Petan and Watson Named Co-Captains for 2015-16 Hockey Team
HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech hockey coach Mel Pearson today announced the Huskies' captains for the upcoming season. Alex Petan (Delta, B.C.) and Cliff Watson (Appleton, Wis.) will serve as co-captains. Shane Hanna (Salmon Arm, B.C.) and Michael Neville (Woodbridge, Ont.) will be alternate captains.
Petan, a senior forward, is a member of Tech's century club with 102 career points on 41 goals and 61 assists in 117 games. He averaged just shy of a point per game last year with 15-25=40 in 41 games. He had a team-leading seven power-play goals and tied for the team lead in game winning goals (seven) as well. Petan gained All-WCHA Second Team accolades following the 2014-15 campaign and was a WCHA All-Rookie Team selection in 2012-13.
Watson is a junior defenseman who has played in 80 career games with 17 total points on three goals and 14 assists. He was named the Gitzen-Loutit Memorial Award winner as the team's top defensive player each of his first two campaigns at Tech. The San Jose Sharks draft pick posted three goals and 10 assists during 2014-15 while blocking 87 shots (eighth-best in the nation).
Petan and Watson were both alternate captains a year ago (Petan for the last two seasons).
Hanna is a junior defenseman who gained All-WCHA Third Team honors in 2014-15. He scored 21 points on six goals and 15 assists in 41 games while posting the sixth-best plus/minus rating in the country (+28). Hanna, who led the WCHA in scoring by defensemen in 2013-14, has produced 10-34=44 in two seasons with the Huskies.
Neville is a junior forward with 25 career points to his credit. He notched 3-11=14 as a rookie in 2013-14 and 3-8=11 more a year ago. A steady two-way center, Neville was named the team's Rick Yeo Unsung Hero Award recipient this past season. He posted a +13 plus/minus rating a year ago and is +23 for his Tech career.
"I'm happy to announce our leadership group for 2015-16," said Pearson, who enters his fifth season at Tech this fall. "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 2014-15 with 29 wins and the program's first NCAA Tournament berth in 34 years. The Huskies were ranked among the nation's top five for a majority of the season including a No. 1 ranking in Nov. after a school-best 10-0 start.
Season tickets for 2015-16 Michigan Tech hockey remain on sale for $265 apiece. The SDC Ticket Office (906-487-2073) is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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