Sturos peaking for Tech at the right time
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HOUGHTON -- With six points in his last three games, the No. 2 Michigan Tech Huskies’ assistant captain Reid Sturos has vaulted into a tie with junior Joel L’Esperance for the team lead in points with 24. He is one of three 10-goal scorers on the team and part of the Huskies’ most deadly trio against the Lake Superior State Lakers last weekend.
Sturos and his linemates -- assistant captain Michael Neville and sophomore Jake Jackson -- have jelled into the Huskies’ most consistent line at both ends of the rink, and -- thanks to a five-goal, 13-point weekend -- the group led the Huskies to a sweep of the Lakers to open the 2017 WCHA Tournament.
Sturos enjoys skating alongside his classmate in Neville and the young, speedy Jackson.
"I think we are hitting our stride at the right time," said Sturos. "I think we just like playing with each other. We come to practice and have fun every day. When it comes to game time, we get a little more serious."
Having spent the bulk of the season together has helped the three develop the type of chemistry coaches hope for when assembling lines.
"We have been playing together for most of the year," said Sturos. "We just know where each other is going to be. [We have] been playing with each other the whole year, basically, so we have a little chemistry there."
Neville and Sturos have the added responsibility of penalty killing, something they have done together, and that has helped their relationship blossom throughout the season.
"I think that is a key aspect," said Sturos. "Every time we are on the ice, we’re together, for the most part. Even on the penalty kill, we know what we are going to do, just from playing together all week in practice."
Sturos has made huge strides in learning the importance of the defensive game, and that has helped him when it comes to killing penalties.
"I take pride in it," said Sturos. "I take pride in killing penalties. It’s just playing defense for two minutes and it is fun."
As shown last season when he blocked a play during a 5-on-3 at Bowling Green and then scored thanks to help from Neville, Sturos has penchant for turning what should be a disadvantage into an advantage.
"You can catch the other team thinking too much about offense sometimes," said Sturos. "When get the puck in their zone, we have a little bit more time. Teams think offensively when they are on the power play, so it is fun getting a break while on the penalty kill."
The journey from wide-eyed freshman to a member of the most successful senior class in over 30 years has been an experience Sturos has enjoyed, despite not knowing what to expect when he first arrived on campus four years ago.
Sturos was a key piece of the offensive puzzle as a freshman, scoring eight goals and 21 points in 30 contests. It took him nine games to finally get onto the scoresheet and another 11 to get comfortable, but once he did, he scored five goals and seven assists for 12 points in seven games, earning the NCAA Rookie of the Month honors in February of that season.
For the next two seasons, Sturos struggled to rekindle that scoring touch, scoring six goals and 15 points as a sophomore and four goals and 15 points as a junior. That experience taught him a lot about playing defensively first.
"It was a little bit frustrating," said Sturos. "I had to find a little bit more of a defensive role."
As a senior, Sturos has taken that next step, which is why coach Mel Pearson and his staff rewarded the veteran with a letter during the season.
"I don’t think I am one of the most vocal guys on the team," said Sturos. "I try to show my leadership on the ice, working hard every day. I am thankful for the ‘A’ on my chest and I take pride in it."
GOING MAVERICK
This weekend, the Huskies face off against a familiar opponent in the No. 3 Minnesota State Mavericks. The Mavericks swept the Huskies early in the season before winning in a shootout and losing to the Huskies in January.
The Mavericks are 21-11-4 overall, but only 8-8-1 away from the Verizon Wireless Center.
Freshman Marc Michaelis leads the team in assists (22), shorthanded goals (2), and points (36). He is also tied in goals (14) with sophomore Daniel Brickley and juniors Brad McClure and Zeb Knutson.
Sophomore Jason Pawloski seems to have earned the playoff starter’s role between the pipes. In 14 appearances, he has a 7-3-2 record with a 2.03 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.
GAME TIMES
Game times this weekend are 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Should a third game be necessary, it would be Sunday at 7:07 p.m.