The UAF hockey team fell to a 3-0 deficit in each of their games this weekend against the Spartans of Michigan State University, recovering to force a 4-4 tie on Friday, but taking the 3-0 loss on Saturday.

In Friday's game, the Nanooks were trailing 2-0 after just 14:06 of play in the first period. Coach Tavis MacMillian responded by changing goalies, replacing Wylie Rogers with Chad Johnson. Unfortunately, the Spartans scored again on a power play at 15:44, less than two minutes later, giving themselves a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, UAF had its turn to shine by tying the score at 3-3. Adam Naglich got things going with a power-play goal at 5:51, followed by an even strength marker from Kyle Jones at 9:11 and a power-play goal from Jones again at 14:22. The Nanooks' second period was one of the strongest periods the team has played all season, out-shooting MSU 20-7.

In the third period, MSU took control, helped by nearly 11 minutes of power-play time, scoring the go-ahead goal at 18:06 with just two minutes remaining. The Nanooks pulled goalie Johnson with only 37 seconds remaining, and Jones came through with a goal at 19:27 to tie the game.

The five-minute overtime period was scoreless, and neither team generated much in the way of offense.

"I think the guys had some jump, some life," said MacMillan. "All-in-all, I thought the guys deserved a better fate than they got tonight. I thought we battled and I thought we were on the short end of some things and plays that happened out there. But I thought our guys played well and give Michigan State credit for coming out and converting on some opportunities they had early in the game." Jones's hat trick performance made him the team's leading goal-scorer, with seven goals through 15 games.

On Saturday night, MSU again took a lead with a power-play goal in the first period. The two teams both played evenly, with three penalties per side, but MSU was able to capitalize when UAF was not, despite being out-shot by the Nanooks 7-6.

In the second period, instead of a Nanook comeback, MSU added on two more goals, one of which was on a power-play as well. The Nanooks played strongly throughout, out-shooting the Spartans 16-8 in the period. MSU goaltender Dominic Vicari blocked every shot the Nanooks made.

The third period was scoreless, with MSU shutting down the Nanooks completely. UAF only managed one shot on nearly five minutes of power-play time. Johnson was repeatedly pulled from the goal in an effort to stage a last-minute comeback and avoid a shutout, but the Nanooks were unable to accomplish anything even with the extra attacker. "They had two power-play goals and we were 0 for 9 [0 for 10] and we only generated 11 shots on those power plays," said MacMillian. "Dominic Vicari played very well for them tonight." Vicari finished the night with 32 saves and a shutout.

The loss drops UAF's record to 6-7-3 overall, and 4-6-2 in the CCHA, good for a tie for seventh place. The Nanooks next games are the very end of the year, Dec. 30 and 31, for the conclusion of this year's Governor's Cup against the UAA Seawolves. Those games begin at 7 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.