Box Score
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Western Michigan got off a season high 45 shots and scored two goals in the third period, but were unable to overcome an early three goal lead by Alaska and fell to the Nanooks 3-2 in front of 2,901 fans at the Carlson Center late Saturday night.
The Broncos took the egg off the score board early in the third period on a delayed-penalty goal by Chris Frank. An initial shot by Max Campbell was deflected by a charging Frank and into the net for his second goal of the season and brought WMU within two, 3-1. Campbell earned his 13th assist on the season and sophomore defenseman Tyler Ludwig added his eight of the season. The assist by Campbell was his fifth point in four games.
Freshman center Ryan Watson brought the Broncos within one on a goal late in the third period. Freshman winger Patrick Nagorsen worked hard to free the puck from the boards and flipped it into the air. Freshman winger Travis Paeth grabbed the puck out of the air and passed it to Watson, who beat Alaska goalie Wylie Rodgers for his fourth goal of the season. Paeth picked up his first career helper and Nagorsen added the second assist of his career.
Alaska's defense stepped up late in the final minutes to keep the Broncos from tying the game. The Broncos out shot the Nanooks 45 to 37, but Rodgers was able to stop 43 of them, while WMU goalie Riley Gill stopped 34 shots on the night.
The Nanooks were first to light the lamp on a shot by freshman Landon Novotney. Novotney fired the puck on net and Gill reached up with his glove and got a piece of the puck but was unable to control it and bounced across the line. Dion Knelsen and Dustin Sather each picked up assists on the goal. The Broncos had 10 shots on goal but were unable to pick up a goal and went into the locker room down 1-0 after one.
Alaska pushed their lead to 2-0 midway through the second period. T.J. Campbell shot the puck on net and Gill made the initial save but Campbell poked it in on the rebound. Sather picked up his second assist on the night and Branden Walls each picked up one as well.
Novotney struck again minutes later to push the Nanook lead to 3-0. Campbell picked up an assist along with Tyler Eckford. Western Michigan got off 19 shots on goal in the second period but Alaska goalie Wylie Rodgers stopped them all, keeping the Broncos scoreless after two.
The Brown & Gold return home to host Lake Superior State on Feb. 8-9. Each game will start at 7:35 p.m. and the Broncos will be celebrating Hockey Cares weekend, a charitable effort to raise money and awareness for local and national organizations involved in cancer research.
