Team Gold Beats Team Black in Annual Intrasquad Game

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Reid Sturos and Chris Leibinger scored in regulation before Mason Blacklock collected the game-winner in a shootout to propel Team Gold to a 2-1 win over Team Black in the annual Michigan Tech intrasquad game tonight (Oct. 3) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The game, which was followed by Skate with the Huskies, was a 45-minute running-time contest.

"I thought it was a great night," said head coach Mel Pearson. "We got something out of it for our team as we were able to see the players in a game situation. Obviously just as important for us is being with the community and the kids. For our players to engage with the community and young people, it's special."

Sturos put Team Black up 1-0 just 10 minutes into the first half when he finished off a tic-tac-toe play. After forcing a turnover in its own end, Team Black raced through center with numbers. Evan Anderson took a feed from Walker Hyland in the left circle, settled the puck and hit Sturos streaking down the slot. Sturos quickly fired a shot just inside the post and past goaltender Matt Wintjes' glove.

Team Gold responded late in the opening stanza with a power-play goal from Leibinger. The scoring play started when Matt Roy chipped the puck deep to Patrick Anderson in the right corner. Anderson fought off a defender, circled the net and hit Leibinger with a pass at the point, where Leibinger found a lane and beat Jamie Phillips with a shot through traffic.

Neither team connected in the second half and after a back-and-forth shootout – one in which each player shot at least once – Blacklock ended the game with a hard wrister from the slot.

The Huskies begin their 2015-16 schedule next weekend (Oct. 9-10) with a pair of games against Laurentian. Both games are set to begin at 7:07 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting BuyHuskiesTickets.com or by calling 906-487-2073.