SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's hockey team blew past University of Alaska Fairbanks 5-1 on Friday night at M&T Bank Center in its penultimate game on the 2025 calendar.

First-year Brayden Gillespie made 13 saves on his way to his second consecutive win, and senior Parker Lindauer, junior Tyler Dunbar, and sophomore Ben Muthersbaugh all contributed multiple points as the Garnet Chargers (11-5-2) reached 11 wins before January for the first time since 2016-17. 

Union found itself having to play from behind for the ninth time this season when the Nanooks (4-9-1) capitalized off a Garnet Charger turnover 8:31 into the game. Gillespie had made 43 consecutive saves over three games leading up to Alaska Fairbanks' first and only goal of the contest. 

It seemed as if it was going to be Alaska Fairbanks' night when Union had a near-goal waved off and denied by video review, followed by the game's first power play in favor of the Nanooks. 

Union got things back on track when it killed off its seventh straight penalty dating back to the Miami game in Belfast on Nov. 29, then drew two penalties to earn a 35-second 5-on-3 late in the first. 

Sophomore Lucas Buzziol won the first draw of the two-man advantage, and Muthersbaugh converted soon after on assists from sophomore Will Felicio and senior Nate Hanley. 

The Garnet Chargers have at least one power-play goal in nine of their last 10 games and have scored on the man advantage in all but four of their games this season. Union entered the game with the ninth-best power-play unit in NCAA Division I men's hockey at 26%.

Early in the second, sophomore Connor Smith started Union's breakout by finding Dunbar in the neutral zone. Dunbar deferred to Buzziol, who skated untouched up the left side and put one off the glove of Alaska Fairbanks' goaltender Lassi Lehti and in.
 
Union carried its 2-1 lead into the second intermission thanks in large part to its defensive effort. The Garnet Chargers prevented the Nanooks from taking a shot on goal for almost all of the second period and for a total of 24:03 of game time spanning from the 14:55 mark of the first to the final 1:02 of play in the second. Union blocked three shots in the middle stanza to lighten Gillespie's load, who totaled eight saves over the first 40 minutes of play. 

Dunbar, the reigning ECAC Hockey Adapt Nutrition Defender of the Week, started Union's lopsided third period by beating Lehti to the far post. The junior notched multiple points for the second game in a row – the first time he has accomplished that feat. He now leads his team in points with 21, and the defenseman also has the second-most points in the conference among all skaters, not just blueliners. 

Lindauer, who earned his second assist of the night on Dunbar's nifty play, improved upon his team-leading assist total (16) and has the second-most helpers in the league. 

Alaska Fairbanks pulled its goalie with 5:56 left in the period, making way for senior Brandon Buhr to score his 13th goal of the year. Lehti was back in net when senior captain Nick Young ripped a shot from the point and potted his first goal of the season. 

Union's well-rounded effort led to its first win over the Nanooks since 1990 and eighth game with at least five goals this season. Union improved upon its 2.76 goals-for average that it had entering the game, which was the sixth-best in the country. 

Union gets one more crack at home against Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. That game will mark Union's first Teddy Bear Toss game as it wraps up the 2025 schedule.