# 2021–22 Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey 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

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Roberts Blugers | Forward | Latvia | Left mid-season (signed with Pensacola Ice Flyers) |
| Chris Jandric | Defenseman | Canada | Transferred to North Dakota |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Arvils Bergmanis | Defenseman | Latvia | 21 | Riga, LAT |
| Karl Falk | Defenseman | Sweden | 21 | Värmdö, SWE |
| Simon Falk | Forward | Sweden | 21 | Värmdö, SWE |
| Payton Matsui | Forward | United States | 21 | Lakeville, MN |
| Matt McKim | Forward | Canada | 21 | St. John's, NL |
| Matt Koethe | Forward | United States | 21 | Minnetonka, MN |
| Connor Mylymok | Forward | United States | 21 | Jackson, MS |
| Nátán Vertes | Forward | Hungary | 21 | Budapest, HUN |

## Roster

As of September 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 NCAA Division I Independent ice hockey standingsvte :
| | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Alaska | 34 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 87 | 95 |
| Arizona State | 35 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 116 | 121 |
| Long Island | 34 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 87 | 120 |
| Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | 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. Source: ||||||||||

## 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 |

## 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 | 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 |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.