The Michigan Tech hockey Huskies won the MacInnes Cup yet again this weekend during the Winter Carnival series. This is the fifth year in a row the Huskies have won the cup. The Huskies beat the Ferris State Bulldogs 5-2 on Saturday, scoring two goals in the first period, one in the second and two more in the third. “It’s important to win Winter Carnival,” Tech coach Mel Pearson said. “
We talk about John MacInnes and what he means to the program. Any time you can play for a trophy that bears his name, it is important.” Senior forward Reid Sturos scored two goals Saturday and was named Winter Carnival MVP. “Mike [Neville] had it in the circle on a mini 2-on-1 after a turnover… He made a nice play to me, slipping it by the defenseman’s stick. I just tried to go far side. I think the goalie tripped me, and it happened to go in,” Sturos commented on one of his goals of the night.
Freshman forward Thomas Beretta put up the first point on a long shot from the red line 6:10 into the first period. This was Beretta’s third for the season, crediting the assists to junior defenseman Matt Roy and freshman goaltender Angus Redmond. Tyler Heinonen scored on a sharp-angled shot on a 5-on-3 power play. 16:47 into the second period senior forward. This was Heinonen’s seventh of the season with assists going to freshman defenseman Mitch Reinke and senior defenseman Shane Hanna. “That was a big goal,” Pearson commented. “We used our time-out to begin that power play to make sure we knew what we were doing. They executed. Tyler had a strong weekend. He played heavy on the puck and it was nice to see him rewarded with that goal.”
With just over a minute left in the game, the Bulldogs pulled their goaltender allowing senior defenseman Chris Leibinger to score an open net goal for his seventh of the season. With just 55 seconds left to play, Sturos found the back of the net yet again when he sniped a shot over the defense. “Reid played strong both nights… That line with Mike Neville and Jake Jackson created good opportunities all weekend. I’m happy to see Reid and that line get rewarded,” Pearson added.
The Huskies take next weekend off and return on Feb. 24 in Marquette to take on the rival Northern Michigan University Wildcats. The Huskies return to the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena Saturday to wrap up the regular season. The eight senior Huskies will be honored following Saturday night’s game.
