TEMPE, Ariz. - The Nanooks hockey team picked up their first win of the 2025-26 season with a 2-1 win over the No. 8/9 Quinnipiac Bobcats in the first semifinal game of the 2025 Icebreaker Tournament.
How it Happened
The two sides skated to a 0-0 tie through the opening 16 minutes of the first period. 16:48 into the first, the Nanooks capitalized and needed only eight seconds on the power play to make it a 1-0 advantage. After winning the draw back to the blue line,
Nathan Rickey put a shot on net. The initial shot was saved by QU netminder Dylan Silverstein.
Chase Dafoe kept the puck alive outside the crease before a crashing
Michael Citara found the back of the net on the rebound.
Quinnipiac was quick to tie the game at 1-1, needing just 2:01 to answer with 1:11 left in the first. Neither side scored in the second.
Lassi Lehti made 11 second period saves while Silverstein made nine for the Bobcats.
In the third, the Nanooks scoring opportunities were few and far between. Alaska managed just two shots-on-goal in the final 20 minutes, but it was good enough to grab the upset victory. After Quinnipiac played the puck behind their own net, they attempted to clear the zone, but
Alexander Malinowski kept it in, he possessed it, and fired a shot. The puck glanced off of the leg of a Quinnipiac skater and found its way into the back of the net for the game-winning goal. That goal came only 2:21 into the third and was unassisted.
Lassi Lehti went on to shut the door in the final 17:38 of the game. He made seven saves in the third period and finished the day with 33 total saves.
Inside the Numbers
- Lehti earned his first win of the season behind his 33 save showing. He made 15 saves in the first period, 11 in the second and seven in the third.
- Chase Dafoe and Nathan Rickey picked up their first points of the season on Citara's goal. That goal gave Michael Citara a two-game goal scoring streak.
- Alexander Malinowski's game-winner was his first goal in a Nanooks uniform. Malinowski returned to Fairbanks after three seasons with AIC. He played one year in Fairbanks as an Ice Dog (NAHL).
- The Nanooks blocked 23 shots tonight. That total is the most since Jan. 31, 2025 against UAA when the Nanooks posted 23 in a 3-1 win.
- Carson Reed led the way with four blocks in the win.
- Alaskawon 33 of the 63 faceoffs tonight. Rylen Roersma won 11 to lead Alaska.
What's to Come
The Nanooks will face Arizona State at 6 p.m. AKST on Saturday night for the Icebreaker Tournament Championship.
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