Huskies pounded by #8 Denver

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Michigan Tech Huskies (2-13-1, 1-10-1 WCHA) winless streak reached 11-games after a pair of losses to the Denver Pioneers at MacInnes over the weekend.

“We need to find a way to execute,” said head coach Jamie Russell. “Guys need to believe in themselves and believe in what we want to do.”

Friday night DU outshot Tech 28-25 and rolled to a 6-0 win.

Rob Nolan started the game and allowed 5 goals on 17 shots. Corson Cramer stopped 10 of 11 in a mop up roll in the third period.

Saturday was only marginally better as the Pioneers crushed the Huskies, 6-1.

Sophomore Deron Cousens scored the lone MTU goal at 2:32 of the second.

Josh Robinson started in net for MTU and stopped 5 of 8 shots in the first twenty minutes. Cramer mopped up again and turned away 10 of 13 shots.

The Huskies will try to regroup on the road as they take on the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next weekend.

MTU swept aside by Mavericks

By Andy Bourdeau/Michigan Tech Beat Writer

Michigan Tech has been struggling to score goals and gave four points to the visiting Mavericks from Minnesota State over the weekend. Tech was able to get two goals each night, but it was not enough as they lost 3-2 (OT) and 4-2.

The Huskies jumped out early Friday, getting a goal when Brett Olsen buried the rebound off of an Eric Kattelus shot at the five-minute mark of the first.

The score remained the same until the third, when the Mavs scored two and held that lead until the 19:35 mark, as Kattelus scored with an empty net on the other end to send the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, MTU missed a couple golden oppurtunities and then gave Minnesota State a breakaway that ended the game at 3:58 of the extra session.

"We did not play a simple game," Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell commented. "You can't sit on a 1-0 lead. You need to drive to get that second and third goal."

Rob Nolan made 29 saves on the night.

On Saturday, it was the Mavericks that started the game off with a goal within the first four minutes and then added a second before the end of the first.

Jordan Baker scored in the seventh minute of the second to close it to one, but the Mavericks took advantage of another Husky miscue and regained the two-goal lead.

Early in the third, Alex Gagne shot the puck toward the goal and it bounced off two defensemen and found its way to the back of the net. But that was the last the Huskies would have on the weekend. The Mavs added one more and the game ended, 4-2.

Josh Robinson finished with 21 saves for the Huskies (2-9-1, 1-8-1 WCHA).

Michigan Tech will be on the road next weekend as they travel to Minnesota for a non-conference series with Bemijdi State from College Hockey America.

Huskies swept by Wisconsin

By Andy Bourdeau/Michigan Tech Beat Writer

Michigan Tech came into last weekend's series with Wisconsin with high hopes, but they were suppressed by the Badgers.

Wisconsin held off a late charge from the Huskies Friday to get a 3-2 win and dominated on the scoresheet Saturday, 6-0.

The Badgers jumped out to an early lead Friday, notching two goals in the first, the period in which Huskies skipper Jamie Russell stated the Huskies were outworked and outplayed and that made the difference in the game.

Tech received goals from Alex Gagne and Alex MacLeod, late in the second and early in the third, respectively. The Huskies swapped goalies in between the second and third and Josh Robinson finished the game strong, stopping all that he faced.

Robbie Nolan ended the game with 17 saves and Robinson ended with nine.

Saturday was more of the same, as the Badgers scored one in the first and another in the second. They took a 2-0 lead in the third, but could have easily been 2-1, as MTU had a goal by Justin St. Louis called off, after the referees determined the whistle was blown before the puck crossed the line.

In the third, it was more of the same as Bennett Royer had a second goal for the Huskies waved off for the same reason.

“When we’re a team that is struggling to score goals and we do score and it’s disallowed, that is frustrating and deflating," said Russell. "I think we deserved a better fate tonight."

Maybe so, but that was not the case, as Wisconsin added four more goals in the third period.

Michigan Tech (2-6-0, 1-5-0 WCHA) will be on the road again next weekend as they prepare to take on Minnesota in a two-game series.

Huskies split with Seawolves

By Tom Balog

The Michigan Tech Huskies (2-4-0, 1-3-0 WCHA) snapped a two-game losing skid and earned their first WCHA win of the season with 4-2 victory over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Friday night.

Special teams were key for Tech as they scored a pair of extra-man markers and held the conference’s best power-play to a 1-for-5 night.

“Our power play was able to click tonight,” said head coach Jamie Russell. “We had a big kill on the five-on-three.”

The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 nothing lead with first period markers from Alex Gagne and John Kivisto.

Tommy Grant singlehandedly got UAA back in the game with back-to-back markers in the second period.

The two teams skated into the third tied at 2-all, but Deron Cousens' power-play marker and Malcolm Gwilliam's empty-netter put the game on ice for MTU.

Rob Nolan stopped 25 of 27 shots for Tech. Jon Olthuis steered away 22 of 25 for Anchorage.

The Seawolves came out a different team in Saturday’s finale and hung on for 2-1 win.

Josh Lunden and Grant both scored to stake UAA to a 2-0 lead.

Jordan Baker scored MTU’s lone goal on the PP at 12:37 of the third, but it was too little, too late for the Huskies.

Bryce Christianson backstopped a tough Seawolves defense with 29 saves. Nolan stopped 15 for MTU.

The Huskies will now embark on a grueling four-game road trip starting next weekend against Wisconsin and then moving to Minnesota beginning on Nov. 15.

TEAM PREVIEW: Michigan Tech Huskies

MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES
Head coach: Jamie Russell (sixth season)
Home arena: MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,200)
Last season: 14-20-5 overall, 9-15-4 WCHA (9th), lost in WCHA first round to North Dakota
Back for more: Goaltender Rob Nolan, forwards Jordan Baker, Eric Kattelus, Bennett Royer, Ryan Bunger, Ryan Angelow, Alex Gagne, Malcolm Gwilliam, Derek Kitti, Alex Lord and Justin St. Louis and defensemen Mike VanWagner, Deron Cousens, Drew Dobson, Geoff Kinrade, John Kivisto, Eli Vlaisavljevich and John Schwarz (captain)
So long, farewell: Goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak (signed with Philadelphia after junior season) and Kevin Hachey, forwards Jordan Foote, Jimmy Kerr, Peter Rouleau and Tyler Shelast and defensemen Mark Malekoff and Jake Wilkens
Welcome to campus: Forwards Seth Soley, Brett Olson, Alex MacLeod, Bryce Reddick, Mikael Lickteig and Peter Rohn, defenseman Ricky Doriott and goaltenders Josh Robinson and Corson Cramer
NHL draft picks: 0
Notable Quotable: “We are excited about this class, both for the qualities they are bringing on and off the ice. Our recruiting classes are getting better and better each year.” – Head coach Jamie Russell

Huskies clipped by Varsity Blues

The Michigan Tech Huskies dropped their exhibition opener, 3-1, to the University of Toronto at the MacInnes Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Junior Ryan Bunger picked up the lone goal for MTU with about four minutes left in regulation, while goaltender Rob Nolan finished the night with 13 saves.

“I thought the officials called a great game tonight,” said Huskies head coach Jamie Russell. “We were not very disciplined. A lot of our penalties were due to us not moving our feet.”

Blueliner Eddie Snetsinger registered a goal and two assists for Toronto.

The Huskies will open the regular season this Friday against the Northern Michigan Wildcats in the Superior Cup in Marquette. Faceoff is set for 7:35 p.m. at the Berry Events Center.

Tech's season ends at North Dakota

By Joseph Lakeland / Michigan Tech Beat Writer

The Michigan Tech Huskies made a run at No. 2 North Dakota, but fell just short in their opening round WCHA playoff series in Grand Forks.

Friday night’s opener was a mismatch as the Fighting Sioux rolled to a 4-0 shutout victory at the Engelstad Arena.

The Huskies came back on Saturday, though, and surprised North Dakota with a 3-2 overtime victory.

The Sioux looked solid early and led 2-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Jimmy Kerr got the Black and Gold on the board with a power-play marker early in the third and then Tyler Shelast quieted the crowd of 11,638, tying the game shorthanded with just six seconds left on the clock.

Shelast was the hero in the extra frame as well, scoring on the power play at 1:59 to give MTU the win and force a game three on Sunday.

Michael-Lee Teslak stopped 24 shots in what would prove to be Tech’s last win of the season.

“That group deserved that win. We have not had a lot of bounces go our way this season and these guys deserve it,” said head coach Jamie Russell. “They didn’t give up tonight.”

Shelast picked up on Sunday where he left off Saturday, scoring just past the midway mark of the first to put Tech up 1-0.

T.J. Oshie scored the next two for North Dakota and the Sioux held on for a 2-1 victory.

The Huskies finished the year at 14-20-5 overall and 9-15-4 in the WCHA.

Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics

Tech splits another ranked team

By Joseph Lakeland / MTU Beat Writer

Can anyone explain the play of the Michigan Tech Huskies this season?

Games they should win, they lose. And games they should lose, they win.

It’s been an up and down season for head coach Jamie Russell and the Huskies and it was on display again over the weekend as the Black and Gold split a two-game set on the road at #9 Minnesota State.

The Huskies gave up four, second period goals and were shellacked 5-2 by the Mavericks at the Alltel Center on Friday night.

Mick Berge led the Mavericks with a pair of goals and Mike Zacharias made 31 saves in net.

Malcolm Gwilliam and Mark Malekoff scored the goals for MTU.

Michael-Lee Teslak started in net for the Huskies, but was yanked after giving up 5 goals on 23 shots. Rob Nolan played the final 20 minutes and stopped all 13 shots he faced.

It was a different Huskies team that showed up on Saturday night as MTU outplayed Minnesota State en route to a 3-2 squeaker win.

“Our play tonight was a stark contrast to last night,” said Russell. “We played well in front of both nets.”

Eric Kattelus, Alex Gagne, and Geoff Kinrade all scored by the 13:22 mark of the second period to spot Tech a 3-0 lead.

Jason Wiley and Kael Mouillierat lit the lamp in the third for the Mavericks, but Teslak shut the door from there to preserve the victory.

Teslak stopped 23 shots for his 7th win of the season.

Zacharias made 30 stops on the other end for Mankato.

With the split, Michigan Tech (13-18-5, 9-15-4 WCHA) finished the season as the # 9 team in the WCHA. The Huskies will travel to North Dakota next weekend for a best-of-three series with the top-ranked Fighting Sioux at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Ice Chips...

Thanks Wayne State for nine great years and good luck in your CHA tourney.

Teslak and Tech split #7 Denver

By Joseph Lakeland / Michigan Tech Beat Writer

The Michigan Tech Huskies engaged in a couple of defensive struggles over the weekend and were rewarded with a split against the #7 Denver Pioneers.

Dustin Jackson was the hero on Friday night as he scored the game’s only marker in the Pioneers 1-0 victory at MacInnes.

Jackson picked up the Kyle Ostrow’s rebound on buried it past Huskies netminder Michael-Lee Teslak at 19:47 of the second period.

Teslak finished the night with 21 saves.

Pioneer goalie Peter Mannino was perfect on 21 shots and earned his fifth shutout of the season and the 14th of his stellar career.

The Huskies got their revenge in Saturday’s finale as the beat Mannino and the Pioneers 2-1 on Senior Night.

Alex Lord started the scoring for MTU, putting a wrister past Mannino at 12:41 of the opening period.

Then blueliner Geoff Kinrade notched the eventual game winner, going nearly end to end and finishing with a shot upstairs to put the Huskies up 2-0 with about 10 left minutes to play.

Rhett Rakhshani ended Teslak’s bid for a shutout as he scored with the extra attacker on and just a 1:47 left on the clock.

Teslak sealed the door from there, making a total of 32 saves for the night.

“Teslak was incredable in net tonight. He made a lot of good saves,” said head coach Jamie Russell on the MTU Website. “I am also very proud of our six seniors. They have all meant a lot to the program.”

Mannino turned away just 19 shots for DU.

Michigan Tech (12-17-5, 8-14-4 WCHA) will finish out the regular season with a pair of road games at Minnesota State next weekend. MTU swept the Mavericks, 2-0 and 7-1, at MacInnes in mid-October.

Ice Chips...

- Following the game, Michigan Tech honored its six seniors — Jordan Foote, Kevin Hachey, Jimmy Kerr, Mark Malekoff, Peter Rouleu and Tyler Shelast.

Huskies swept at St. Cloud

by Joseph Lakeland / Michigan Tech Beat Writer

Michigan Tech’s slide through the end of the WCHA regular season continued over the weekend as the Huskies were swept at #16 St. Cloud State.

An overcapacity crowd of 6,057 saw the SCSU Huskies put on a show on Friday night at the National Hockey Center as the home team streamrolled MTU by a score of 4-1.

“We had some great opportunities and we didn’t make great shots. They had great opportunities and they converted,” said head coach Jamie Russell on the Michigan Tech website.

St. Cloud powered in three power-play goals and streaked out to a 4-0 lead before Tech could muster their first goal.

Blueliner Geoff Kinrade scored Tech’s lone goal, unassisted on a 4 of 3 power-play at 4:42 of the third period. Kinrade skated end to end before scoring his third of the season, all on the power-play.

Michael-Lee Teslak stopped 22 shots for MTU. Jase Weslosky turned away 28 for SCSU.

Saturday night the SCSU Huskies ran away with a 3-0 shutout over MTU.

Rob Nolan started in net for Tech and stopped 16 of 18 shots. Teslak played the final 27:29 and surrendered one goal on 15 shots.

Weslosky was perfect, stopping 37 shots for his second shutout of the season.

With the pair of losses, the Huskies (11-16-5, 7-13-4 WCHA) losing streak is now stretched to 3 games and MTU is just 2-5-3 in their last ten games.

The Huskies stand in ninth place in the WCHA with just four regular season games remaining.

The #8 Denver Pioneers roll into Houghton for the final two regular season games at MacInnes Arena next weekend. Saturday will also be Senior Night as the Huskies say goodbye to Jordan Foote, Malcolm Gwilliam, Jimmy Kerr, Mark Malekoff, Peter Rouleau, Tyler Shelast, and Jake Wilkens.

Tech splits with #12 Minnesota-Duluth

By Joseph Lakeland / MTU Beat Writer

The Michigan Tech Huskies closed out their 4-game homestand with a mixed result, splitting with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at the MacInnes Arena.

Michigan Tech dominated Friday’s game one and skated away with a relatively easy 5-2 win in front of 2,137 fans.

Senior and Hancock native Peter Rouleau led the Huskies scoring attack with three goals and two assists. Alex Gagne also added a pair of goals and an assist to help MTU to their first win in five games.

“Pete gave us 40 great minutes tonight,” said head coach Jamie Russell in the Michigan Tech Athletics recap. “Our guys came back after the first period and scored three goals in the second period.”

Michael-Lee Teslak stopped 20 shots in between the pipes for MTU. Alex Stalock turned away 22 for UMD.

MTU had their chances on Saturday, but surrendered a late goal and fell by a final of 3-2.

Tyler Shelast started the scoring with a power-play marker at 14:53 of the first period, but the Bulldogs scored the next two goals and skated into the third with 2-1 lead.

Ryan Bunger tied it up at 17:57 and the two teams looked poised for overtime.

The Bulldogs had other ideas though as Evan Oberg’s shot through traffic found it’s way in for the eventual game winner at 19:00 for a 3-2 UMD lead.

Michael-Lee Teslak stopped 22 shots for MTU. Alex Stalock only needed to stop 15 shots for UMD.

MTU sits in eighth place in the WCHA with 6 games to play in the regular season. Next up will be a pair of games at 19th ranked St. Cloud State next weekend.