2016-17 Hockey Captains Announced
HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech hockey coach Mel Pearson today announced the Huskies' captains for the upcoming season. Cliff Watson (Appleton, Wis.) will serve as the captain. Shane Hanna (Salmon Arm, B.C.), Brent Baltus (Nanaimo, B.C.) and Michael Neville (Woodbridge, Ont.) will be alternate captains.
Watson is a senior defenseman who has played in 117 career games with 27 total points on five goals and 22 assists. He has been named the Gitzen-Loutit Memorial Award winner as the team's top defensive player three times in a Huskies uniform. The San Jose Sharks draft pick posted two goals and 8 assists during 2015-16 with plus / minus of +10. A main stay on the back end has only missed one game since attending Michigan Tech.
Watson was a co-captain a year ago with second team All-American Alex Petan and has been in a leadership role with the Huskies for the past three seasons.
Hanna is a senior defenseman who gained All-WCHA Third Team honors in each of his past two seasons. He was also a member of the WCHA All-Rookie Team as a freshmen. He scored 19 points on three goals and 16 assists in 37 games while posting a plus/minus of (+21). He has produced 13-50=63 in three seasons with the Huskies and is +51 for this Tech career.
Neville is a senior forward with 37 career points to his credit. He notched 3-11=14 as a rookie in 2013-14, 3-8=11 in 2014-15 and 2-11-13 a year ago. A steady two-way center, Neville was named the team's Rick Yeo Unsung Hero Award recipient the past two seasons. He posted a +8 plus/minus rating a year ago and is +31 for his Tech career.
Baltus is a senior forward who has played in 84 career games with 39 total points on 16 goals and 23 assists. He was named the 2015-16 winner of the Harold Meese Sportsmanship award. Brett was also named to the WCHA All-Academic Team the previous two season.
"I'm extremely excited and pleased to announce our leadership group for the upcoming 2016-17 season," said Pearson, who enters his sixth season at Tech this fall. "The group will be led by captain Cliff Watson with alternate captains Shane Hanna, Michael Neville and Brent Baltus. These young men understand the expectations on the ice, in the community and in the classroom placed upon them by our staff. As with any successful program, you're only as good as your leaders. Our coaching staff knows that this nucleus will provide our team the opportunity to have another great year."
Michigan Tech finished 2015--16 with 23 wins and the program's first MacNaughton Cup in 40 years. The Huskies open their 2016-17 season on the road against Minnesota Duluth October 1st and 2nd. The home opener is October 14th & 15th as Alabama Huntsville visits the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Season tickets for 2016-17 Michigan Tech hockey remain on sale for $204 apiece until July 1st. The SDC Ticket Office (906-487-2073) is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.