Rylen Roersma lines up for a face-off at Wisconsin 2025
Jordan Menard

Men's Ice Hockey Nathan Kyle Pearsall, Sports Information Director (HKY, RIF, VB, XC)

Nanooks Fall in Game One of 2026 at No. 16 Providence

Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Nanooks hockey team (4-11-1 NCAA) fell to the Providence Friars (9-6-2, 4-3-1 Hockey East) on Jan. 2. The two meet again tomorrow at 1 p.m. AKST. 

How it Happened
Providence needed just 17 seconds to get on the board. Clint Levens scored first, making it 1-0 with 19:43 to play in the first. Nearly six minutes later, they made it a 2-0 game as John Mustard scored 6:09 into the opening period. Six and a half minutes later, Carson Reed got the Nanooks on the board with his first goal of the season, and second of his career. Alexander Malinowski entered the zone and dropped the puck to Braden Birnie. Birnie fired a shot on net, and following the save and rebound, Reed scored, pulling the 'Nooks within one 12:43 into the first. 

The 2-1 deficit lasted until the 11:53 mark of the second set. Beau Jelsma scored, extending the Providence lead to 3-1. 

The Friars added two more in the third period. Between the two goals, Rylen Roersma scored the second of the night for the Nanooks. His goal pulled Alaska to within 4-2 with 3:02 remaining in regulation, but Providence eventually scored an empty-net goal for the 5-2 final. 

Inside the Numbers What's Next
The two teams meet tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the series finale. The game can be found on ESPN+ or listened to on KSUA 91.5 FM with Bruce Cech

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

Noah Barlage

#4 Noah Barlage

D
6' 0"
Sophomore
SO.
Braden Birnie

#8 Braden Birnie

F
6' 3"
Senior
SR.
Chase Dafoe

#37 Chase Dafoe

F
6' 3"
Senior
SR.
Haden Kruse

#11 Haden Kruse

F
6' 1"
Sophomore
SO.
Lassi Lehti

#35 Lassi Lehti

G
6' 4"
Senior
SR.
Peyton Platter

#24 Peyton Platter

F
6' 2"
Sophomore
SO.
Carson Reed

#2 Carson Reed

D
6' 1"
Sophomore
SO.
Jackson Anderson

#7 Jackson Anderson

D
6' 2"
Freshman
FR.
Rylen Roersma

#18 Rylen Roersma

F
5' 11"
Freshman
FR.
Alexander Malinowski

#25 Alexander Malinowski

F
5' 11"
Senior
SR.

Players Mentioned

Noah Barlage

#4 Noah Barlage

6' 0"
Sophomore
SO.
D
Braden Birnie

#8 Braden Birnie

6' 3"
Senior
SR.
F
Chase Dafoe

#37 Chase Dafoe

6' 3"
Senior
SR.
F
Haden Kruse

#11 Haden Kruse

6' 1"
Sophomore
SO.
F
Lassi Lehti

#35 Lassi Lehti

6' 4"
Senior
SR.
G
Peyton Platter

#24 Peyton Platter

6' 2"
Sophomore
SO.
F
Carson Reed

#2 Carson Reed

6' 1"
Sophomore
SO.
D
Jackson Anderson

#7 Jackson Anderson

6' 2"
Freshman
FR.
D
Rylen Roersma

#18 Rylen Roersma

5' 11"
Freshman
FR.
F
Alexander Malinowski

#25 Alexander Malinowski

5' 11"
Senior
SR.
F