Huskies Sweep Nanooks With 2-1 Win Saturday

Play Video

• Game Highlights
• Joe Shawhan Interview

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Michigan Tech hockey team earned its third WCHA sweep of the season with a 2-1 win over Alaska Saturday (Nov. 26) from the Carlson Center. The Huskies scored the first two goals and held on for the one-goal win.

Tech extended its unbeaten streak to seven games and improved to 9-6-3 overall and 8-2-2-1 in the WCHA. The Huskies are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11.

"We're very happy to get three wins and a tie up here on this long trip," Tech assistant coach Joe Shawhan said. "Not a lot of teams would get these results up here. I'm proud of our effort and the way we finished the game with the one-goal lead."

Brent Baltus opened scoring with his second of the season 11:41 into the game. Reid Sturos assisted on the play for his fifth helper of the year.

In the second period, Shane Hanna made it a 2-0 lead as he sniped his fifth of the season over the glove of UAF goaltender Jesse Jenks. The unassisted tally was scored 4-on-4 and was the 18th goal of Hanna's career.

UAF (4-9-1, 3-6-1-1 WCHA) drew to within one 13:00 into the second on a 4-on-4 tally off the stick of Marcus Basara.

The Nanooks pulled goaltender Jenks and added the extra attacker with over two minutes to go in the third but couldn't find the equalizer.

Tech goaltender Angus Redmond made 26 saves, including 12 in the second period to improve to 8-1-1 on the season.

"The puck is big for Angus right now," added Shawhan. "He's seeing everything well and staying aggressive in the crease. We're getting as good of goaltending as we can get and he's making the saves at the right time to preserve the wins."

Like Friday night, the penalty box was full all night. The Huskies were whistled for nine minors while the Nanooks were called for five. Tech was 0-for-2 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

The Huskies outshot the Nanooks 30-27, outshooting their opponent for the eighth straight game.

Tech hosts Bemidji State next weekend (Dec. 2-3) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in a battle of the top two teams in the WCHA. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. both nights in the first of two meetings between the two teams.

"They'll be chomping after couple losses to Princeton this weekend," said Shawhan. "We'll be ready to see them and are excited to play in front of our crowd to try and make up some ground in the standings."

NOTES: Tech won 4-1 Friday … The seven-game unbeaten streak is tied for fifth in the country … The Huskies have now won 10 straight over the Nanooks … Tech's only loss in Fairbanks was in Nov. 1993 … Tech's last loss this season was Nov. 4 at Michigan State … Tech's last WCHA loss was Oct. 8 at Minnesota State … Brent Baltus has 18 career goals.