Huskies hockey team ready for Seawolves
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
*HUSKIES HOST CARNIVAL FIRST-TIMER ALASKA ANCHORAGE*
Michigan Tech will host Alaska Anchorage for its annual Winter Carnival series this weekend in Houghton. The Seawolves have played 30 games in Houghton in the series with the Huskies, but have never played in a Winter Carnival series. This weekend’s contests will be the only between the teams this season. Tech won three of four meetings last year but trail the all-time series 27-28-10.
*OVER .500 SINCE CHRISTMAS*
Michigan Tech earned a split at No. 14 Nebraska-Omaha last weekend. After losing Friday’s (Feb. 1) game 4-3, the Huskies won 2-1 in overtime Saturday (Feb. 2). The split moved Tech’s record to 4-3-1 after Christmas with three wins vs. nationally-ranked teams (includes a 4-0 GLI win over No. 7 Western Michigan).
*JOHNSTONE CONTINUES HOT PLAY*
David Johnstone <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/johnstone%20david00.html> posted a three-point weekend at UNO with goals in both games and an assist on Friday (Feb. 1). The sophomore has scored a goal in four of the team’s last five games to double his season goal total to eight. With 12 assists on the year, Johnstone has his second career 20-point season (he had 11-18=29 as a freshman).
*WINTER CARNIVAL HISTORY*
Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival title is decided by total goals in the two games. The Huskies, who began holding Winter Carnival hockey series in 1950, have won the title 41 times in the 63 editions. Tech’s record during Winter Carnival games is 68-44-14 (.595). Michigan State has been the most common opponent for Carnival with 22 games.
*LICKTEIG TALLIES OVERTIME GAME WINNER*
Mikael Lickteig <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/lickteig%20mikael00.html>, who missed four games following an injury at the GLI (Dec. 30), returned to play both games at Omaha last weekend. The senior scored the game-winning goal 2:56 into overtime Saturday (Feb. 2) for his first goal of the season and second of his career. Lickteig now has 1-1=2 this season and 2-8=10 in 56 career games.
*COPLEY FOURTH IN SAVE PERCENTAGE SINCE CHRISTMAS*
Pheonix Copley <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/copley%20pheonix00.html> turned in another strong weekend in net for the Huskies as he made 60 saves on 65 shots combined in the two games. The freshman helped the Huskies hold Omaha, a team averaging more than 3.5 goals per game, to just one goal on 37 shots Saturday (Feb. 2) in an overtime contest. Since Christmas, Copley has posted a 1.61 goals against average and the nation’s fourth-best save percentage at .952.
*KILL, KILL, KILL*
The Huskies’ penalty killing unit has thwarted 38 of their opponents last 41 power play attempts (92.7 percent) dating back to the Dec. 14 game vs. North Dakota. For the season, Tech’s PK is 90-of-111 (81.1 percent).
*PETAN IMPROVES TEAM-LEADING POINT TOTAL TO 22*
Freshman Alex Petan <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/petan%20alex00.html> extended his team-leading point total with a goal and assist in Tech’s 4-3 loss at Omaha last Friday (Feb. 1). The points added to a four-game point streak that was ended Saturday (Feb. 2). The right wing possesses 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists in 2012-13. Petan’s average points per game (.88) ranks ninth nationally among freshmen.
*GET IT TO OVERTIME*
Last Saturday’s (Feb. 2) 2-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha was Tech’s seventh overtime game of the season. The Huskies are 3-0-4 in those contests and 7-1-8 in overtimes in the last two seasons combined under coach Mel Pearson. In its last 25 overtime games dating back to 2009, Tech is 9-1-15.
*SWEENEY POSTS FIRST MULTI-POINT GAME*
Riley Sweeney <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/sweeney%20riley00.html> snapped a six-game point drought by assisting on both Tech goals in the 2-1 win last Saturday (Feb. 2). The sophomore defenseman now has 0-7=7 this season and 0-17=17 for his career.
*D-FENCE*
Michigan Tech has surrendered two or fewer goals in six of its last eight games (a 5-4 loss at Minnesota Duluth and 4-3 loss at Omaha being the exceptions). The Huskies are allowing just 2.23 goals per game over the last 13 contests after giving up 3.92 over the first 12.
*COMING OFF A BREAK*
Michigan Tech has had five bye weekends in 2012-13, the most recent coming prior to the series at Nebraska-Omaha last weekend (Feb. 1-2). The Huskies are 5-4-1 in weekends after the bye this season (0-3-1 vs. Minnesota Duluth and 5-1-0 against everyone else).
*HUSKIES BITES*
The Huskies are 8-1-1 when scoring the game’s first goal and 0-12-3 when they don’t … Michigan Tech is 4-2-1 so far this season against teams that will be in the WCHA next season … Tech has played all but three of its games on the NHL-sized ice sheet this season … After a 2-6-0 start, the Huskies have played to a 6-7-4 record on the year.