TEMPE, Ariz. - The Nanooks hockey team is on the Arizona State campus at Mullett Arena for the 2025 Icebreaker Tournament. They'll open up the tournament with highly-ranked Quinnipiac before facing either Arizona State or Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 11. 

Friday, Oct. 10
vs. No. 8/9 Quinnipiac | 2 p.m. AKST
Tempe, Arizona | Mullett Arena

Watch Here ($$) | Listen Live | Tickets | Media Notes (PDF)

NANOOKS SET TO MAKE FIRST ICEBREAKER APPEARANCE

• The Alaska hockey team will face the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Friday, Oct. 10 in their first-ever Icebreaker Tournament. Arizona State and Notre Dame are featured in the other game, being played after the Alaska-QU game. 
• This is the first of two in-season tournaments the Nanooks will be featured in. They will play St. Lawrence (Nov. 28) and Clarkson (Nov. 29) in the 2025 Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, N.Y.
• This is the third-straight season at an in-season tournament. 2023-24 (Great Lakes Invitational - 3rd place finish), 2024-25 (Kwik-Trip, 3rd place finish)

Frozen Facts

• A CENTURY IN THE MAKING: The Nanooks have officially begun their 100th year as a program. After forming in 1925-26, the Nanooks have played at the club, NCAA Division II and Division I levels. 
• IN THE TRENCHES: 100 YEARS OF ALASKA HOCKEY: UAF University Relations released a 45-minute documentary on the history of Alaska Nanooks hockey and the history of hockey in Alaska. Paired with historical footage, and interviews with players, coaches, and supporters from throughout the years, fans get inside looks at the Nanooks through the years and one of the best rivalries in NCAA hockey, the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. Fans can watch on the Alaska Nanooks main YouTube page.
• NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT: Alaska enters the Icebreaker Tournament looking for their first win of the season. They were swept by Minnesota Duluth last weekend at home, being outscored 2-9 in two games. 
• FRESH FACES: Alaska welcomed three new assistant coaches this offseason. Matt Curley was appointed the associate head coaching position while Ryan Theros and Sean Walsh were named the two Assistant Coaches. Curley joined the Nanooks after years as the head coach for the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. He left UAA for a position with Des Moines in the USHL before joining the 'Nooks. Theros joins the Nanooks from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the NAHL where he spent the past two seasons as the head coach. Finally, Walsh joins the Nanooks after spending the previous years with Bowdoin. Walsh spent time as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
• NEW PHONE, WHO DIS?: Alongside three new assistant coaches, the Nanooks welcomed 16 newcomers to the Interior this season. They brought in three transfers from NCAA teams, and one transfer from USports. Zak Brice (Arizona State), Michael Citara (Merrimack), and Alexander Malinowski (AIC) all transferred in from NCAA schools while Dylan Sydor came from the Univ. of Calgary in USports.
• Alaska welcomed 12 rookies this season: Jackson Anderson, Davis Borozinskis, Beau Courtney, Tommy Cronin, Misha Danylov, Liam Fleet, Jhett Larson, Hugo Marcil, Kyle Miller, Rylen Roersma, Lucas Sorace, and Calvin Vachon.
• CAPITALIZING IN THE MOMENT: Four newcomers, and two rookies have already picked up their first points in a Nanooks uniform. Michael Citara is the lone newcomer with a goal, scoring in game two versus UMD. William Fleet, Rylen Roersma, and Dylan Sydor have also picked up a point with an assist each. 
• THROWBACKS: Alaska will don five new sets of throwback uniforms all season long at home. The Nanooks will wear throwback sweaters celebrating the 1930's, 1950's, 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's. They will continue to wear their traditional road blues throughout the season. 

All-Time Series vs. Quinnipiac

• Alaska lost to Quinnipiac in the only matchup between the two programs.
• The lone game between the Nanooks and Bobcats was a neutral site game in Anchorage on Oct. 12, 2013.

Eating Pucks

• The Nanooks posted double-digit blocks in both games at home against Minnesota Duluth. They blocked 10 shots on night one before 18 on night two.
• 18 was the most blocks in a game by the Nanooks since Jan. 31, 2025 of last season when they blocked 23 shots in a 3-1 win over Alaska Anchorage.
• Adam Cardona leads the way for the Nanooks with five blocks. Three other Nanooks are tied for second on the team with four blocked shots; Noah Barlage, Carson Reed, and Nathan Rickey.

Captain's Orders

• Alaska named Chase Dafoe, senior forward, the lone captain of the 2025-26 team.
• Dafoe became the 49th captain of the Nanooks hockey program since 1979-80.
• Joining him as an alternate captain is Braden Birnie, fellow senior forward. Birnie tallied the first goal of the season for the Nanooks in game one against UMD. 

Dafoe-ward Momentum

• Chase Dafoe 'C' is the leading scorer to return to the Nanooks this season. A year ago, as a junior, Dafoe posted 17 points on 11 goals and six assists.
• His 11 goals was second on the Nanooks. He had a team-high five power-play tallies, and added one short-handed goal and one game-winner. 
• The center looks to take another step forward for the Nanooks in the newly appointed leadership role.

Why Not the 'Nooks?

• Alaska continues to prove itself as one of the best independent programs in the NCAA Division I hockey landscape. 
• Over the course of the last four seasons, head coach Erik Largen has led the Nanooks to a 65-56-13 record, the best among NCAA DI Independent teams. 

Hall of Fame Class of 2025

• The Nanooks hockey program was well represented in the return of the Nanook Hall of Fame. Three former hockey players were inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 3.
• Don Jamieson, Russ Knapp, and Keith Street were all enshrined following strong careers with the 'Nooks and their continued support as alumni.
• Jamieson played from 1981-85. He was a converted forward who became a cornerstone defenseman, later inspiring the annual Don Jamieson Unsung Hero Award.
• Knapp played from 1966-69 and was an early-era goaltender. He has remained a longtime supporter of Nanooks athletics, and was honored with the William R. Cashen Service Award for his contributions.
• Keith Street played from 1985-88. He was a prolific scorer with 157 career points in just three seasons before signing with the Vancouver Canucks (NHL). He is the namesake of the Nanooks' top scorer award.

Rest of the Field

• Arizona State (host), Notre Dame, and Quinnipiac highlight the rest of the field for this week's Icebreaker Tournament in Tempe, Ariz. 
• Arizona State will host Notre Dame after the Alaska/Quinnipiac game on Friday. The two winners will face off for the title, while the two losing teams will battle for third. 
• Arizona State comes into this week's Icebreaker 0-2-0 after losing to Penn State twice. They dropped game one 3-6 before falling to the Nittany Lions 2-4 on night two. Samuel Alfano, Sean McGurn, Cullen Porter, and Bennett Schimek are all leading ASU with two points each.
• Notre Dame faces Arizona State and enter this week's game at 0-0-0. They defeated the USNTDP 5-2 in an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 3. 
• Quinnipiac enters this week's matchup with the Nanooks at 1-0-0 on the year. They went into Chestnut Hill, Mass. and knocked off No. 6-ranked Boston College by a final score of 4-3. Chris Pelosi scored the game-winner 12:08 into the second period. BC pulled to within one 4:31 into the third on a Drew Fortescue goal, but QU left with the one goal win. 

Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksHockey
X - @NanooksHockey
FB - Alaska Nanooks Hockey