Lucchini and Redmond Sign NLIs for Tech Hockey

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech today announced the addition of two hockey student-athletes during the spring signing period. Jake Lucchini (Trail, B.C./Trail Smoke Eaters) and Angus Redmond (Langley, B.C./Salmon Arm Silverbacks) have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Huskies and coach Mel Pearson.

Lucchini, a 6-0, 176-pound forward, was the most valuable player of the British Columbia Hockey League's Interior Division in 2014-15. He posted 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 total points in 58 games during the season, finishing fourth in the BCHL in scoring. The team captain earned BCHL All-Star Second Team honors as well. Lucchini has played three seasons and 168 total games for Trail, gaining the team's most improved player award in 2013-14.

"Jake's a late bloomer," said Michigan Tech assistant coach Bill Muckalt. "He's really improved over the last two seasons. He plays with a tremendous amount of energy and compete. His passion for hockey has really shaped his game, and he'll fit with our team very well with his style of play."

Redmond is a 6-2, 190-pound goaltender who played for Salmon Arm (BCHL) each of the last three years. He appeared in 50 games last season with a 2.71 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Redmond played to a 24-21-3 record in 2014-15 and has won 30 games for the Silverbacks during his junior career. He closed the 2014-15 season with four shutouts and 16 wins in the last 25 games of the campaign.

"We're really excited about Angus' progress and development," said Muckalt. "He's a big, mobile goaltender who we feel can continue the strong play we've had at the position. He took a big step this year, and will be one of the premier goalies in junior hockey next season."

Seven other student-athletes have previously signed NLIs to continue their hockey careers at Michigan Tech. An update on each is below.

Michigan Tech is coming off a 2014-15 season in which it had nation-leading 29 wins, its first home playoff series in 22 years and its first NCAA Tournament berth in 34 years. Tech ranked in the top 10 for 12 straight weeks to end the season and 20 weeks overall including a week at No. 1 after starting the year 10-0-0.

Season hockey tickets for the 2015-16 season are on sale now for a limited-time at $199. Call 906-487-2073 to purchase.


Brett Boeing • Forward, 5-8, 175, Barrington, Ill. • Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Boeing totaled 48 points on 28 goals and 20 assists in 60 games in the USHL during the regular season. He posted 2-3=5 in eight playoff games, helping the Fighting Saints to the Eastern Conference Finals of the USHL Playoffs. The forward posted a plus-minus rating of +16 while notching 14 points on the power play. Boeing played each of the past two seasons in Dubuque, totaling 10-16=26 in 2013-14 for 74 points in his junior career.

Chris Gerrie • Forward, 5-10, 170, Red Deer, Alb. • Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)
Gerrie led the Grizzlys with 61 total points in 59 regular season games in 2014-15. He scored 25 goals with 36 assists and had a team-best 12 points on the power play. As a rookie in juniors in 2013-14, Gerrie posted 18-36-54 in 60 games and was named Canada Junior Hockey National Rookie of the Year.

Jake Jackson • Forward, 6-0, 195, Maplewood, Minn. • Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)
Jackson played the 2014-15 season for Nanaimo in the BCHL with 25 goals and 29 assists for 54 total points in 52 regular season games. He helped the Clippers to the BCHL Playoffs' Fred Page Cup Finals with eight goals and six assists in 22 postseason games. An NHL draft pick of the San Jose Sharks (2013, 7th round), Jackson played the 2013-14 season for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL after a standout prep career at Tartan (Minn.) High School.

Jake Kauppila • Forward, 6-0, 195, Gurnee, Ill. • Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Kauppila spent the 2014-15 season at Green Bay, where he notched nine goals and 10 assists in 60 regular season games.

Mitch Newsome • Forward, 6-0, 180, Surrey, B.C. • Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Newsome is still playing with the Vees in the RBC Cup national junior hockey tournament. He posted six goals and 17 assists in 49 games during the regular season and has appeared in 16 playoff games, helping Penticton win both the Fred Page Cup and Western Canada Cup titles.

Mitch Reinke • Defense, 5-11, 170, Stillwater, Minn. • Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
Reinke played the 2014-15 season at Cedar Rapids, totaling two goals and 19 assists in 55 games. The defenseman also amassed a plus-minus rating of +19. Reinke played three seasons at Stillwater (Minn.) High School prior to joining the RoughRiders.

Cooper Watson • Defense, 6-2, 185, Appleton, Wis. • Madison Capitols (USHL)
Watson spent the 2014-15 season with the Madison Capitols, posting two goals and four assists in 54 games. The younger brother of current Husky, Cliff, Cooper Watson played the 2013-14 season for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL).