Alaska Hockey Scores With 1.2 Seconds Left, Wins Shootout

When your season is on the line and 7.7 seconds separate you from elimination, most teams pack it in. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks are not most teams.

Down 4-3 to Stonehill with time running out in St. Charles, Missouri, the Nanooks pulled their goalie for one last chance. They won the faceoff in the offensive zone and crashed the net. Braden Birnie poked the puck across the goal line with exactly 1.2 seconds left on the clock, sending the game to overtime and keeping Alaska's championship dreams alive.

After a scoreless overtime, the game went to a shootout. Both teams missed their first three attempts in the high-pressure situation. Then Stonehill missed their fourth shot, and Tommy Cronin stepped up for Alaska with everything on the line.

Cronin made a shifty move that beat Stonehill goalie Connor Androlewicz, sending the Nanooks to the United Collegiate Hockey Cup championship game. It's a chance at history for the Alaska program, which has never won a UCHC title.

The comeback was especially sweet because Alaska had dominated early. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first three minutes and extended it to 3-1 in the second period. But Stonehill stormed back with three straight goals to take a 4-3 lead midway through the third period.

Why This Inspires

For Birnie, this was his second miracle goal in three weeks. The ability to come through in the clutch twice when your team needs you most shows the kind of resilience that defines championship teams.

Goalie Lassi Lehti made 33 saves to keep Alaska in the game during Stonehill's comeback. His steady play gave his teammates the chance they needed to force overtime. The coaching staff recently named him Goalie of the Year for NCAA Division I Independents.

The Nanooks now face Lindenwood for the championship, a team they've played twice this season. Fans back in Fairbanks are so excited that Lat65 Brewing Company is hosting a watch party so the community can cheer together.

After starting the season 14-15-3, Alaska is one win away from their first-ever conference championship.