Tech ranked No. 19 in final poll

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team is ranked No. 19 in the final USCHO poll and No. 20 in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live poll. The Huskies finished the season with a 19-15-6 overall record and tied for second in the CCHA with a 12-10-2 mark.

Tech was ranked in the preseason poll and received votes in 22 of the 24 weeks. The Huskies entered the NCAA Tournament at No. 20. It's the third year in a row ending in the top 20 and the fourth time under Coach Joe Shawhan.

Michigan Tech captured its first-ever CCHA Mason Cup Championship with a 2-1 victory at No. 20 Bemidji State on March 22. The Huskies punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season and 16th time in program history. It was the program's 12th conference playoff championship and second under head coach Joe Shawhan.

Tech also captured the 57th annual Great Lakes Invitational for the 12th title in program history after a 3-2 overtime win over Alaska in the semifinal and a 3-3 tie and shootout win over No. 7 Michigan State.

Isaac Gordon was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year and was also honored on the All-GLIAC Second Team with Blake Pietila. Gordon tallied 36 points for the most by a Tech rookie since Colin Murphy in 2002-03 when he tallied 37.

Blake Pietila was also named the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He ended his career holding school records in games played (142), wins (76), shutouts in a career (24), shutouts in a season (10), goals-against average for a season (1.81), and save percentage for a season (.934).

Logan Pietila tied the school record for career games played with 180 and had a career-high 29 points as a fifth-year captain. He led the nation in career game-winning goals (13).

The Huskies also hosted playoff hockey for the third year in a row and secured the MacInnes Trophy as Winter Carnival Champions.

The USCHO.com Division I Men's Ice Hockey Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country. Media outlets may republish this poll as long as USCHO.com is credited.

The 29th annual USA Hockey/The Rink Live Men's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey.