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FAIRBANKS -- The Alaska Nanooks (8-4-2 overall, 6-3-1-1 CCHA) moved into the US College Hockey Online/CBS College Sports TV national rankings for the first time since Dec. 18, 2006. Alaska is ranked 20th in this week’s poll.

Conference rival Notre Dame is ranked No. 1 this week, while three other conference teams are ranked ahead of the Nanooks — Miami (Ohio) fourth, Michigan (14th) and Nebraska-Omaha 18th. Ohio State and Ferris State are listed among other teams receiving votes.

Alaska Anchorage is ranked 15th this week, marking the first time that both schools have been ranked nationally in the same week, according to a press release issued by the Alaska sports information department.

Alaska’s longest streak in a poll came during the 2001-02 season when they posted a 22-12-3 record. The Nanooks were ranked for 11 straight weeks that season, peaking at No. 11. Alaska just missed earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament that year.

Alaska’s second-longest stint in a poll came in the 2005-06 season when they were in the Top 20 for seven straight weeks and peaked at No. 14.

The Nanooks are also ranked 16th in the Inside College Hockey Power Rankings that were also released on Monday.

That ranking with a somewhat ominous footnote.

“Almost exactly two years ago, the Nanooks moved to four games above .500 with a win and tie against Lake Superior State in Fairbanks ... then proceeded to lost 11 of their next 12 games,” the INCH Power Rankings wrote in its “Of Note” section.

Notre Dame is ranked No. 1 in the INCH poll, while Miami (Ohio) is ninth, Michigan is 14th, Ohio State is 18th and Nebraska-Omaha is 19th. Alaska Anchorage is among the team’s listed as about to break into the rankings.

Alaska was listed among the other teams receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, as was Alaska Anchorage.

The Nanooks play No. 18 Nebraska-Omaha on Friday and Saturday at the Qwest Center in Omaha. The two teams seven games against each other last season, including a three-game CCHA opening-round playoff series that the Mavericks won by claiming the final game 2 -1 in triple overtime.

This weekend’s games begin at 4:05 p.m. AST each day.

Johnson honored

Alaska senior Chad Johnson earned his second consecutive Goalie of the Week honor, the CCHA announced Monday.

Johnson turned in another spectacular effort in leading the Nanooks to a four-point weekend against the Lake Superior State Lakers.

He stopped 22 of the 23 shots, including several breakaways, in the Nanooks’ 4-1 win against the Lakers on Friday night.

He was even more impressive on Saturday night when he stopped 34 of 36 shots and then stoned all three Lakers shots in the shootout that the Nanooks won 1-0 to pick up an extra point in the CCHA standings.

Johnson, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, posted a .967 saves percentage and a 0.96 goals against average against Lakers. He is 3-0-1 in his last four games and 6-4-2 on the season. He ranks seventh nationally with a 1.57 goals against average and a .944 saves percentage (tied for fourth).

Three other Nanooks have received Player of the Week honors this season — Justin Brossman and Scott Greenham earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors, while Dion Knelsen was named Offensive Player of the Week.