FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks hockey team (2-6-0) takes on the Princeton Tigers (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) for just the second time in program history this weekend. 

Friday, Oct. 31
at Princeton | 3 p.m.
Princeton, NJ | Hobey Baker Memorial Ice Rink

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Saturday, Nov. 1
at Princeton | 3 p.m.
Princeton, NJ | Hobey Baker Memorial Ice Rink

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks are coming off of being swept on the road at Wisconsin. In game one they battled but fell 5-3. They pulled within one on a few occasions after trailing early but an empty-netter sunk the 'Nooks comeback attempts. In game two, Nathan Rickey scored first for the Nanooks but four unanswered goals by the Badgers led to a 4-1 final. 

40 Years Later
This matchup between Alaska and Princeton is 40 years in the making. The Tigers came to Fairbanks during the 1985-86 season, the Nanooks' second season at the NCAA Division I level. Alaska has never played on the road at the Hobey Baker Memorial Ice Rink. The Nanooks swept Princeton in the Patty Ice Arena on the UAF campus the last time these two met on Dec. 13-14, 1985. With the pair of wins, the Nanooks improved to 9-1 on the season before traveling to Switzerland for five games abroad. Mike Carr got the start in net for the Nanooks in the 6-4 win. He made 31 saves after making 45 the night before (W, 7-6). David Marotta got the start for the Tigers in both games. He made 33 saves in game one and 25 in game two. 

Big Stats Leaders

• Michael Citara leads the Nanooks in points with seven. He is the only Nanooks skater entering this weekend with over five points. Nathan Rickey and Alexander Malinowski follow with four each.
• Citara leads the 'Nooks with four goals, all coming in the first six games of the season. Until Saturday at Wisconsin, Citara was riding a six-game points streak.
• Dean Spak, Nathan Rickey and Citara are tied for the team lead in assists as each have three apples. Spak has tallied three assists in four games this season. He picked up two against Michigan Tech and one against Wisconsin, he now has a two-game points scoring streak.

Quick to the Draw

• Chase Dafoe enters this week with the fourth most faceoff wins in the nation. 
• He currently has 96 faceoff victories to lead all Independent skaters.
• Rylen Roersma has 52 wins in the circle, good for eighth in Independent rankings and 60th in the nation.

Winner, Winner

• Alexander Malinowski and Peyton Platter are tied for 15th in the nation with one game-winning goal each. 
• Malinowski scored his GWG in Tempe in the Nanooks' 2-1 win over Quinnipiac while Platter tallied his last weekend in the 5-1 win over Michigan Tech. 

Icing on the Cake

• Lassi Lehti has been strong in net for the Nanooks this season. Despite a 2-4-0 record, he has seen the most time in net (346:50 min). He made a career-high 40 saves on Oct. 24 at Wisconsin.
• The senior has a .923 save percentage this year, good for first among the Independent goalies and 22nd in the nation entering this weekend at Princeton.
• He also has a 2.77 GAA, also leading the Independent stats and 37th in NCAA DI. 

Hello, Old Friend

• The Nanooks will face their former Head Athletic Trainer, Palmer Trolli this weekend. Trolli spent over three seasons with the Nanooks and now works with the Princeton men's hockey team.

Let's Meet the Tigers

• Princeton is officially opening up their 2025-26 season this week at home against Alaska. 
• The Tigers return 23 players from last year's roster, including nine seniors. They also return 163 of 184 points (89% of points returning).
• Princeton's hockey team is led by Ben Syer who is in year two as the bench boss. He posted 12-15-3 record last year, his first with the Tigers.
• Jake Manfre returns to the ice for Princeton. He led the freshmen class a year ago in scoring with 17 points on eight goals and nine helpers in 30 games in 2024-25. He earned a pair of ECAC Rookie honors, one weekly honor in November, and the November ECAC Rookie of the Month honor. 
• David Jacob's captains the Tigers. This is his second season wearing the 'C' for Princeton. Last year he appeared in just 24 games, wrapping up the year with 14 points on three goals and 11 assists.

What's Coming Up

• Following this weekend's series with the Tigers in Priceton, the Nanooks travel to Quinnipiac on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for a single-game with the Bobcats.
• The Nanooks look to win the season series after defeating the Bobcats on neutral ice on Oct. 10 at the Icebreaker Tournament in Tempe, Az. (Mullett Arena).
• Following QU, the Nanooks return home for a one-game exhibition matchup with Simon Fraser on Saturday, Nov. 8. Alaska has just two home games left this calendar year. They face SFU next weekend and Grand Canyon on Dec. 6 before eight home games in the second half of the schedule. 

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