November 7, 2026 | Jacqueline Hixssen McElroy
ANCHORAGE, AK — The Wolverines did what they do best: win.
While the Mallards put up a stronger fight tonight than they did in Friday’s matchup, they still couldn’t keep pace with Anchorage, who capitalized when it mattered most.
It was a big night for Mallards captain Ty Gordon, who opened the scoring and went on to record a hat trick. Unfortunately for Minnesota, his three goals weren’t enough to overcome the Wolverines.
Benson Peterson evened the score just two minutes after Gordon’s opening goal, marking his third of the weekend. Peterson showed poise and patience on the play, waiting until the last moment to pull the puck back into the zone after carrying it beyond the near-side post. He then sent it toward the middle, where it bounced past the netminder to tie the game.
Kotora gave the Wolverines their first lead with just two minutes remaining in the opening frame. Gaining possession near the faceoff dot, he dragged the puck toward the middle, forcing the netminder to sprawl before lifting it over his arm and into the far side of the net.
The Mallards responded in the second period, recording the only two goals of the frame and sending the Wolverines into the locker room trailing 3-2.
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the Wolverines don’t let up.
Balint Lobenwein immediately evened the score just a minute into the third. Jack McKenna sent the puck in front from behind the goal line, where Lobenwein was waiting to one-time it past the netminder.
Just 14 seconds later, Peterson struck again. After pressuring the Mallards off the puck in the near-side corner, he allowed Blake Mahar to recover it along the blue line and send it toward the middle, where Peterson finished the play to give Anchorage the lead.
Gordon completed his hat trick to tie the game once more, but the Wolverines shut down the Mallards for the remainder of the period.
Oliver Morris secured what would stand as the game-winning goal in the 10th minute of the final frame, with Kotora and Sheldon Rioux picking up the assists.
The Mallards left John Scott unattended, and he made them pay. Scott gained possession along the far-side boards and fired from the top of the circle, finding the back of the net to extend Anchorage’s lead.
Captain Caleb Mahar put the finishing touch on the night with just under five minutes remaining. Mahar gained possession in the Wolverines’ zone and sent a long pass through the neutral zone to Morris. Morris carried the puck down the ice before centering it back to Mahar, who buried a top-shelf one-timer to seal the win.
The weekend marked the Mallards’ first appearance at Sullivan Arena, and it’s safe to say they won’t be in a hurry to make a return.
The Wolverines head south next weekend for a two-game series against the Kenai River Brown Bears in Soldotna, Alaska.
Join us at the Peanut Farm both nights for the official Wolverines watch parties, or catch the action live on NAHLtv.com.
