2023–24 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season

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2023–24 Alaska Nanooks
men's ice hockey season
ConferenceIndependent
Home iceCarlson Center
Rankings
USCHONR
USA TodayNR
Record
Overall17–14–3
Home7–5–1
Road9–8–2
Neutral1–1–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachErik Largen
Assistant coachesChris Brown
Lenny Hoffman
Eric Yancey
Captain(s)Harrison Israels
Jonny Sorenson
Alternate captain(s)T.J. Lloyd
Brady Risk
Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey seasons
« 2022–23 2024–25 »

The 2023–24 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season was the 74th season of play for the program and 39th at the Division I level. The Nanooks represented the University of Alaska Fairbanks and were coached by Erik Largen in his 5th season.

Season[edit]

After narrowly missing out on the NCAA tournament in 2023, Alaska entered the year hoping for another chance at postseason play. The primary goal for the club would be to replace the stellar effort of the now-graduated Matt Radomsky in goal. That task fell first to transfer Pierce Charleson but he had a tough time at the start. The Nanooks opened the year by dropping a match to Denver that saw all three goaltenders in goal. Charleson and nominal backup Lassi Lehti allowed 4 and 3 goals respectively while Will Hambley stopped all the shots he faced (albeit in only 4 minutes). Hambley got the start in the second game and allowed the Pioneers to make a fool of him as well. After the poor start, Pierce Charleson settled into the starting role with a winning road trip over the next two weeks against a pair of ranked opponents. Alaska's offense appeared to be a strength early in the year but a sweep at the hands of Northern Michigan around Thanksgiving demonstrated that the team still had some work to do.

Despite some hiccups, Alaska possessed a winning record by Christmas and had a chance to move up into an at-large berth if it performed well in the second half of the season. The Nanooks kicked off their return with an appearance at the Great Lakes Invitational. An overtime loss in the semifinal stopped the team from getting anywhere in the PairWise rankings but that could easily be rectified the following week when they faced #4 North Dakota. Anything positive could have raised the teams tournament hopes a great deal, however, the Nanooks ended up getting swept in the series. The losses did not end the team's postseason hopes immediately, however, they gave Alaska no room for error in the remainder of their schedule.

The Nanooks still had four games against Arizona State, a ranked team, but the rest of their slate was filled with average-to-bad teams that would not provide much help even if the Nanooks were to sweep every match. For Alaska to make the postseason, they would likely have to run the table or at least come close. Unfortunately, their old rival Alaska Anchorage had other ideas. Still smarting over losing the previous 10 games, the Seawolves redoubled their efforts and forced Alaska into a tie and then followed that up with their first win against the Nanooks in over 4 years. The loss started a 4-game slump in Alaska's offense and by the time the Nanooks pulled out of the dive, their postseason hopes had been shattered. With nothing to lose, Lehti was given the starting job at the end of the season and performed well over a 4-week stretch. The wins helped to lift the team's record above .500 for the season and gave a possible glimpse at the Nanooks' future starting goalie.

Departures[edit]

Player Position Nationality Cause
Daniel Allin Goaltender  Canada Left program (retired)
Karl Falk Defenseman  Sweden Transferred to St. Cloud State
Simon Falk Forward  Sweden Transferred to Augustana
Markuss Komuls Defenseman  Latvia Graduation (signed with Trois-Rivières Lions)
Ricards Landmanis Defenseman  Latvia Left program (retired)
Connor Mylymok Forward  United States Transferred to Niagara
Zachary Power Forward  Canada Left program (retired)
Garrett Pyke Defenseman  Canada Graduate transfer to North Dakota
Matt Radomsky Goaltender  Canada Graduation (signed with Calgary Wranglers)
Quinn Rudrud Forward  United States Transferred to Augustana

Recruiting[edit]

Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Cade Ahrenholz Forward  United States 20 Lakeville, MN; transfer from Colorado College
Edvards Bergmanis Forward  Latvia 21 Spilve, LAT
Dawson Bruneski Defenseman  Canada 24 Camrose, AB; graduate transfer from Maine
Pierce Charleson Goaltender  Canada 23 Aurora, ON; transfer from Michigan State
Chase Dafoe Forward  United States 21 Beverly, MA; transfer from Providence
William Hambley Goaltender  Canada 21 Cole Harbour, NS; transfer from Western Michigan
William Lawson-Body Forward  United States 21 Grand Forks, ND
Caleb MacDonald Defenseman  Canada 20 Cambridge, ON
Derek Pys Defenseman  Canada 21 Ayr, ON
Broten Sabo Defenseman  United States 21 Rosemount, MN
Filip Wiberg Forward  Norway 21 Trondheim, NOR

Roster[edit]

As of September 20, 2023.[1]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Nova Scotia Will Hambley Sophomore G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-04-29 Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia Western Michigan (NCHC) —
4 Minnesota Jonny Sorenson (C) Graduate F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-09-21 St. Louis Park, Minnesota Minnesota (Big Ten) —
6 Saskatchewan T. J. Lloyd (A) Graduate D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-11-15 Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Bowling Green (CCHA) —
7 Minnesota Broten Sabo Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2002-08-09 Rosemount, Minnesota St. Cloud (NAHL) —
8 New Jersey Will Hilfiker Sophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-08-07 Middletown, New Jersey Bonnyville (AJHL) —
9 Ontario Caleb MacDonald Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 2002-11-29 Cambridge, Ontario Whitecourt (AJHL) —
10 North Dakota William Lawson-Body Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-04-04 Grand Forks, North Dakota Oklahoma (NAHL) —
11 Alberta Brady Risk (A) Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-03-16 Medicine Hat, Alberta Drumheller (AJHL) —
12 Alberta A. J. Macaulay Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-04-12 Bonnyville, Alberta Bonnyville (AJHL) —
13 Quebec Xavier Jean-Louis Sophomore D 6' 5" (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-06-25 Montreal, Quebec Austin (NAHL) —
14 Russia Anton Rubtsov Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1999-03-06 Saint Petersburg, Russia Shreveport (NAHL) —
15 Saskatchewan Braden Birnie Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-08-19 Weyburn, Saskatchewan Steinbach (MJHL) —
16 British Columbia Chase Dubois Junior (RS) F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1998-03-12 Williams Lake, British Columbia West Kelowna (BCHL) —
17 Ontario Derek Pys Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2002-04-30 Ayr, Ontario Sherwood Park (AJHL) —
18 Latvia Edvards Bergmanis Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-04-04 Spilve, Latvia Peoria (NA3HL) —
20 Minnesota Cade Ahrenholz Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 2002-11-30 Lakeville, Minnesota Colorado College (NCHC) —
24 Ontario Harrison Israels (C) Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1999-09-01 Mississauga, Ontario Oakville (OJHL) —
25 England Cade Neilson Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 2001-05-15 Nottingham, England Aberdeen (NAHL) —
26 Minnesota Payton Matsui Junior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-04-15 Lakeville, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL) —
27 Ontario Matteo Pecchia Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-06-05 Nobleton, Ontario Western Michigan (NCHC) —
28 Alberta Brayden Nicholetts Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-08-27 Spruce Grove, Alberta Spruce Grove (AJHL) —
29 Ontario Pierce Charleson Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 2000-02-27 Aurora, Ontario Michigan State (Big Ten) —
34 Michigan Kyle Gaffney Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-09-05 Plymouth, Michigan Aberdeen (NAHL) —
35 Finland Lassi Lehti Sophomore G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2001-11-29 Espoo, Finland Minot (NAHL) —
36 Norway Filip Wiberg Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 2002-07-15 Trondheim, Norway Maine (NAHL) —
37 British Columbia Chase Dafoe Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-02-25 Peachland, British Columbia Providence (HEA) —
38 Latvia Arvils Bergmanis Junior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1999-12-29 Riga, Latvia Olimp Riga (LHL) —
39 Alberta Dawson Bruneski Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999-06-24 Camrose, Alberta Maine (HEA) —
40 Minnesota Matt Koethe Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-09-28 Minnetonka, Minnesota Fairbanks (NAHL) —

Standings[edit]

2023–24 NCAA Division I Independent ice hockey standings
Overall record
GP W L T GF GA
Alaska 34 17 14 3 110 86
Alaska Anchorage 34 15 17 2 95 105
Arizona State 38 24 8 6 129 94
Lindenwood 28 6 18 4 74 121
Long Island 37 16 20 1 115 103
Stonehill 36 2 34 0 62 213
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Schedule and results[edit]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Exhibition
September 30 7:07 pm Vancouver Island* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Exhibition) FloHockey Charleson W 8–1   
Regular Season
October 7 7:07 pm #4 Denver* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Charleson L 3–7  1,962 0–1–0
October 8 5:07 pm #4 Denver* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Hambley L 2–5  1,421 0–2–0
October 13 3:07 pm at #9 Michigan Tech* MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan FloHockey Charleson W 4–1  3,454 1–2–0
October 14 2:07 pm at #9 Michigan Tech* MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan FloHockey Charleson T 2–2 OT 3,454 1–2–1
October 20 4:30 pm at #20 St. Cloud State* Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota Fox 9+ Charleson L 1–4  3,626 1–3–1
October 21 3:00 pm at #20 St. Cloud State* Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota Fox 9+ Charleson W 5–2  3,314 2–3–1
November 3 7:07 pm Alaska Anchorage* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) FloHockey Charleson W 6–1  3,112 3–3–1
November 4 7:07 pm Alaska Anchorage* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) FloHockey Charleson W 5–4  4,086 4–3–1
November 10 3:00 pm at Stonehill* Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts NEC Front Row Charleson W 3–1  311 5–3–1
November 11 12:00 pm at Stonehill* Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts NEC Front Row Charleson W 8–1  318 6–3–1
November 17 3:07 pm at Northern Michigan* Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan FloHockey Charleson L 1–3  2,303 6–4–1
November 18 2:07 pm at Northern Michigan* Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan FloHockey Charleson L 1–3  2,381 6–5–1
December 1 7:07 pm at Alaska Anchorage* Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup)   Charleson W 5–0  951 7–5–1
December 2 6:07 pm at Alaska Anchorage* Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup)   Charleson W 3–1  966 8–5–1
December 15 7:07 pm Augustana* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Charleson W 5–2  2,343 9–5–1
December 16 7:07 pm Augustana* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Charleson L 2–3 OT 2,892 9–6–1
Great Lakes Invitational
December 28 11:30 am vs. Michigan Tech* Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Semifinal) FloHockey Charleson L 2–3 OT 6,880 9–7–1
December 29 11:30 am vs. Ferris State* Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Consolation Game) FloHockey Charleson W 3–2  — 10–7–1
January 5 4:07 pm at #4 North Dakota* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota Midco Charleson L 4–6  11,190 10–8–1
January 6 3:07 pm at #4 North Dakota* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota Midco Charleson L 2–6  11,656 10–9–1
January 13 7:07 pm Alaska Anchorage* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) FloHockey Charleson T 2–2 OT 3,013 10–9–2
January 26 10:30 am at Long Island* Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York ESPN+ Charleson W 7–3  255 11–9–2
January 27 10:00 am at Long Island* Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York ESPN+ Charleson W 3–1  350 12–9–2
February 3 5:07 pm at Alaska Anchorage* Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup)   Charleson L 2–4  712 12–10–2
February 9 5:00 pm at #18 Arizona State* Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona   Charleson L 0–2  4,769 12–11–2
February 10 3:00 pm at #18 Arizona State* Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona   Charleson L 2–4  4,843 12–12–2
February 16 7:07 pm Long Island* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Charleson L 0–4  2,024 12–13–2
February 17 7:07 pm Long Island* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Lehti W 4–0  1,776 13–13–2
February 23 7:07 pm #18 Arizona State* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Lehti W 3–1  2,209 14–13–2
February 24 7:07 pm #18 Arizona State* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Lehti L 3–4 OT 3,984 14–14–2
March 1 4:07 pm at Augustana* Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota FloHockey Charleson T 2–2 OT 2,667 14–14–3
March 2 3:07 pm at Augustana* Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota FloHockey Lehti W 2–0  3,097 15–14–3
March 6 7:07 pm Stonehill* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Lehti W 9–1  1,978 16–14–3
March 7 7:07 pm Stonehill* Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Charleson W 4–1  2,001 17–14–3
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Alaska Time.
Source:[2]

Scoring statistics[edit]

Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Brady Risk F 33 13 20 33 16
Anton Rubtsov F 30 8 20 28 14
Harrison Israels C 33 20 6 26 14
Payton Matsui F 34 5 15 20 6
Arvils Bergmanis D 31 2 17 19 39
T. J. Lloyd D 34 3 16 19 33
Cade Neilson C 31 5 14 19 22
Braden Birnie F 33 3 14 17 21
Jonny Sorenson F 33 8 7 15 33
A. J. Macaulay D 34 5 10 15 14
Caleb MacDonald D 31 4 10 14 38
Chase Dafoe F 31 7 7 14 54
Matt Koethe F 31 3 10 13 10
Chase Dubois F 30 6 7 13 19
Kyle Gaffney F 34 2 8 10 16
Dawson Bruneski D 29 2 4 6 70
William Lawson-Body F 10 1 4 5 15
Cade Ahrenholz F 23 5 0 5 10
Brayden Nicholetts F 17 3 1 4 10
Xavier Jean-Louis D 26 2 2 4 20
Broten Sabo D 28 1 2 3 10
Will Hilfiker D 12 1 0 1 15
Filip Wiberg F 3 1 0 1 4
Derek Pys D 4 0 1 1 17
Lassi Lehti G 7 0 0 0 0
Matteo Pecchia LW 1 0 0 0 2
Will Hambley G 4 0 0 0 0
Edvards Bergmanis F 2 0 0 0 0
Pierce Charleson G 29 0 0 0 0
Total 110 194 304 522

[3]

Goaltending statistics[edit]

Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Lassi Lehti 9 338:46 4 1 0 10 134 2 .931 1.77
Pierce Charleson 29 1635:43 13 11 3 67 605 1 .900 2.46
Will Hambley 6 51:35 0 1 0 3 11 0 .786 3.49
Empty Net - 31:18 - - - 6 - - - -
Total 34 2057:22 17 14 3 86 751 3 .897 2.51

Rankings[edit]

Main article: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (Final)
USCHO.com NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR – NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR – NR
USA Today NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR – NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25.
Note: USA Today did not release a poll in week 12.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Alaska Nanooks. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". Alaska Nanooks. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Univ. of Alaska-Fairbanks 2023-2024 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
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