For the second time this season, the Nanook hockey team split a two-game series against a No.1-ranked team, the Wolverines of the University of Michigan, in perhaps the most popular match-up of the year. After winning Friday night 4-2, the Nanooks were beat by the Wolverines on Saturday 4-0, their first shutout in three years.

On Friday, the Nanooks took an early lead when Lucas Burnett scored at 10:38 in the first period, on an assist from Tyler Eckford and Nathan Fornataro. The Wolverines' Travis Turnbull answered back at 12:14, evening the score at 1-1.

At 17:17 in the period, Braden Walls added a power-play marker for the Nanooks, assisted by Jordan Hendry and Kelly Czuy, putting UAF up 2-1. Just over two minutes later, with only seconds remaining in the period, UAF's Ryan McLeod scored the game-winning goal, assisted by Darcy Campbell, putting UAF up 3-1.

In the second period the Wolverines capitalized on a power play at 7:26, when Cogliano, assisted by Turnbull and Andrew Ebbett closed the score to 3-2. Campbell gave UAF a 4-2 lead when he scored later in the period, assisted by Kyle Greentree and Curtis Fraser.

UAF's victory was the second in three games over a No. 1-ranked team this season. The Wolverines managed to capitalize on only 1 of 8 power plays they received, while UAF went 1 for 5. Michigan did outshoot the Nanooks with a final tally of 36-23.

In Saturday's game the Nanooks started from behind, as Justin Binab received a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind at 1:56 in the first period, giving Michigan a five-minute power play. Just 30 seconds later, Hendry was also penalized, giving the Wolverines a 3 on 5 power play opportunity.

Michigan's Kevin Porter capitalized on this, scoring at 6:05 on assists from Jack Johnson and TJ Hensick. In the second period, the Wolverines again scored on a power play, this time by Johnson, assisted by Hensick and Matt Hunwick at 10:28.

In the third period, the Wolverines added two more goals. With the Nanooks again two men short, Hensick, assisted by Johnson and Hunwick, brought the score to 3-0. Hunwick scored again on another power play, assisted by Cogliano and Chad Kolarik, putting Michigan up 4-0.

The Wolverines scored all of their goals on power-play opportunities, going 4 for 9, while the Nanooks went scoreless in 7 power-play attempts. UAF was also outshot 34-22.

"Let's keep it simple," UAF Coach Tavis MacMillian said, describing the team's performance. "We were a stupid, selfish hockey team tonight." MacMillian was most upset about the penalties the Nanooks took. "We had periods where we had some opportunities, but then we take stupid penalties."

The Carlson Center's sellout crowd of 4,595 included a number of celebrities in observance of Halloween. Darth Vader, a number of princesses, a colonial minuteman, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and several blind referees were all present.

The Nanooks (3-2-1 overall, 1-1-0 in the CCHA) next games are against the Ferris State Bulldogs (2-1-2 overall, 1-0-2 in the CCHA) in Big Rapids, Michigan, Nov. 4 and 5. The next home games are the Nov. 25 and 26, when the Spartans of Northern Michigan come to town.