Stonehill Beats Alaska 6-3 in Weekend Series Finale

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team hit a difficult road block this weekend, dropping their series finale to the Stonehill Skyhawks in a 6-3 loss on Saturday, Nov. 7.

For a team currently sitting at 2-8-0, the result highlights the persistent struggle to find defensive consistency even when the offense manages to generate pressure.

The matchup in Boston, Massachusetts, saw the Nanooks open with early promise before the momentum shifted in favor of the hosts. According to alaskananooks.com, the game began with a quick strike from Jackson Anderson just 2:26 into the first period. Anderson drove through the slot to beat Stonehill netminder Linards Lipskis, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead that briefly suggested a comeback.

The lead was short-lived. Anthony Galante leveled the score for the Skyhawks less than seven minutes later, and Cole Melady added a second goal for Stonehill with under three minutes remaining in the opening frame. The Nanooks found themselves trailing 2-1 heading into the first intermission, a deficit that grew as the game progressed.

The second period proved to be a defensive grind until the final seconds. With just 2.5 seconds remaining on the clock, Zachary Aben capitalized on a power play to extend the Stonehill lead to 3-1. While the Nanooks continued to battle in the third period—pulling within one goal on two separate occasions—the Skyhawks consistently answered back to maintain their distance.

Joel Lehtinen, who scored against his former team early in the third, and Lukas Klemm both provided offensive sparks for Alaska. However, as noted by BVM Sports, Stonehill ultimately sealed the victory with two empty-net goals from JJ Grainda in the closing moments of the game.

Despite the final score, the Nanooks held a slight edge in volume, outshooting Stonehill 28-25. Tyler Shea recorded 19 saves for Alaska, facing a steady barrage that intensified in the third period when he turned away nine shots. The team’s efforts in the faceoff circle proved more challenging, as Alaska won only 27 of 65 draws.

Taisetsu Ushio emerged as a notable contributor for the Nanooks, recording two assists on the night. This performance followed his breakout game on Friday, where he logged his first-career goal and point. On the defensive end, Max Rud anchored the team with three blocked shots, though the collective defensive effort was unable to contain the Skyhawks’ sustained pressure during critical stretches of the second and third periods.

The weekend split provides a baseline for the team to evaluate its defensive structure during the upcoming bye week. The stakes for the team’s return are high, as they prepare for the opening of the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup series.

The Nanooks are scheduled to host the University of Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 20 and 21. For a squad looking to climb out of a 2-8-0 start, the rivalry series offers a chance to reset the season’s trajectory in front of a home crowd.

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