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Wildcats Top Huskies To Clinch Post-Season Berth
 This story about Saturday's game was written by MTU Athletics Tech's eight seniors were recognized on the ice after the game after Brent Baltus, Shane Hanna, Tyler Heinonen, Chris Leibinger, Michael Neville, Reid Sturos, Cliff Watson, and Matt Wintjes played their final regular season home game. The class has won 83 games over its four years—the most since the 1984 senior class. They have also been to the NCAA Tournament, won the MacNaughton Cup, and were ranked No. 1 in the country in 2014-15. "It was a tough loss tonight," Tech coach Mel Pearson said. "I'm disappointed for our seniors who have done so much for this program. But like Cliff Watson said after the game, 'Let's just win the last game we play here.' If we do that as a team, that means we'll be playing a lot more hockey." Joel L'Esperance opened the game's scoring 65 seconds after puck drop, tallying his eighth of the season. Alex Gillies took the initial shot that was saved and rebounded out to L'Esperance who whacked in. Dane Birks was also credited with an assist. NMU (12-20-4, 10-15-3-1 WCHA) tied it up with a power play goal by Troy Loggins with 50 seconds left on the first period clock. Philip Beaulieu and Darien Craighead assisted. Early in the second, the Wildcats took their first lead of the game with a power play tally by Craighead. Jordan Klimek and Beaulieu assisted on the goal 4:14 into the middle period. Jake Jackson tied it up at two five minutes later with his sixth of the year and second against NMU this season. He beat his defenseman on the outside and slipped the puck under NMU goaltender Atte Tolvanen. Reid Sturos and goaltender Angus Redmond assisted on the play. The two teams then traded goals in the final minute of the period. Dominik Shine scored unassisted with 60 seconds left in the frame, before Gavin Gould tied it up on the power play 15 seconds later. Gould redirected a shot by Shane Hanna for the sixth of his freshman season with Matt Roy adding the extra assist. NMU added a pair of goals in the third to get the win. Shane Sooth scored 4:05 in for the game winner, and Gerard Hanson added an empty net tally with 35 seconds left. The Huskies dominated in shots on goal 41-22. Tolvanen had 38 saves for the visitors. "We played hard and generated some really good scoring opportunities," added Pearson. "We just couldn't capitalize. You can't give up four goals at home and expect to win. They (NMU) found a way to get the job done tonight, and I give them credit." Recently elected congressman, Jack Bergman was on hand to drop the puck before the game. The Wildcats are the eighth seed in the WCHA Playoffs and travel to top-seeded Bemidji State. NMU and the Beavers play next Friday and Saturday nights (8:07 ET) and Sunday (6:07 ET) if necessary.
Ryan Black's first collegiate goal drew the Wildcats within a single strike early in the third period, but the Huskies withstood a late flurry to move to 18-12-7 on the season. Robbie Payne gave Northern Michigan a 1-0 lead just 3:15 into the game. While taking a check, Brock Maschmeyer directed a shot on net that was blocked by Cliff Watson in the slot. The puck kicked over to Darien Craighead, who found Payne for the tap-in goal with a no-look backhanded pass that went through Watson's legs. Michigan Tech evened the score at the 11:54 mark after a long goalmouth scramble. After multiple Huskies had a whack at the loose puck, it finally skittered out to Watson to fire past Atte Tolvanen. The middle stanza was marred by extended time spent on special teams. Northern Michigan took three penalties, including a five-minute major during the first two minutes of the frame. Tolvanen made nine saves, and the players in front of him blocked seven shots, when the Wildcats were on the penalty kill. One of Tolvanen's most impressive stops came during Northern Michigan's second penalty kill; with seconds left in that kill, Tolvanen denied Jake Lucchini's point shot with a kick save. Michigan Tech took its first lead of the game at 11:06. At 6:59 of the third, Black pulled the Wildcats back within one. After taking a lateral pass from Maschmeyer, Black skated into the middle of the left circle and fired a shot on net that made its way through traffic and skirted past Angus Redmond.
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