MTU Hockey to face off vs. Mankato
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
*ON A ROLL*
Michigan Tech has won three of its last four games and owns a 6-4-1 record since Christmas with all four losses coming by just one goal. The Huskies have outscored their opponents 41-21 over that 11-game span.
*RECORD DAY VS. RIVAL WILDCATS*
Tech matched its highest goal total in the series vs. Northern Michigan with an 8-2 victory last Tuesday (Feb. 12). The Huskies scored four goals in the first period and four more in the second. The eight goals matched Oct. 18, 1997 (8-2) and Jan. 19, 1985 (8-6) as the only other eight-goal games vs. the Wildcats.
*HUSKIES WIN WINTER CARNIVAL TITLE*
Michigan Tech claimed its 42nd Winter Carnival title in its 64th year of existence by beating Alaska Anchorage 10-6 in total goals last weekend. The Seawolves defeated the Huskies 5-4 on Friday (Feb. 8) before the hosts bounced back for a 6-1 victory—their largest of the season—Saturday (Feb. 9).
*KERO AND BLAKE PIETILA BOTH PUT UP FOUR POINTS VS. NMU*
Sophomores Tanner Kero <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/kero%20tanner00.html> and Blake Pietila <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/pietila%20blake00.html> both recorded four points in the 8-2 victory over Northern Michigan last Tuesday (Feb. 12). Kero scored just 46 seconds into the game, had a power-play goal in the second period and assisted on two other goals en route to 2-2=4 on the night. Pietila tallied his team-leading 14th goal of the season in the first period and had helpers on three other goals for 1-3=4. The four-point outputs were the highest of any Tech player since Jordan Baker had 3-1=4 vs. Alaska Anchorage last year (Jan. 14, 2012). Pietila (14-7=21) and Kero (7-12=19) rank third and fourth on the team in scoring, respectively.
*PETAN WITH TEAM-LEADING 26 POINTS*
Alex Petan <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/petan%20alex00.html> had two goals in the 6-1 win over Alaska Anchorage last Saturday (Feb. 9) and another vs. Northern Michigan Tuesday (Feb. 12) to improve his team-leading point total to 11-15=26. The freshman right wing has 11 points in the last eight games. His 26 points are the fifth most among the nation’s rookies.
*SPECIAL TEAMS STORY*
Tech’s power play has scored on seven of its last 12 opportunities over the last three games including a 3-for-5 performance vs. Northern Michigan Tuesday (Feb. 12). The Huskies’ success on the power play has improved to 21.7 percent (25-of-115) on the season. The Huskies’ penalty kill went 2-for-2 in the game vs. NMU and stands at 80.7 percent.
*THE SERIES*
Michigan Tech owns a 16-25-5 all-time record against Minnesota State since the series began in 1996. The teams split their four games a year ago with a win and loss at each home site. The Huskies won the most recent matchup, a 7-3 decision in Mankato Feb. 4, 2012.
*COPLEY WITH 11 STRAIGHT STARTS, BUT PHILLIPS SEES ACTION*
Pheonix Copley <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/copley%20pheonix00.html> has surrendered just two goals in the last two games (90 minutes of work), giving up one goal in 50:44 vs. Alaska Anchorage Saturday (Feb. 9) and one goal in two periods vs. Northern Michigan. Copley made a combined 39 saves in the two games and continues to rank nationally in save percentage in games after Christmas (he’s ninth with a .941). With the contest in hand in the third period each of the last two games, fellow freshman Jamie Phillips <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/phillips%20jamie00.html> has replaced Copley in net and allowed one goal on 10 shots in 29:16 of work.
*GORDIC NAMED CARNIVAL MVP*
Junior Milos Gordic <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/gordic%20milos00.html> was named Winter Carnival MVP after a two-goal, two-assist weekend. The right wing had a goal and an assist in each game on the weekend to boost his season point total to 4-6=10. Gordic had 2-2=4 in the opening series of the year vs. Lake Superior State Oct. 11 & 13 and 2-2=4 this past weekend with just two points (both assists) in the 23 games in between.
*JOHNSTONE ON A FOUR-GAME STREAK*
Sophomore David Johnstone <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/johnstone%20david00.html>, who sat out vs. Northern Michigan Tuesday, enters the weekend on a four-game point streak after posting a combined three assists vs. Alaska Anchorage. The left wing is averaging a point per game since Christmas and is second on the team in total points with 8-15=23.
*SUCCESS AGAINST FUTURE WCHA FOES*
The Huskies are 6-3-1 against teams that will be in the WCHA next year with two such games to go in the regular season—both this weekend at Minnesota State … Tech has scored the first goal of the game in four straight contests and stands at 10-2-1 when that happens this season. The Huskies are 0-12-3 when their opponent scores first … 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 8-8-4 record on the year.