UAF mens hockey team wins Governor’s Cup for 15th consecutive year

Story and photos by Aaron Thomas

UAF goalie Lassie Lehti blocked 27 shots during Friday night’s game against UAA.

The Nanooks secured a 6-2 victory against the UAA Seawolves last Saturday in Anchorage, winning the team the Governor’s Cup title for the 15th consecutive year. With UAF already having the title secured, the teams faced off in two final homecourt games in the Carlson Center this Friday and Saturday. 

“I think everybody's happy and just really happy to bring this home for the whole community here,” said UAF goalie Lassi Lehti.

On Friday night’s game, Alex Malinowski scored the team's first goal in period one with Chase Dafoe scoring the second in period three. Athletes Dean Spak, Tommy Cronin, Braden Birnie, and Jackson Anderson all provided assists, helping the team to victory. 

Dafoe’s goal extended his point streak to seven consecutive games. UAF’s Calvin Vachon blocked every shot by UAA, becoming the first rookie goalie to post a shutout game in 18 years after Scott Greenham shutout Mercyhurst 5-0 in 2008.

The Nanooks won the second game on Saturday with a wider 5-1 margin in a packed Carlson Center with over 3,200 attendees. 

UAF got an early lead on UAA with a goal by Michael Citara in the first period. This lead stood until UAA’s Ryan Johnson equalized the score with a power play goal, assisted by players Dimitry Kebreau and Karter McNarland. 

A little over halfway into the second period, UAF regained the lead with Jhett Larson scoring on UAA, assisted by Chase Dafoe and Caelum Dick. 

Michael Citara and Jhett Larson scored two goals each with Davis Borozinskis scoring an additional goal. Goalie Lassi Lehti blocked 27 shots over the course of the game, helping secure the team a second homecourt victory. 

UAF’s Caelum Dick, 23, moves with the puck as UAA’s Conor Cole, 9, tries to take it away.

The tournament deciding game in Anchorage on Saturday the 28th seemed like it would end in a 2-2 tie until Chase Dafoe and Alex Malinowski scored two goals back-to-back in the third period. The Nanooks won the match 6-2 after Davis Borozinskis and Malinowski scored again. Nearly 4,000 people attended the game in Anchorage.

The Governor’s cup began in 1994 as a way to showcase the talent of Alaskan collegiate athletes and an opportunity to play out the longstanding rivalry between UAF and UAA. 

According to Largen, the early victory in Governor’s cup allowed for newer players such as Calvin Vachon and Zach Brice to get more experience playing goalie, as Lassi Lehti is graduating this year. 

Though the Nanooks had a successful season with several decisive victories, it was a slow start for the team in terms of win-loss percentages. “We had a tough first half of the year,” said Erik Largen, the head coach of the hockey team. According to Largen, the team had a turning point around Christmas where their performance and standing in the conference improved. 

As of February 26, UAF gained the coveted number one seed distinction in the Division One Independent Conference. This title means they are the best performing team in the regular season as they head to their post-season semifinals in St. Louis, MO next week. 

According to Largen, this title gives UAF a “buy-in” to the semifinals, giving the team entry into the tournament without playing in the opening round. To keep the number one seed title, they will have to win “at least one game if not both” games in the semifinals. 

The team hopes that the experience gained over the course of the Governor’s Cup will lead them to victory in St. Louis. “We gotta take what we learned here past a couple weeks and just bring it there and win,” said Hugo Marcil, a freshman on the team who plays as a defenseman.  

“I think we have some momentum right now,” said Lehti. He continued to say the team is “hopeful and confident” moving forward into semifinals. “I think we can make some waves. Obviously it's just one game elimination, so anything can happen,” said Lethi. 

Largen described the departure of several prominent seniors at the end of the season as “bittersweet”. Largen says the team is expecting six to eight incoming freshmen in the coming season to fill the roster. 

The team is well positioned for their upcoming performance in semifinals, coming off of four consecutive victories against UAA. In St. Louis, UAF will again face off against UAA along with Lindenwood University, Long Island University, and Stonehill College.