Hockey falls 2-1 Saturday against Alaska Play Video

Hockey falls 2-1 Saturday against Alaska

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team fell 2-1 to Alaska Saturday (Oct. 12) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Logan Pietila scored the lone goal for the Huskies in the second period.

"We got a little bit better tonight than last night, but we have to improve in every aspect of the game," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "I think there were a lot of good things. We had more balance tonight in our lines. Robbie got some time in net and we got some defensemen in the lineup and got a good look at them."

Tristan Thompson opened the game's scoring 5:18 after puck drop with a long shot through traffic. Roberts Kalkis and Kyler Marino assisted.

The Nanooks (2-2, 2-0 WCHA) added to the lead 4:01 into the second period on a goal by Chris Jandric. Antti Virtanen and Marino assisted on the play.

Coach Shawhan pulled goaltender Matt Jurusik after the second Alaska tally. He had 12 saves in the first 24 minutes of the game.

Logan Pietila drew the Huskies to within one when he created a turnover on the penalty kill and went in on a breakaway. He faked a shot, moved the puck to his backhand, and flipped it over the outstretched goaltender's pad for his first collegiate goal at 13:07.

"That was a skilled play by a skilled player," Shawhan said. "He forced a turnover and made a good play."

Pietila added, "The defenseman lost the puck, and I was able to make a move and put it in. I like to go backhand and I saw it was open."

The Huskies outshot Alaska 12-4 in the third period and had a number of power-play chances but couldn't get another puck past Gustavs Grigals who finished with 23 saves.

The two teams combined for 60 penalty minutes on 19 penalties. Each team was whistled on a five-minute major.

Robbie Beydoun stopped seven shots in the final 34:53. It was his first appearance of the season for the Black and Gold.

Brenden Datema played his first game in a Michigan Tech uniform Saturday. He logged a lot of ice time, including on Tech's eight power plays.

Michigan Tech held a moment of silence in honor of Maneet Singh in the pregame. Singh was an avid Huskies supporter and worked in a variety of student employee roles in the Michigan Tech Athletic Department. He passed away on June 19.

The Huskies are 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the WCHA and have the week off before the first WCHA road trip of the season at Bowling Green on October 25-26.