Michigan Tech tops U.S. NTDP Under-18s

By Andy Bourdeau/Interim Michigan Tech Beat Writer

Michigan Tech (1-4-0 overall, 0-2-0 WCHA) came in battered and bruised, but was able to score four goals and hold off the highly-touted U.S. National Under-18 Team to get a 4-3 exhibition win Friday night.

Brett Olson started the scoring for MTU early in the first. It was his first as a Husky and it came on the power play. Jon Kivisto gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead early in the second, but Team USA answered at the 15-minute mark, getting a shot past Josh Robinson. MTU made it a two-goal game with 30 seconds remaining in the second when Eric Kattelus scored on the power play.

“Our power play looked really sharp tonight,” said Huskiers' head coach Jamie Russell. “We switched up our power play guys and gave some other guys a chance.”

Malcolm Gwilliam scored Michigan Tech's third power-play goal of the game and the eventual game-winner five minutes into the third. The Under-18s put a lot of pressure on the defense and Robinson, getting two goals with the goalie pulled, but could not get the tying mark.

Robinson ended with 21 total saves.

MTU will get back into league play when they host a WCHA series against Alaska-Anchorage this upcoming weekend.