Huskies ready for battle vs. Wildcats

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Huskies may be a very angry hockey team when the puck drops against NMU tomorrow night. Michigan Tech was shutout at Wisconsin Saturday, despite a season high 47 shots on goal.

The Huskies took care of business against rival Northern Michigan last year, winning three of the four regular season meetings. After Tech plays at NMU Friday night, the Huskies have nine straight home games on the horizon. But before they return to the comfy confines of MacInnes, Tech has a little business to take care of in Marquette first.

“Some nights the offense doesn’t come naturally, so you have to play well defensively and do all the little things well,” said MTU assistant coach Bill Muckalt. “Northern is going to give us everything they got. They’re going to come in and play physical. I’m sure that coach (Walt) Kyle will have them ready to play.”

“It’s the talk of the town between us two teams,” said Huskies senior forward David Johnstone. “I’m a senior and I can’t stand playing them sometimes, but that’s hockey and you just have to grind through it. They’re not the prettiest of games, but you have to get a win somehow. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. Pucks didn’t go in last Saturday, but if we keep getting shots, along with pucks and people to the net, they’re going to go in sooner or later.”

“Playing the Wildcats is always a series you look forward to. It doesn’t matter what time of the year, it’s an historic rivalry,” said MTU defenseman Riley Sweeney. “We need to play well on the road and we need to play well at home and we need to do what it takes to win both games.”

In league games, the Huskies and Wildcats are an even 33–33–2 against each other.