Fairbanks, AK – December 6, 2025

-26 degrees outside.

Yet the Lopes still started hot.

For the second straight season, the Grand Canyon University Men's Division I Ice Hockey team made the long trip to Fairbanks, Alaska before falling, 4-2, to NCAA Division I opponent University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Carlson Center. Despite the exhibition loss, the Lopes delivered a competitive showing in their second-ever matchup with the Nanooks (and 5^th-ever matchup with an NCAA Division I opponent), continuing the theme of last year's narrow 5-4 loss.

GCU opened up the scoring just 4 minutes into the game— thanks to a Michael Schwartz score on a Gabe Tritschler assist, silencing the crowd that packed the house for the final Nanooks' home game of 2025.

"We were able to start at a tempo that we normally play at," said GCU Head Coach Danny Roy. "We scored early— thanks to our forechecking pressure— and we were able to get a strong net-front presence. We brought our pace to them."

Unfortunately that lead only lasted two minutes, as UAF's Cade Ahrenholz saw a loose puck bounce off his skate and into the back of the GCU net. The 'Nooks kept the pressure up through the remainder of the first, using 28 shots on goal in the period to add Jhett Larson and Fyodor Nikolayenya scores both before the midpoint of the period.

"[The first UAF goal] was unfortunate and it deflated our momentum a bit, but we wanted the guys to realize that we could keep up," said Roy. "We can skate with them. It was important for us to keep with it and not get frustrated."

The two teams tightened up their defense in a scoreless second period despite four power-play opportunities (three for the Lopes).

"Coming out of the first intermission, we expected them to make some adjustments," said Roy. "Special teams became a factor, and I was really impressed with our penalty kill in the one man-down situation." 

In the third period, a UAF cross-checking penalty gave the Lopes a golden opportunity to close the gap as Schwartz struck for a second time on the ensuing power play— though they would get no closer. The 'Nooks scored their 4^th and final goal on an empty GCU net with 10 seconds remaining.

"The guys sensed that we'd have a great opportunity, and they took advantage of it," said Roy.
 

You can see the full box score for the game here.

The Lopes now head back to Arizona for their final game of 2025— a matchup with Arizona State on December 13 at AZ Ice Arcadia. Admission is FREE.