The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team (17-15-5, 12-11-5 WCHA) took on arch rival the Northern Michigan Wildcats (21-12-3, 19-7-2 WCHA) this past weekend. The Wildcats took game one Friday night in Marquette 2-1. However, the Huskies bounced back Saturday in Houghton for the 3-2 win.
On Friday, Feb. 23, Tech head coach Joe Shawhan gave the nod to senior Devin Kero to start at goaltender for the Huskies. Kero proved to be a brick wall in the first period as no one scored to end the first period 0-0.
The second period got a bit more interesting as the Huskies took the 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Brent Baltus at the 6:05 mark, assisted by sophomores Alex Smith and Thomas Beretta. Unfortunately, the Wildcats tied the game four minutes later, sliding the puck past Kero. The second period ended tied 1-1.
The third period was even more eventful than the second, as five penalties were called over the duration of the period. Unfortunately, the Wildcats netted the game-winning goal at the 4:40 mark of the third period, to go on to win 2-1.
Kero stopped 25 shots on goal, while NMU outshot the Huskies 27-18. Tech went 0-4 on the power play, while the Huskies had two penalties for four minutes spent in the penalty box.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, Kero received the start in net again for the Huskies. Freshman Greyson Reitmeier received a penalty for tripping at the 10:59 mark of the first period. The Wildcats capitalized on the man advantage at the 11:51 mark for the 1-0 lead. Senior Dylan Steman then received a penalty at the 16:20 mark for interference. The Wildcats capitalized again on the man advantage at the 17:28 mark of the first to end the first in favor of the Wildcats 2-0.
However, the Wildcats opened the second period with a penalty at the 3:09 mark. Baltus knocked in the puck at the 4:01 mark to make it 2-1 NMU, assisted by Reitmeier and senior Dane Birks. The Wildcats received another penalty at the 6:58 mark, and junior Jake Lucchini capitalized at the 8:45 mark to tie the game up at two apiece, assisted by freshman Seamus Donohue and senior Mark Auk.
The Wildcats received a game misconduct for checking to the head elbowing at the 12:03 mark, resulting in the ejection of the Wildcat player, and a five-minute power play for the Huskies. Freshman Justin Misiak netted the game winning goal at the 13:09 mark, assisted by Donohue and Auk.
Nothing came from the third period until Reitmeier received a game misconduct, resulting in him being ejected from the game, and giving the Wildcats a five-minute powerplay with six minutes left to go in the game. Thankfully Kero was a brick wall, and set the Huskies up for the 3-2 win.
4,117 fans packed the Mac for Senior night, and watched Kero stop 27 shots, as the Huskies outshot the Wildcats 36-29. Tech went 3-5 on the power play, and spent 23 minutes in the penalty box from six penalties.
Saturday night Tech held senior night, as seniors Mason Blacklock, Mark Auk, Joel L’Esperance, Evan Anderson, Devin Kero, Dane Birks, Dylan Steman, Brent Baltus, and Alex Gillies were all commerated for their fantastic careers here at MTU, and the university as a whole, wishes them the best of luck in their futures.
The Huskies will be in action this coming weekend as they travel to Bemidji, Minnesota to take on the Bemidji State Beavers (16-12-8, 13-9-6 WCHA) in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Puck drop will happen at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5:07 Sunday if necessary. The Beavers secured the final home spot for the WCHA playoffs, as they lost 2-1 and tied 2-2 with the WCHA Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks this past weekend. The Huskies and Beavers faced each other over the Winter Carnival series in Houghton earlier this year with the Beavers coming out on top 4-2 Friday, but the Huskies had their revenge defeating the Beavers 5-1 Saturday.
The WCHA playoff picture looks like this: The number one seed Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks (26-7-1, 22-5-1 WCHA) will host the number eight seed Alaska Nanooks (11-20-3, 9-17-2 WCHA) in Mankato, Minnesota.
The number two seed Northern Michigan Wildcats (21-12-3, 19-7-2 WCHA) will host number seven seed Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (11-21-12, 10-16-2 WCHA) in Marquette, Michigan.
The number three seed Bowling Green State Falcons (20-10-6, 17-6-5 WCHA) will host number six seed Ferris State Bulldogs (14-21-1, 11-16-1 WCHA) in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The number four seed Bemidji State Beavers (16-12-8, 13-9-6 WCHA) will host number five seed Michigan Tech Huskies (17-15-5, 12-11-5 WCHA) in Bemidji, Minnesota.
All games will play a best of three series with the highest remaining two seeds hosting the second round, while the higher of the two remaining teams will host the WCHA tournament championship.
