FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks hockey program welcomes the LIU Sharks to Fairbanks for the first time in two seasons. The two sides square off in a two-game series this weekend at the Carlson Center. 

Friday, Jan. 30
vs. LIU | 7:07 p.m.
Carlson Center | Fairbanks 

Saturday, Jan. 31
vs. LIU | 7:07 p.m.
Carlson Center | Fairbanks 

Watch Here | Live Stats | Listen Live | Tickets 

Welcome North

• The Sharks return to the Golden Heart City for the first time since Feb. 16-17, 2024 when the two teams split. 
• This is the third-straight week at home for the Nanooks. The last time they had three-straight home series was the end of the 2019-20 season. They hosted BGSU Feb. 14-15 (T, 2-2/T, 3-3), UAA Feb. 28-29 (W, 5-2/W, 6-1), and BGSU in the First Round of the WCHA Playoffs March 6-7 (L, 2-4/L, 2-3).
• Long Island is riding a four-game winning streak as they travel to Fairbanks. They knocked off Stonehill on Jan. 11 before taking down Alaska Anchorage in three-straight games. 

Series vs. Long Island

• Alaska and LIU's all-time series dates back to 2021-22 when the Sharks joined the NCAA Division I ranks. 
• The Nanooks have outscored LIU 43-36 in their 14 matchups. Alaska's biggest margin of victory is four. They've done that three times. 
• There have been three one-goal games, Alaska is 2-1 in one-goal games against LIU. 
• The Nanooks have the edge in Fairbanks, 4-2-0.

UCHC Tickets

• Tickets for the upcoming United Collegiate Hockey Cup on March 5-7 in St. Louis, Mo. (Lindenwood) are available on Lindenwood's athletic website.
• All five Independent teams will battle it out for the first ever UCHC Championship trophy.
• Rankings will be designated through the NPI ranking system at the end of the regular season.

Last Eight Games

• Rylen Roersma has 10 points in his last eight games, recording five goals and five assists with a +3 on the ice. 
• Jhett Larson and Peyton Platter both follow with seven points each in the last eight games. 
• Larson leads with a +8 in that eight-game span, scoring three goals and adding four assists.
• Platter has two goals and five assists.

Hobey Baker Nominations

• The Nanooks nominated a pair of players for the 2026.
• Michael Citara leads the Nanooks with 19 points through 21 games (.904 pts/gp). He also leads with nine goals and is tied with 10 assists. 
• You can vote for Citara by texting 26081 to 844-623-9688.
• Lassi Lehti also earned the nod for the Nanooks. This season, he holds a 5-7-2-1 record with a .922 save percentage and 2.46 GAA.
• Vote for Lehti by texting 26084 to 844-623-9688.

Milano Cortina Bound

• Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis Blues is headed to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games as a part of Team Canada. 
• Parayko (2012-15) played in 104 games for the Nanooks and had 66 points. He was the captain in 2014-15 and earned a pair of AHCA West Second Team All-American honors (2013-14, 2014-15). 
• The 2019 Stanley Cup champion also won the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off representing Canada adding to his silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship (Germany/France). 

Stat Leaders

• Five Nanooks are now in double-digit points this season. Michael Citara officially cracked the 20-point threshold and now has 21 points in 23 games this season. 
• He has a team-high 11 goals scored and is second with 10 assists. Peyton Platter follows with 16 points on five goals and a team-high 11 assists. 
• Rylen Roersma has raced up the list with 15 points now through 21 games. He has eight goals and seven assists. Chase Dafoe and Nathan Rickey sit at 10 points each. 
• Rickey leads defensemen with three goals and seven assists while Dafoe has six goals and four assists. Three of his goals have come on the power play, a team-high. 

Possible Richter Watch

• Despite not making the initial watch list, Lassi Lehti continues to prove that he is one of the most reliable goalies in the nation.
• The Espoo, Finland native has made 457 saves this year (.918) and maintains a 2.60 GAA through 16 games this year. 
• Over the course of his career, Lehti is 17-12-4-3 in net with a 2.28 GAA and .921 save percentage. 

Smooth Skating

• Jhett Larson is riding a five-game scoring streak since game two at Cornell and since Dec. 13 at Union, he has six points in those five games. 
• Jackson Anderson has four points in his current three-game points streak. In that span he has three assists and scored his first-career goal. 
• Tommy Cronin picked up his first-career points this past weekend and has three points in his last two games. He had his first two assists in the win over Lindenwood before scoring his first-career goal in game two against the Lions. 
• Misha Danylov has three points in the last three games. He has a point in each of the three games with one goal and two assists. 
• Rylen Roersma has six points in his last three games, including a four-point showing in game one against Lindenwood (2-2--4).

Ranked Opponents

• Alaska has played one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA this season. 
• As of Jan. 28, the Nanooks have played the seventh-hardest schedule in NCAA Division I. Previous competition this season are a combined 275-212-26 (.561).
• LIU is the next Independent team with the 45th hardest schedule. Lindenwood ranks 47th, Stonehill ranks 57th, and Alaska Anchorage ranks 58th. 

Let's Meet the Sharks

• Long Island comes to Fairbanks riding a four-game winning streak with their last three coming on the road at Alaska Anchorage. 
• Brett Rylance and Sixten Jennersjo both have 22 points to lead LIU. Rylance has nine goals and 13 assists while Jennersjo has seven goals and 15 assists. Noah Serdachny and Dylan Kinch follow with 21 points each. 
• LIU is 11-12-1 with just a 1-2-1 home record but a 10-10-0 record on the road. 
• Daniel Duris has seen the most time in net for the Sharks this season. He has appeared in 22 games with an 11-10-1-2 record. He holds a 3.02 GAA and .909 save percentage. 
• LIU scores most of their goals in the second period (36) with 22 in the first and 24 in the third. 

What's Coming Up

• Following LIU at home, the Nanooks will play UAA three-straight times to wrap up the regular season. 
• Two weekends will be in Anchorage (Feb. 6-7, Feb. 20-21) before their finale in Fairbanks on Feb. 27-28.
• 2025-26 will end Mar. 5-7 at the UCHC Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. 

Players of the Month

• Alaska has taken home three Independent Monthly Honors this season. 
• Lassi Lehti has a pair of Independent Goalie of the Month awards, bringing home the October honor and the Co-Goalie of the Month honor in November. 
• Michael Citara was named the November Independent Player of the Month, his first monthly honor with the Blue and Gold. 

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