The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks swept the Michigan State University Spartans in a two game hockey series this weekend at the Carlson Center.

The first game was a 6-5 shootout, with the Nanook's game-winning goal coming in overtime. The second game was a 1-0 goalie's duel. With the victories, the Nanooks have pushed past MSU to tie for fifth place with the Falcons of Bowling Green University.

On Friday, the Spartans took an early lead with a pair of goals less than a minute apart in the middle of the first period. In the second period, though, the Nanooks quickly took back the initiative. Curtis Fraser scored just 1:03 into the period, assisted by Nathan Fornataro and Darcy Campbell. Fraser then scored again a few minutes later assisted by Corbin Schmidt on a power play, and a third time at 5:53, this time assisted by Fornataro and Kelly Czuy. Several fans threw their hats onto the ice in honor of Fraser's hat trick (three goals in a single game).

Hat Trick or no, Fraser had put the Nanooks on top by one. Then, with just 32 seconds remaining in the period, Jared Sylvestre scored on an assist from Czuy and Jason Grinevitch, giving the Nanooks some insurance. Then, early in the third period, Fraser scored his fourth goal of the game, and his second power play goal, assisted by Campbell and Schmidt.

Scoring four goals in a game is a very rare feat, and it put the Nanooks up 5 to 2.

Several minutes after Fraser's fourth goal, the Spartans' David Booth scored, followed seconds later by a goal by the Spartans' Bran Lerg. This brought the score to 5 to 4, allowing Colton Fretter to tie the game at 5 with a goal at 10:26.

As the clock ran out in the end of the third period, and regulation time, the Nanooks went to overtime for their third straight home game. This time, however, the Nooks were able to make good on the bonus round, with Ryan McLeod scoring on an assist by Kyle Greentree and Ryan Muspratt at 2:56 in sudden death, winning the game. The Nanooks had out-shot the Spartans 48 to 36.

On Saturday, the nets remained quiet through the first period, with the Spartans' one power-play opportunity going unanswered. In the second period, Sylvestre, assisted by Fraser and Grinevitch snuck a shot past MSU net-minder Dominic Vicari.

"I was licking my lips when I saw the puck bounce. It seemed like it was in the air, and it took forever to come down, and I wanted to get to it before it hit the ice. I was just in the right place at the right time," said Sylvestre, describing the only goal of the game.

Through the rest of the second and third periods the Nanooks clung to their single-goal lead. Goalie Wylie Rogers weathered a storm of shots, keeping the Nanooks on top, and earning his third shutout of the season, tying the UAF record held by Todd Henderson.

"It's an honor," said Rogers.

The sweep gave the Nanooks their longest conference-winning streak of the season with three victories, and moves them into a tie for fifth place in the CCHA standings. The Nanooks' play next weekend, the 18 and 19 of February, when the Redhawks of Miami Ohio University come to Fairbanks for a two game series at the Carlson Center.

Photo by Stephanie Taylor/ Sun Star
Sophomore center Lucas Burnett moves the puck Saturday night at the Carlson Center. The Nooks defeated the Spartans from Michigan State University 1-0. The victory game gave the Nanooks a two-game-sweep in CCHA play.

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