2021–22 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season
College ice hockey team season
The 2021–22 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season was the 72nd season of play for the program and the 37th at the Division I level. The Nanooks represented the University of Alaska Fairbanks and were coached by Erik Largen in his 3rd season.
Season
After the decision to cancel their previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Alaska returned to the ice for the first time in 40 years without their long-time rival, Alaska Anchorage . The loss of their most consistent opponent could not have come at a worse time as the Nanooks also found themselves without a conference for the first time since the mid-1990s. The only advantage that Alaska had was that the NCAA still did not count games against schools from Alaska towards a team's limit of games per year. This allowed the Nanooks to insert themselves into the schedule of their opponents on short notice.
Alaska was rather ambitious with its early-season slate, playing their first 12 games against teams that were ranked for most or all of the season. As a result the Nanooks, who were still trying to build team chemistry, began the year with a terrible 1–12 record. It wasn't until December that the players started to work together consistently, but the early season struggles forged the Nanooks into a unified group.
After winning three consecutive games against Rensselaer , Alaska tied Denver and then defeated Minnesota , both of whom finished the season as top-5 teams. The Nanooks even managed to sweep Arizona State , who had NCAA tournament aspirations, in the midst of a 5-game winning streak. After December 10, Alaska finished their season 12–6–2 and demonstrated a tremendous improvement throughout the year.
Departures
Recruiting
Roster
As of September 23, 2021.[ 1]
No. S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
1
Daniel Allin Sophomore
G 6' 2" (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-02-11
Edmonton, Alberta Drumheller (AJHL —
2
Karl Falk Freshman
D 6' 3" (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
2000-01-20
Västerås, Sweden Minnesota Magicians (NAHL —
4
Kristaps Jākobsons Freshman (RS )
D 6' 0" (1.83 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
1996-12-25
Tukums, Latvia Zemgale (LHL )—
5
Markuss Komuls Junior
D 5' 10" (1.78 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
1998-01-04
Talsi, Latvia Kenai River (NAHL —
6
Didrik Henbrandt Junior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
169 lb (77 kg)
1998-04-10
Linköping, Sweden Minot (NAHL —
7
Garrett Pyke Junior
D 6' 1" (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1999-08-01
Toronto, Ontario Oakville (OJHL —
8
Jordan Muzzillo Senior
D 6' 0" (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1997-03-24
Capron, Illinois Springfield (NAHL —
9
Matt McKim Freshman
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2000-03-17
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Valley (MHL —
10
Ēriks Žohovs Junior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
196 lb (89 kg)
1997-11-26
Riga, Latvia Zemgale (LHL )—
11
Brady Risk Sophomore
F 5' 9" (1.75 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1999-03-16
Medicine Hat, Alberta Drumheller (AJHL —
12
Caleb Hite Senior
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1997-02-11
Grand Blanc, Michigan Fairbanks (NAHL —
13
Filip Fornåå Svensson Junior
F 6' 4" (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1999-01-05
Linköping, Sweden Linköpings J20 (J20 SuperElit —
14
Anton Rubtsov Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
1999-03-06
Saint Petersburg, Russia Shreveport (NAHL —
15
Antonio DiPaolo Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1999-01-14
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Aberdeen (NAHL —
16
Chase Dubois Freshman (RS )
F 5' 9" (1.75 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
1998-03-12
Williams Lake, British Columbia West Kelowna (BCHL —
17
Colin Doyle Senior
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1998-05-12
Campbellford, Ontario Wellington (OJHL —
18
Riley Murphy Sophomore
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
1999-10-29
Rockford, Michigan Aberdeen (NAHL —
20
Simon Falk Freshman
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
2000-01-20
Västerås, Sweden Minnesota Magicians (NAHL —
23
Roberts Kaļķis Junior
D 6' 1" (1.85 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1998-12-22
Riga, Latvia Rīga (MHL )—
24
Harrison Israels Sophomore
F 6' 1" (1.85 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1999-09-01
Mississauga, Ontario Oakville (OJHL —
25
Antti Virtanen Senior
F 6' 0" (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1998-03-14
Kittilä, Finland Sioux Falls (USHL —
26
Payton Matsui Freshman
F 5' 7" (1.7 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
2000-04-15
Lakeville, Minnesota Aberdeen (NAHL —
27
Robert Blueger Junior
F 6' 3" (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1998-08-03
Riga, Latvia Lake Superior State (WCHA —
28
Brayden Nicholetts Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1999-08-27
Spruce Grove, Alberta Spruce Grove (AJHL —
29
Nátán Vertes Freshman
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
173 lb (78 kg)
2000-05-19
Budapest, Hungary Aberdeen (NAHL —
30
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals Senior
G 6' 2" (1.88 m)
189 lb (86 kg)
1998-07-22
Riga, Latvia Shreveport (NAHL —
32
Connor Mylymok Freshman
F 6' 1" (1.85 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
2000-03-18
Wilcox, Saskatchewan Austin (NAHL —
35
Austin Ryman Sophomore
G 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-11-20
Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL —
37
Jakob Breault Sophomore
F 5' 11" (1.8 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1999-10-04
Acton Vale, Quebec Aberdeen (NAHL —
38
Arvils Bergmanis Freshman
D 5' 11" (1.8 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
1999-12-29
Riga, Latvia Olimp Riga (LHL )—
40
Matt Koethe Sophomore
F 5' 10" (1.78 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1999-09-28
Minnetonka, Minnesota Fairbanks (NAHL —
Standings
Schedule and results
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Regular Season
October 8
7:07 PM
#20 Clarkson *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
L 1–2 1,278
0–1–0
October 9
7:07 PM
#20 Clarkson *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 2–1 1,412
1–1–0
October 15
4:07 PM
at #13 Omaha *
Baxter Arena • Omaha , Nebraska
Grigals
L 2–3 3,709
1–2–0
October 17
1:07 PM
at #13 Omaha *
Baxter Arena • Omaha , Nebraska
Grigals
L 1–5 3,314
1–3–0
October 22
3:00 PM
at Clarkson *
Cheel Arena • Potsdam , New York
Allin
L 1–5 2,396
1–4–0
October 23
3:00 PM
at Clarkson *
Cheel Arena • Potsdam , New York
Grigals
L 2–4 2,421
1–5–0
October 29
3:07 PM
at #16 Cornell *
Lynah Rink • Ithaca , New York
Grigals
L 2–3 OT
3,198
1–6–0
October 30
3:07 PM
at #16 Cornell *
Lynah Rink • Ithaca , New York
Grigals
L 0–1 OT
2,864
1–7–0
November 19
7:07 PM
#9 Omaha *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
L 2–5 2,253
1–8–0
November 20
7:07 PM
#9 Omaha *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
L 2–4 1,832
1–9–0
November 26
4:07 PM
at #2 Minnesota Duluth *
AMSOIL Arena • Duluth , Minnesota
Grigals
L 1–5 5,012
1–10–0
November 27
4:07 PM
at #2 Minnesota Duluth *
AMSOIL Arena • Duluth , Minnesota
Allin
L 0–1 OT
4,786
1–11–0
December 10
7:07 PM
Rensselaer *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
L 1–4 1,134
1–12–0
December 11
7:07 PM
Rensselaer *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 4–0 1,325
2–12–0
December 14
7:07 PM
Rensselaer *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 3–2 1,033
3–12–0
December 15
7:07 PM
Rensselaer *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 4–1 1,205
4–12–0
December 31
5:07 PM
at #8 Denver *
Magness Arena • Denver , Colorado
Allin
L 2–7 4,176
4–13–0
January 1
4:07 PM
at #8 Denver *
Magness Arena • Denver , Colorado Altitude 2
Grigals
T 4–4 OT
5,260
4–13–1
January 7
2:30 PM
at Maine *
Alfond Arena • Orono , Maine
Grigals
W 6–2 2,468
5–13–1
January 8
2:00 PM
at Maine *
Alfond Arena • Orono , Maine
Grigals
L 2–4 2,978
5–14–1
January 14
9:00 PM
at #8 Minnesota *
3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis , Minnesota
Grigals
L 1–4 7,624
5–15–1
January 15
9:00 PM
at #8 Minnesota *
3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis , Minnesota
Grigals
W 3–2 8,083
6–15–1
January 28
3:05 PM
at Vermont *
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington , Vermont
Grigals
L 0–2 2,810
6–16–1
January 29
3:05 PM
at Vermont *
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington , Vermont
Grigals
W 3–0 2,827
7–16–1
February 4
5:07 PM
at Arizona State *
Oceanside Ice Arena • Tempe , Arizona
Grigals
W 5–3 903
8–16–1
February 5
5:07 PM
at Arizona State *
Oceanside Ice Arena • Tempe , Arizona
Grigals
W 4–3 903
9–16–1
February 11
7:07 PM
St. Thomas *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 6–1 1,650
10–16–1
February 12
7:07 PM
St. Thomas *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 7–3 1,738
11–16–1
February 18
11:00 AM
at Long Island *
Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow , New York
Grigals
L 1–4 114
11–17–1
February 19
10:00 AM
at Long Island *
Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow , New York
Allin
W 4–3 32
12–17–1
February 25
7:07 PM
Arizona State *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 3–2 1,525
13–17–1
February 26
7:07 PM
Arizona State *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
T 1–1 OT
2,302
13–17–2
March 4
7:07 PM
Long Island *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
L 3–2 2,134
13–18–2
March 5
7:07 PM
Long Island *
Carlson Center • Fairbanks , Alaska
Grigals
W 5–1 2,297
14–18–2
March 9
3:05 PM
at USNTDP *
USA Hockey Arena • Plymouth, Michigan (Exhibition)
Allin
L 2–5 568
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Alaska Time . [ 2]
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Filip Fornåå Svensson C /RW 34
9
16
25 12
Brady Risk F 31
10
14
24 27
Didrik Henbrant RW 34
11
9
20 37
Garrett Pyke F /D 34
4
16
20 46
Antti Virtanen D 30
3
16
19 28
Anton Rubtsov F 24
9
8
17 16
Chase Dubois F 26
5
7
12 2
Harrison Israels C /LW 29
4
8
12 2
Matt Koethe F 30
2
8
10 20
Roberts Kaļķis D 33
3
6
9 33
Jordan Muzzillo D 34
1
7
8 44
Arvils Bergmanis D 34
1
7
8 26
Markuss Komuls D 31
3
4
7 4
Caleb Hite F 29
1
6
7 6
Connor Mylymok LW 18
3
3
6 32
Simon Falk C /RW 24
3
3
6 6
Ēriks Žohovs C 24
3
3
6 17
Payton Matsui F 26
3
3
6 6
Colin Doyle C 25
3
2
5 33
Jakob Breault C 18
3
1
4 42
Brayden Nicholetts F 15
2
1
3 10
Kristaps Jākobsons D 16
1
1
2 8
Riley Murphy F 16
0
2
2 22
Roberts Bļugers LW /RW 2
0
1
1 0
Matthew McKim LW 6
0
1
1 0
Antonio Di Paolo D 3
0
0
0 4
Nátán Vertes RW 4
0
0
0 15
Daniel Allin G 6
0
0
0 0
Karl Falk D 12
0
0
0 4
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals G 31
0
0
0 2
Total
87
152
239
516
[ 3]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV % GAA
Gustavs Dāvis Grigals 31
1792
13
15
2
72
819
2
.919
2.41
Daniel Allin 6
243
1
3
0
16
104
0
.867
3.95
Empty Net
-
21
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
Total
34
2056
14
18
2
95
923
2
.907
2.77
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 (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 week 24. [ 4]
References
Formerly the Alaska Agricultural College Nanooks and Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks
Playing venues Head coaches Seasons Conference affiliations Rivalries NCAA Tournament appearances
