept. 24, 2022 in Fairbanks. Alaska grabbed the exhibition victory over the Red Leafs 6-0 behind two goals in the first, one in the second, and three in the third. 

What's to Come
Following the two-game stand at home with the Red Leafs, the Nanooks take to the road for a Jan. 18 single-game at Alaska Anchorage and a two-game series in Amherst, Mass. at UMass on Jan. 24-25. Following the road trip, the Nanooks will return home for the final three home games of the season. Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 will feature the final three games against UAA in the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.

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