Two Huskies earn WCHA awards

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

Michigan TechMADISON, Wis. — Michigan Tech forward David Johnstone (Grand Ledge, Mich.) and defenseman Shane Hanna (Salmon Arm, B.C.), who helped the Huskies to a two-game conference road sweep at Bowling Green last weekend, have both been named WCHA Players of the Week for Feb. 4, 2014.

Johnstone scored three goals, set up another, had six shots on goal, blocked two shots and earned a +1 plus/minus rating as Michigan Tech won 5-2 over the Falcons last Friday and 5-4 (OT) on Saturday. He is the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.

The 5-11, 185-pound forward tallied two goals in the series opener on Jan. 31 with a power-play marker to open the game’s scoring at 12:08 of the first period, then added another goal at 5:52 of the second with a wrist shot from the right circle. His second goal wound up being the game winner.

Johnstone then registered two more points in Tech’s victory over the Falcons in the series finale on Feb. 1. He first scored a second-period power-play goal before assisting on teammate Blake Pietilas overtime game winner at 1:22 as the Huskies overcame deficits of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3.

In 15 games played this season, Johnstone has produced 11 points on seven goals and four assists.

Hanna, who made his presence felt at both ends of the ice in a conference series sweep at Bowling Green last weekend, is the WCHA Rookie of the Week.

The 5-11, 195-pound freshman turned in his first career three-point game with assists on Michigan Tech’s first, second and fifth goals in last Friday’s (Jan. 31) 5-2 win at Bowling Green. He assisted on both of the Huskies’ first period goals as they went up 2-0, and then earned his third helper of the night late in the second period.

Hanna was a big part of Michigan Tech going 3-for-10 on the power-play in the two victories while holding the host Falcons to just 1-for-9 with the man advantage. In addition to his three points, Hanna finished the weekend series with a plus/minus rating of +3 and had three blocked shots.

Playing in all 30 of Michigan Tech’s games as a rookie this season, Hanna is the team’s top-scoring defenseman with 14 points on two goals and 12 assists. He also tied for fifth among all WCHA freshmen in points for all games.