FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Fairbanks men’s hockey team overcame a third period deficit to edge Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-2, in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Saturday at Carlson Center. With the win, the Nanooks improve to 2-2, while the Engineers fall to 1-3.
Alaska broke a 2-2 tie at 10:42 of the third period, after two shots were stopped by RPI senior goaltender Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers). Sophomore Peter Krieger (Oakdale, MN/Waterloo Black Hawks) was able to find a loose puck just outside the crease and chip it in for the eventual game-winning goal.
Sophomore Taylor Munson (Fairbanks, AK/Fairbanks Ice Dogs) added an empty net goal from his own zone.
RPI opened the scoring at 3:25 of the first period, when junior Riley Bourbonnais (Rochester, NY/Lincoln Stars) netted his third goal of the year, with assists to senior Milos Bubela (Banksa Bystrica, Slovakia/Dubuque Fighting Saints) and freshman Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs).
Junior Jake Wood (Georgetown, ON/Lincoln Stars) gave the visitors a 2-0 lead on a shorthanded breakaway at 9:00 of the opening stanza. The unassisted tally was his first of the season.
Fairbanks drew to within 2-1 at 5:30 of the second period. Munson had his backhand attempt kept out by Kasdorf, but stuck with the rebound and flipped over the fallen goalie for his third of the year.
The hosts tied the game at 2-2, exactly six minutes into the third. Following an Alaska power play, the Nanooks buried a rebound out of a scramble in front of the RPI goal. Sophomore Colton Sparrow (Vernon, BC/Vernon Vipers) spun home a shot after junior Brandon Morley (Burnaby, BC/Coquitlam) was turned away by Kasdorf.
POINT STREAK:
RPI freshman Evan Tironese has at least one point in each of his first three games.
MORE SAVES:
Rensselaer goalie Jason Kasdorf recorded 30+ saves for the third time in four games this season. His 47 stops against the Nanooks were a career-high.
ANOTHER SHORTY:
For the second straight game, the Engineers recorded a shorthanded goal. Milos Bubela
UP NEXT:
RPI is home next Saturday, when it hosts the University of Michigan for a single game at the Houston Field House (7pm).
The Nanooks visit Minnesota State-Mankato for a two-game WCHA series next weekend.
