Huskies Earn Extra WCHA Point With 3 on 3 Overtime Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama Huntsville (1-4-1, 1-2-1 WCHA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Michigan Tech (2-3-1, 2-1-1 WCHA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Reid Sturos scored in the second overtime as Michigan Tech earned the extra WCHA point on Saturday night at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies and Alabama Huntsville officially skated to a 1-1 tie, but it was the home team coming away from the weekend with five points in the league standings.
It was the first ever 3-on-3 overtime game winner in WCHA history. Sturos carried the puck off the wall and fired a sharp-angled shot under UAH goaltender Jordan Uhelsk. Assisting on the goal was Michael Neville and Shane Hanna.
"Reid really deserved that goal," Tech coach Mel Pearson said. "We want our seniors to have their best year in their senior year, and Reid's off to a great start.
"We're happy with the five points from the weekend. Every point is so valuable because the league title and home ice is going to come down to one or two points at the end of the season."
The game was scoreless for the first two and a half periods. Tech outshot UAH 12-4 in the second and had numerous quality shots by Cliff Watson, Joel L'Esperance, Gavin Gould, and Shane Hanna.
Matt Roy finally broke the scoreless tie with a blast from the blue line that found its way under goaltender Uhelsk's glove and into the back of the net. L'Esperance assisted on the power play goal, as he won the faceoff back to Roy.
UAH quickly quieted the MacInnes Student Ice Arena crowd 50 seconds later with a similar shot off the stick of Kurt Gosselin.
Both teams had 10 shots in an evenly played third period.
The Huskies dominated the first overtime, outshooting UAH 3-0. Sturos was buzzing on his shift with a pair of great scoring chances.
Hanna had a chance early in the 3-on-3 just before Sturos found the back of the net. Coach Pearson started Hanna, Neville, and Sturos in the final period.
Devin Kero got his third start of the year and first career at home. He stopped 21-of-22 shots.
"To have my name called in the starting lineup in this arena is something I've been dreaming about since I was a little," Kero said. "For me to get that opportunity, and for the team to help me get a W, was great."
The Huskies were called for six minor penalties, killing off all four UAH power plays. They were 1-for-2 on the man advantage, finishing 5-for-9 on the weekend.
Before the game, Michigan Tech had a moment of silence in memory of off ice official Ted Ritchie from Hancock and WCHA referee Butch Mousseau from Erie, Colorado.
"It was a big weekend," added Kero. "There was a lot of negativity after the first four games but coming home and turning it around is great. The locker room will be a lot less tense, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into next weekend."
Tech heads back on the road next weekend (Oct. 21-22) for a nonconference series at the University of Michigan. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. both nights from Yost Ice Arena.
NOTES: Gavin Gould played in his first career game … Points scored in the 3-on-3 overtime do not count towards season totals … Attendance was 3,013 Saturday night … Matt Roy has eight career goals … Tech is now 11-0-1 against Huntsville.
