GLI Champs! Huskies earn shootout win over #7 Michigan State
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Michigan Tech (9-8-4) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
|
Michigan State (13-4-3) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michigan Tech won the 57th Great Lakes Invitational with a 3-3 tie and shootout win over No. 7 Michigan State Friday at Van Andel Arena. Tournament MVP Jack Works had a hat trick and all-tournament team goaltender Blake Pietila stopped a career-high 54 shots.
"Very proud of our guys," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We battled and got a great goaltending performance. We had a lot of guys step up, especially Worksy with the hat trick."
Tech won its 12th GLI Title and remained unbeaten against MSU in their last six meetings. It was the second victory over the Spartans in the title game (1971) and the second GLI Championship under Coach Shawhan (2019).
MSU (13-4-3) was called for the first penalty of the game and the Huskies capitalized when Jack Works one-timed a pass under the goaltender from Logan Pietila for the lead 8:55 into the game. Kyle Kukkonen also assisted on the sixth goal of the season for Works.
The Spartans tied it up with a power-play tally of their own off the stick of Joey Larson 5:54 into the second period. He put in a loose puck after a scramble in front of Blake. Red Savage and Jeremy Davidson assisted. Tech had killed off 19 straight penalties dating back to November 18 before the goal.
Joey Larson gave the Green and White the lead with 41 seconds left in the second when he found space in front of the net and finished off a centering feed from Nicolas Muller.
It didn't take long for the Huskies to tie it up in the third when Kyle Kukkonen connected with Jack Works in the slot 2:23 after intermission. Works made a quick move and fired in his second of the night.
Jack Works completed the hat trick and gave Tech a third-period lead when he scored from Chase Pietila 9:29 into the third. His initial shot was saved but he jammed in the rebound for his 16th career goal. Kyle Kukkonen added the second assist.
"It feels awesome. It was a tough game and tough first period but we stuck to it and ended up with the win," Works said. "It's pretty clear to me how big of a deal this is for Michigan Tech. I'm honored to be a part of that and am so happy we won."
The Spartans tied the game when Red Savage scored on a breakaway from David Gucciardi with 7:57 left in the third.
The teams combined for 14 shots on goal in the overtime. Blake Pietila had to get across the crease to make a huge save midway through, and Jack Works hit the post on the other end.
Ryland Mosley was the only player to score in the shootout, and Blake Pietila stoned Joey Larson to seal the MacInnes Cup.
Blake Pietila's 54 saves were six more than his previous career high in his 123rd game for the Huskies. He stopped 16 shots in the first, 13 in the second, 16 in the third, and nine in overtime.
"It's awesome anytime you can be a part of a GLI Championship. It means a lot for the program, university, and the guys you play with, so it was special to win it with this group," Blake said. "I felt pretty good out there. A lot of their chances were from the outside or had a stick in their lane. The team kept progressing as the game went on, and we started to take it to them."
Luca Di Pasquo made 22 saves for the Spartans.
The teams combined for only three penalties with Tech going 1-for-2 on the power play and the Spartans 1-for-1.
Tech is 9-8-4 overall and gets back to action with an exhibition game at Northern Michigan on January 6.
GLI All-Tournament Team
MVP – Jack Works (Michigan Tech)
G – Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech)
D – Chase Pietila (Michigan Tech)
D – David Gucciardi (Michigan State)
F – Ryland Mosley (Michigan Tech)
F – Joey Larson (Michigan State)
F – Chase Dubois (Alaska)
