The Nanook hockey team shot down the Air Force Falcons in a two game sweep with end scores of 3-0 on Friday and 8-4 on Saturday.

Both games were part of a military appreciation weekend. Hundreds of miniature American flags were handed out for free all Saturday for fans.

The Friday match saw the ‘Nooks performing but not at their best, as fans saw low scores and sluggish game play.

"The challenge today was to outwork Air Force and I think it comes down to that they outworked us," head coach Tavis MacMillan said.

With a 0-0 score at the end of the first period, ‘Nooks woke up to see an aggressive but disorderly Falcons.

Curtis Fraser broke the no-point game in the second period, scoring on the Falcons with the assistance of Nathan Fornataro. Fans also saw an impressive defensive game during the period, with great blocking by Chad Johnson.

Third period showed some more much needed action with two additional goals to end the game 3-0.

Goals came from star shooter Kyle Greentree, who slipped one in off the post, and Fraser, his second of the game.

However Nanooks hockey fans such as Mike Ahiers thought that the performance on Friday was OK but not great.

"We've got to get our offence rolling in the next couple games," said Ahier, referring to the upcoming and much-hyped Governor's Cup games this coming weekend.

Johnson had a great game, pulling off his first ever career shutout.

"It was kind of easy," Johnson said. "I was seeing everything because of great defense."

Saturday's game presented a huge contrast to the sluggish game play fans saw on Friday. With a high score of 8-4, authorities calling penalties left and right and fast aggressive game play, fans definitely got their money's worth.

The game's tone was set early by a goal scored by 17-year-old Dion Knelsen, assisted by Fornataro and Greentree within the first two minutes of playing.

Tensions later ran hot. MacMillan could be heard yelling at players after the Falcons scored a goal tying up the end of the first period 1-1.

In the second period, the mood started aggressive and ended mean. Greentree began off with a goal assisted by Steve Vanoosten and Darcy Campbell. Making his first goal of the season, Adam Naglich brought another puck to the net with assistance again by Greentree and Fornataro.

The Falcons managed a goal but the ‘Nooks answered back with another first goal of the season by Tyler Eckford, assisted yet again by Greentree.

As the game rolled on, Fornataro got an opportunity and smacked one in assisted by Curtis Fraser and Lucas Burnett.

The Falcons slipped in a last goal to bring the game to 5-3 at the end of the second period.

Skirmishes ran rampant and penalties mounted up to a whopping 15 total by time the players walked off the ice.

Calls were mainly roughing and other standard penalties but Braden Walls managed to get an unsportsmanlike conduct for pushing an Air Force player after the whistle was blown.

Third period saw much of the same game play, with an additional four goals and 13 penalties bring a grand total of 27 penalties.

Dion Knelsen started the third period with his second goal assisted by his brother Brandon Knelsen and Naglich. Fraser followed soon after with another goal assisted by Naglich.

To end the three-goal tromp, Naglich popped one in with the help of teammate Tyler Eckford.

Falcons put up a dwindling fight with desperate game play that landed them a last goal and a second goal that was soon after retracted.

The Nanooks gear up for the first two Governor's Cup matches being held in the Carlson Center this Friday and Saturday.Falcons put up a dwindling fight with desperate game play that landed them a last goal and a second goal that was soon after retracted.

Throughout the games, a prevalent passing problem was evident.

"They (Air Force) clog up the neutral zone," assistant coach Wade Klippenstein said post-game.

Walls took a hard hit in the third period, but Klippenstein shrugged off a question about his condition.

"I think he's fine," he said.

The Nanooks gear up for the first two Governor's Cup matches being held in the Carlson Center this Friday and Saturday.