Wildcats, Huskies to set to play each other

MARQUETTE – It’s the final weekend of regular season play in the W–C–H–A and there is still a lot to play for.

Michigan Tech can still win the conference, and Northern Michigan still has a chance to secure home ice. When the two teams met in January, the Wildcats collected three out of a possible four points, while Tech finished the series with just one point. Both teams are excited that the scheduling gods have them playing each other to end the year, with a whole lot still on the line.

“Anytime its Tech vs. Northern, I think it is the best series in college hockey,” said NMU head coach Walt Kyle. “Both communities love it, both universities love it. It’s always a tough, hard fought series and I expect nothing less than that.”

“Michigan Tech, I have to say being here for four years, is my favorite team to play,” said Wildcats co-captain Jake Baker. “It’s a good rivalry and I couldn’t be happier to play them.”

“It will be a battle,” said NMU co-captain Ryan Kesti. “That’s what you look forward to in these games. These are the games that are going to be like the playoffs. It should be a great time.”

“I know that they’ve had some injuries, but the guys who have been inserted have played extremely well,” said MTU head coach Mel Pearson. They’re obviously well coached, they worked hard, tenacious, and they have some skill. It’s going to be a heckuva weekend. Anytime ourselves and Northern get together, you can throw the record books out. It’s going to be a well played, hard fought game.”

“It’s a good way to end the regular season, as a senior playing Northern,” said Huskies forward David Johnstone. “It would feel really good to come away with four points this weekend.”

“A couple of guys that I grew up with, Mitch Jones and John Siemer, it’s always nice to play against those guys. But when the puck drops, it’s kind of a no friend zone. They’re opponents and we need to beat our opponents.”

Both teams will wrap up the regular season against each other in a home and home series Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game will be in Houghton and Saturday’s contest takes place in Marquette.
Both games have puck drop set for 7:07 p.m.