Michigan Tech wins Winter Carnival

By Andy Bourdeau / MTU Beat Writer

Michigan Tech continued to improve and split the Winter Carnival weekend with #6 ranked Minnesota Duluth, with a 3-1 win on Friday and a 3-2 loss on Saturday.

With the split, the Winter Carnival champion was decided by total goals, so this year the title went to MTU.

Eric Kattelus was named Winter Carnival MVP.

Friday it was UMD that dominated the play in the first and second period, bringing a 1-0 lead into the third. It would have been more, but Kevin Genoe had an outstanding night, stopping all but one of the 31 shots he faced in the first two periods.

Rob Bordson scored UMD's lone goal at 8:07 of the first period.

It was an early power-play goal by Bennett Royer that tied it and 26-seconds later, a tip in by Kattelus that ended up being the game winner for the Huskies. Brett Olson ended the scoring with an empty netter.

Kenny Reiter finished with 20 saves for the Bulldogs.

Saturday, MTU carried the play in the first two periods, but could only muster two goals on seven great scoring chances.

Steven Siego opened the scoring for MTU at 9:38 of the first and then at 17:01, Jordan Baker popped in his eighth of the year on the power-play.

UMD's David Grun scored in the second on the power play to bring it to 2-1.

In the third, it was UMD scoring 2 unanswered to close out the scoring at 3-2.

Drew Akins tied the score with another extra-man marker at 10:26 and Mike Connolly hammered in the game-winner, shorthanded at 12:16 to seal the win.

MTU had a few chances, but were unable to capatalize. The Huskies also took three penalties in the last three minutes that prevented the chance to pull the goalie.

Genoe ended the night with 36 saves and Reiter stopped 21 for UMD.

"We had a great effort of 60 minutes for the second straight night," said head coach Jamie Russell. "We stood toe-to-toe with the No. 6 team in the nation."

MTU (5-22-1, 4-18-0) takes the weekend off, then resumes play at Denver.

Remember to follow me on twitter for live game updates on MTU home hockey nights!