FAIRBANKS – Captain and graduating senior Chase Dafoe has signed his first professional contract after three seasons with the Alaska Nanooks. The forward agreed to a two-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs, with the team announcing the signing on Friday, March 13.
Dafoe signs his AHL contract in the Nanooks Department
"Chase is so deserving of this opportunity," said Nanooks head coach Erik Largen. "He has worked hard every day since coming into our program and has been a phenomenal player and person. We wish him nothing but the best at the next level."
A native of Beverly, Mass., Dafoe joined the Nanooks in 2023-24 after beginning his collegiate career with the Providence Friars in Hockey East. After appearing in eight games with Providence, he went on to play 96 games across three seasons with the Nanooks. In his first season with Alaska, Dafoe skated in 31 games, tallying seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. Three of his goals came on the power play. He finished the season with a career-best +4 rating and added 19 blocked shots.
His production jumped during the 2024-25 campaign. Dafoe appeared in 32 games and recorded 17 points on 11 goals and six assists. He scored five power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, and one game-winner while adding 259 faceoff wins and posting a .537 faceoff winning percentage.
The 2025-26 season marked a career year for Dafoe. Named team captain after serving as an alternate captain the previous season, he appeared in all 33 games and finished second on the team with 13 goals while adding eight assists for a career-high 21 points. Three of his goals came on the power play. Dafoe also recorded five game-winning goals, ranking seventh in the nation, and finished with 342 faceoff wins, placing him 32nd nationally. He posted a .548 faceoff win percentage on the year.
He capped his collegiate career with the game-winning goal in the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Cup championship game. Following a turnover, Braden Birnie found Dafoe in front of the net, where he buried the overtime winner to give the Nanooks a 4-3 victory over Lindenwood.
Dafoe recorded a career-high three points on Nov. 11, 2023 at Stonehill, all coming via assists. He also scored two goals in a game on four occasions, including a career-best two power-play goals on Nov. 1, 2025.
Dafoe finished his Nanooks career with 96 games played, recording 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points. He appeared in 104 total collegiate games.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksHockey
X - @NanooksHockey
FB - Alaska Nanooks Hockey
