Tech Hockey Hosts Omaha for Weekend WCHA Series

Tech Hockey Hosts Omaha for Weekend WCHA Series

Nov. 2-3, 2012 • 7:07 p.m. (EDT) • MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,466)

Michigan Tech (2-4-0, 1-3-0 WCHA) Hosts Nebraska-Omaha (2-3-1, 0-1-1 WCHA)

Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Dirk Hembroff, Brent Peterson/Randy Heinonen)
Video Webcast: HuskiesLive.mtu.edu
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: livestats.prestosports.com/michigantech

Full version of game notes in pdf.

HUSKIES BACK AT HOME
Michigan Tech returns home to play at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena this weekend vs. Nebraska Omaha. The Huskies are 2-1 at home this year with a 5.0 goals per game average in those games. That's 3.3 goals higher than their road average of 1.7 after three away games.

RIX CONTINUES HOT START
Dennis Rix scored both of Michigan Tech's goals in a 5-2 loss last Saturday (Oct. 27) at Denver to run his season total to a team-leading five. The junior center, who entered this season with only six goals in 74 career games, has really turned up his offensive production to start the year. Rix ranks 13th nationally in goals per game and is tied for first in the country in shorthanded goals with two. Add in a power-play goal, and the 6-0, 190-pound forward has three special teams goals and two even strength tallies.

COPLEY GETS TWO MORE NODS
Goaltender Pheonix Copley started both games in Denver and tallied a combined 34 saves in the two games. The rookie has started five of the team's six games this year and is 1-4 with a .854 save percentage and 4.06 goals against average.

PHILLIPS SEES FIRST ACTION IN NET
Fellow freshman goaltender Jamie Phillips saw his first official action of his career with a relief appearance vs. Denver last Friday (Oct. 26). He stopped six of seven shots in his 18 minutes of play.

THE SERIES
Michigan Tech and Nebraska Omaha will meet for the first time since Winter Carnival in Houghton last Feb. 10-11. The Mavericks took three of four points that weekend with a 3-3 tie Friday and a 4-0 victory Saturday. UNO leads the all-time series 5-2-1. The Huskies are still searching for their first win over Omaha at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena (0-3-1).

TAKING MORE SHOTS
Michigan Tech held a shots on goal advantage in both games against Denver last weekend. Shot totals were 28-22 on Friday and 38-28 on Saturday. The Huskies have outshot their opponent in four of six games this season, but are 1-3 in those contests.

DAVIS ON THE SCORESHEET
Sophomore defenseman Jimmy Davis notched his first career point with the primary assist on Dennis Rix's goal last Saturday (Oct. 27) at Denver. Davis fired a shot on net that was saved before Rix put home the rebound in the third period. The Caledonia, Mich., native played in his first two games of the year last weekend. It was his first action since Dec. 30, 2011.

HUSKIES BITES
Jimmy Davis, who tallied an assist at Denver last Saturday (Oct. 27), was the 19th different player to record a point this season for Tech … The Huskies have outscored their opponents in the first and second periods at plus-six this season, but are minus-eight in the third … Michigan Tech has played four of its six games against teams ranked in the nation's top 5 … Tech is 2-0 when scoring the game's opening goal and 0-4 when its opponent scores first.

THE POWER PLAY
Michigan Tech's power play currently ranks 15th in the nation at 21.4 percent. The Huskies have converted 6-of-28 chances in six games.

NIELSEN CAPTAIN; SEIGO AND STEBNER TO ASSIST
Senior defenseman Carl Nielsen will serve as the Huskies' captain in 2012-13. The Amherst, Ohio, native was an assistant captain for the team a year ago and has played in 107 career games at Tech. Senior Steven Seigo and junior Brad Stebner will be assistant captains, giving the Huskies three defensemen in leadership roles.

THREE NHL DRAFT PICKS
Michigan Tech went three years without an NHL draft pick on the roster until Blake Pietila (New Jersey, fifth round) joined the squad last fall. Now, the Huskies have three draftees in the program. Forward Jujhar Khaira and goaltender Jamie Phillips were both selected in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Khaira was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round (63rd overall), while Phillips was picked in the seventh round by the Winnipeg Jets (190th overall).