ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Nanooks hockey team heads into the first-ever UCHC as the number one seed and awaits their opponent on Friday in the semifinals. With the one seed, they earned a bye and will face either Alaska Anchorage or Stonehill. 

Friday, March 6
vs. Alaska Anchorage or Stonehill | 12 p.m. AKST
Centene Community Ice Center | St. Charles, Missouri

Saturday, March 7
TBD | 12 p.m. or 4 p.m. AKST
Centene Community Ice Center | St. Charles, Missouri

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks closed out their regular season schedule last weekend at home against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Alaska used 2-0 and 5-1 wins to sweep the Seawolves and claim the season series 6-1-1. With their six wins, they also claimed the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup for the 15th-straight season with a 19-5 points advantage. Alaska ended the regular season with four straight wins, all coming over UAA. 

Cecher on the Call
FloHockey TV will carry all games this week. Alaska Nanooks games will also be carried on KSUA 91.5 FM with Bruce Cech bringing you all of the action live from Centene Community Center.

Live From St. Louis
Thursday kicks off the historic first-ever UCHC. Alaska comes in at the number one seed, earning the lone-bye. They will face the winner of the 4v5 matchup between Stonehill (4) and Alaska Anchorage (5). Host-school Lindenwood earned the number two seed and will face the number three seed LIU.



#NookNotes

• The Nanooks have turned it up a notch in the second half of the year. Alaska is 10-5-1 after a 4-10-1 start.
• Alaska scored three power-play goals in their Saturday win over Alaska Anchorage. The success boosted the Nanooks over 20% on the year at 20.6%. That ranks them 29th in the nation and second to LIU in Independent ranks.
• Chase Dafoe has four game-winners this season, good for first among Independent teams, tying him with Louis-Philippe Fontaine of Lindenwood. That also ranks him 11th in the nation. 
• Dafoe also ranks in the top 50 for faceoff wins this season, ranking 36th with 312. He trails just Billy Renfrew of Stonehill, who has 354 to lead Independent skaters.
• Both Lassi Lehti and Calvin Vachon recorded a shutout this year. That ranks them 40th in the nation and second among Independent goalies. 
• Lehti is 15th in the nation with his .920 save percentage, 25th with a 2.32 GAA and 38th with a .565 winning percentage. 
• Michael Citara has 15 goals on the season to lead the Nanooks. His 0.48 goals per game leads the way as well, including Independent skaters, and ranks 38th in the nation. 
• Citara also adds six power-play goals this year, good for 15th in NCAA DI and first among Independent skaters, tying him with Giovanni Morneau (Lindenwood) and Aiden Westin (UAA). 

Team Leaders
The Nanooks have three 20-point scorers this season with Michael Citara leading the way. He has a team-high 27 points and 15 goals scored this year. Rylen Roersma followed Citara with 22 points in his rookie season. He had nine goals and 13 assists. His assists total matched Nathan Rickey's 13 for a team high this season. Chase Dafoe is the third Nanooks skater with 20 points this season, scoring 12 goals and dishing eight assists.

Lassi Lehti has played in 23 games this year for the Nanooks, picking up a record of 12-9-2-1 with his 2.32 GAA and .920 save percentage. Calvin Vachon was the only other goalie to record an W/L/T this year going 2-6-0-1 with a 3.11 GAA and .897 save percentage. He shutout the Seawolves on Friday, Feb. 27 to become the first rookie goalie to win in shutout fashion since 2008. 

All-Independent Honors
Erik Largen was named the Independent Coach of the Year following the 2025-26 regular season coming to a close. Lassi Lehti was named the Independent Goalie of the Year and Michael Citara joined his teammate and coach as an Independent Forward All-Star. 

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