# 2016–17 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season

The 2016–17 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey season was the 68th season of play for the program, the 33rd at the Division I level and the 4th in the WCHA conference. The Nanooks represented the University of Alaska Fairbanks and were coached by Dallas Ferguson, in his 9th season.

## Season

Alaska began the season poorly, losing four straight after opening with a win over Alaska Anchorage. The team rebounded with a win over #9 Minnesota State but could then only win two of their next eleven games. The Nanooks' offense was subpar during the first half of the season, scoring more than 3 goals in only four of their twenty games while averaging just over two and half goals per game. While the two goaltenders, Jenks and Jones, kept the team in most games, inconsistent play had led to Jenks supplanting the senior as the primary netminder in the first half of the year.
After a couple of bad outings around new year's, Jones was back in as the starter and didn't relinquish the job for the rest of the year. While the team's offense didn't get any better, the defense got stronger as they year went along and helped the team improve to 6th in the standings by the end of the season.
Entering the postseason, Alaska was hoping to continue giving Minnesota State fits, having defeated the Mavericks twice during the regular season. Unfortunately, the offense was absent from the series and the Nanooks were only able to record a single goal in two games.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Josh Atkinson | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Atlanta Gladiators) |
| Jasen Fernsler | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Ferris State |
| Alec Hajdukovich | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Alaska Aces) |
| Shawn Hochhausen | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Nolan Huysmans | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with Huntsville Havoc) |
| John Keeney | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Peter Krieger | Forward | United States | Transferred to Minnesota–Duluth |
| J. D. Peterson | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Colton Sparrow | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Regina |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Tyler Cline | Forward | United States | 21 | Blaine, MN |
| Niko Della Maggiore | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Gilroy, CA |
| Aaron Herdt | Forward | United States | 21 | Moorhead, MN |
| Kylar Hope | Forward | Canada | 21 | Lashburn, SK |
| Danny Kiraly | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Glendale, AZ |
| James LaDouce | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Saginaw, MI |
| Colton Leiter | Forward/Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Edmonton, AB |
| Kyle Marino | Forward/Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Niagara Falls, ON |
| Anton Martinsson | Goaltender | Sweden | 20 | Klippan, SWE |
| Tristan Thompson | Defenseman | Canada | 19 | Canmore, AB |
| Troy Van Tetering | Forward | Canada | 19 | Carstairs, AB |

## Standings

2016–17 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | SOW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Bemidji State† | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 64 | 71 | 44 | 41 | 22 | 16 | 3 | 94 | 79 |
| #19 Michigan Tech* | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 54 | 80 | 59 | 45 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 131 | 100 |
| Minnesota State | 28 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 89 | 68 | 39 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 119 | 95 |
| Bowling Green | 28 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 79 | 65 | 41 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 120 | 102 |
| Ferris State | 28 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 78 | 74 | 37 | 13 | 19 | 5 | 95 | 101 |
| Alaska | 28 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 67 | 84 | 36 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 79 | 113 |
| Lake Superior State | 28 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 78 | 87 | 36 | 11 | 18 | 7 | 103 | 119 |
| Northern Michigan | 28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 69 | 75 | 39 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 93 | 108 |
| Alabama–Huntsville | 28 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 68 | 95 | 34 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 74 | 120 |
| Alaska Anchorage | 28 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 52 | 80 | 34 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 59 | 102 |
| Championship: March 18, 2017 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup); * indicates conference tournament champion (Broadmoor Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 6, 2017 ||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | 3:07 PM | vs. Simon Fraser* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | W 2–0 | 1,775 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 8 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska Anchorage* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Jones | W 4–1 | 3,223 | 1–0–0 |
| October 9 | 4:07 PM | vs. #13 Minnesota* | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska | Jenks | L 3–6 | 1,682 | 1–1–0 |
| Brice Alaska Goal Rush ||||||||||
| October 14 | 7:17 PM | vs. Canisius* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush semifinal) | Jenks | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,263 | 1–2–0 |
| October 15 | 7:07 PM | vs. Omaha* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush consolation game) | Jones | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 2,408 | 1–3–0 |
| October 21 | 7:07 PM | vs. #9 Minnesota State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | L 1–7 | 957 | 1–4–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 22 | 7:07 PM | vs. #9 Minnesota State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | W 4–2 | 958 | 2–4–0 (1–1–0) |
| October 28 | 3:37 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Jenks | L 2–3 | 2,446 | 2–5–0 (1–2–0) |
| October 29 | 3:07 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Jenks | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,138 | 3–5–0 (2–2–0) |
| November 4 | 7:07 PM | vs. #18 Bemidji State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | L 2–6 | 2,155 | 3–6–0 (2–3–0) |
| November 5 | 7:07 PM | vs. #18 Bemidji State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | L 1–3 | 2,530 | 3–7–0 (2–4–0) |
| November 11 | 4:07 PM | at Alabama–Huntsville | Von Braun Center • Huntsville, Alabama | Jenks | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 2,530 | 3–7–1 (2–4–1) |
| November 12 | 4:07 PM | at Alabama–Huntsville | Von Braun Center • Huntsville, Alabama | Jenks | W 3–1 | 2,103 | 4–7–1 (3–4–1) |
| November 25 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | L 1–4 | 1,966 | 4–8–1 (3–5–1) |
| November 26 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan Tech | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | L 1–2 | 2,027 | 4–9–1 (3–6–1) |
| December 2 | 4:07 PM | at #15 Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota | Jenks | L 3–7 | 3,675 | 4–10–1 (3–7–1) |
| December 3 | 4:07 PM | at #15 Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota | Jones | T 5–5 $^{SOW}$ | 3,932 | 4–10–2 (3–7–2) |
| December 9 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska Anchorage | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Jones | L 2–3 | 2,060 | 4–11–2 (3–8–2) |
| December 10 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska Anchorage | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Jenks | W 3–1 | 2,416 | 5–11–2 (4–8–2) |
| December 16 | 7:07 PM | vs. Bowling Green | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | W 3–2 | 1,903 | 6–11–2 (5–8–2) |
| December 17 | 7:07 PM | vs. Bowling Green | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jenks | L 3–6 | 1,976 | 6–12–2 (5–9–2) |
| December 31 | 12:05 PM | at #12 Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Jones | L 0–5 | 4,149 | 6–13–2 |
| January 1 | 10:05 AM | at #12 Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Jenks | L 0–4 | 4,023 | 6–14–2 |
| January 13 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Jones | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 1,782 | 6–14–3 (5–9–3) |
| January 14 | 3:07 PM | at Ferris State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | Jones | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,039 | 7–14–3 (6–9–3) |
| January 20 | 3:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | Jones | W 3–2 | 2,713 | 8–14–3 (7–9–3) |
| January 21 | 3:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | Jones | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,921 | 8–15–3 (7–10–3) |
| February 3 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | W 3–0 | 2,187 | 9–15–3 (8–10–3) |
| February 4 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alabama–Huntsville | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | L 1–4 | 2,234 | 9–16–3 (8–11–3) |
| February 10 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Jones | L 0–3 | 1,705 | 9–17–3 (8–12–3) |
| February 11 | 3:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | Jones | L 0–2 | 1,775 | 9–18–3 (8–13–3) |
| February 17 | 7:07 PM | vs. Lake Superior State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | W 4–2 | 1,902 | 10–18–3 (9–13–3) |
| February 18 | 7:07 PM | vs. Lake Superior State | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | Jones | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 2,693 | 10–18–4 (9–13–4) |
| February 24 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska Anchorage | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Jenks | W 4–3 | 2,726 | 11–18–4 (10–13–4) |
| February 25 | 7:07 PM | at Alaska Anchorage | Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska (Governor's Cup) | Jones | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 3,055 | 12–18–4 (11–13–4) |
| WCHA Tournament ||||||||||
| March 3 | 4:07 PM | at Minnesota State* | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota (WCHA Quarterfinals game 1) | Jones | L 0–3 | 2,887 | 12–19–4 |
| March 4 | 4:07 PM | at Minnesota State* | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, Minnesota (WCHA Quarterfinals game 2) | Jones | L 1–4 | 2,984 | 12–19–4 |
| Alaska Lost Series 0–2 ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Alaska Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Chad Staley | C | 36 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 21 |
| Zach Frye | D | 36 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 79 |
| Marcus Basara | RW | 33 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 39 |
| Troy Van Tetering | LW | 36 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 6 |
| Tyler Cline | C/LW | 35 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 12 |
| Tayler Munson | C/RW | 28 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 24 |
| Justin Woods | D | 30 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 35 |
| Brandon Morley | LW | 34 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 18 |
| Colton Leiter | C/D | 35 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 29 |
| John Mullally | LW | 35 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 38 |
| Ross Heidt | RW | 32 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 38 |
| Josh Erickson | LW | 31 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 97 |
| Danny Kiraly | D | 24 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Ryler Leer | LW | 27 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Nikolas Koberstein | D | 31 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 33 |
| Tristan Thompson | D | 31 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
| Nick Hinz | D | 25 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Austin Vieth | C/LW | 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 54 |
| Jack Weiss | D | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
| James LaDouce | D | 25 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 23 |
| Kylar Hope | F | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 21 |
| Aaron Herdt | C/LW | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jordan Burns | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Niko Della Maggiore | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Jesse Jenks | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Davis Jones | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| Total | | | 79 | 128 | 207 | 670 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Davis Jones | 20 | 1190 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 54 | 562 | 1 | .912 | 2.72 |
| Jesse Jenks | 17 | 992 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 55 | 436 | 0 | .888 | 3.33 |
| Empty Net | - | 11 | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2194 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 113 | 998 | 1 | .898 | 3.09 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 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 |
USCHO did not release a poll in Week 24.