Tech Hockey Upends LSSU 8-4 in Home Opener

HOUGHTON, Mich. — The current Michigan Tech hockey team met with members of the Huskies' 1961-62 NCAA Champion team prior to tonight's game with Lake Superior State. The advice must have been good. Tech (1-1-0) poured in eight goals to defeat the Lakers (1-1-0) 8-4 in front of 3,904 fans at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

"It was a good bounce back game for us," said head coach Mel Pearson, whose team fell 4-2 at LSSU Thursday night. "Lake State's really good with the lead because they can clamp down defensively. It was important for us to get goals early."

Tech did just that as Daniel Sova, Tanner Kero and Carl Nielsen all scored first-period markers for a 3-0 lead at the first intermission.

Lake Superior State tried to get back into it in the second, drawing a penalty shot after C.J. Eick tripped Stephen Perfetto on a breakaway. Goaltender Kevin Genoe made the save, preserving the three-goal margin. Just 30 seconds later, however, the Lakers lit the lamp to pull within 3-1.

Milos Gordic answered with the first of his two goals in the game. LSSU made the score 4-2 with 11:40 remaining in the second period before the Huskies' offense exploded.

Dennis Rix scored shorthanded on a snipe from the right circle at the 14:11 mark. Alex Petan put home a rebound at the 16:12 mark. Gordic then got his second on a nice feed from behind the net from Kero at the 18:46 mark.

Tech entered the third period with a 7-2 lead and gave up two power-play goals before Blake Pietila finished off Tech's scoring at the 11:33 mark.

"The goals were just going in tonight," said Pearson. "Of course you're never happy about giving up four, but it was our night offensively and will help us build some confidence."

Genoe stopped 22-of-26 shots he faced and improved to 1-0-0 on the year. LSSU used two different goaltenders to make 32 saves on 40 Tech shots.

Both teams finished 3-for-7 on the man advantage.

Michigan Tech will open WCHA play next weekend vs. No. 1-ranked Minnesota. Games are Friday and Saturday nights at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Notes: Tech's eight-goal outburst was its first eight-goal game since Oct. 27, 2005, a 9-0 win vs. Alaska-Anchorage … 13 different Huskies had at least one point tonight … The last time a Michigan Tech opponent attempted a penalty shot was Mar. 3, 2006, at North Dakota (Michael-Lee Teslak stopped Rylan Kaip).