Michigan Tech’s student body is getting ready for another season of Huskies hockey. The Huskies hockey season starts on Oct. 3 at the University of Minnesota in Twin Cities. The home opener will take place on Friday, Oct. 24, against the Ferris State Bulldogs, with the scheduled puck drop taking place at 7:07 p.m. Students can get into all home hockey games for free as part of the Experience Tech program.
Michigan Tech’s student body prides itself on being hockey fans, with an entire student organization, Mitch’s Misfits, dedicated to supporting the team, as well as the Huskies Pep Band, which is a huge part of the hockey culture at Michigan Tech. Catherine Huston, a materials science and engineering graduate student, has been with the Pep Band for five years. When asked about her thoughts on the upcoming season, Huston said, “I think having a new head coach will be a good change of pace. I’m looking forward to seeing what Coach Muckalt can do with the team, and hoping for a successful season.” Huston is also looking forward to the annual Great Lakes Invitational, happening in December in Grand Rapids, as well as the Winter Carnival Series, taking place Feb. 6 to 7 against the
Augustana Vikings at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Stella Licari, a member of both Mitch’s Misfits and the Huskies Pep Band, looks forward to the hockey season every year. When asked about her favorite part of the hockey season, Licari said, “It’s so hard to choose my favorite part of hockey games. I only really became a fan of hockey after coming to Tech, so the combined energy of the Pep Band and the Misfits just make it a great place to fall in love with the sport.”
With a new head coach, many students are looking forward to a new era of Huskies hockey. The new coach, Bill Muckalt, brings a wealth of experience to Tech, both as a player and a coach. As a player, Muckalt has been on the ice with four different National Hockey League (NHL) te
ams: the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Minnesota Wild. As a coach, he has worked with various colleges and minor league teams, and served as the Assistant Coach for Michigan Tech from 2011 to 2015. With his extensive background in both collegiate and professional hockey, students are ecstatic to welcome him back to the community.
For more information on the upcoming hockey season, visit the SDC ticket office online or in person.
