×

Michigan Tech hockey settles for another tie with Alaska Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — The Michigan Tech hockey team extended its unbeaten streak at Alaska Anchorage to seven games with a 3-3 tie Saturday, at Sullivan Arena. The Seawolves earned the extra WCHA point for the second night in a row with a 3-on-3 overtime goal with 1:43 left on the clock.

The Huskies came back from a two-goal third-period deficit and dominated in shots on goal for the second night in a row after tying 1-1 on Friday before losing the shootout.

“I’m proud of the effort,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “There is a lot of frustration with the lack of scoring. We had tremendous opportunities to score and missed about eight wide-open nets. I give our guys a ton of credit for fighting through that frustration and tying it up.

“Most of the games we are going to win this year are going to be one-goal wins. We have to learn how to play in those games, not beat ourselves and play with character.”

Down 3-1, Dane Birks buried his third of the season to bring the Black and Gold to within one 5:00 into the third. On the man advantage, he took a long blast through traffic with Keegan Ford and Thomas Beretta assisting on the play.

Alex Smith tied it at three, scoring his first of the season, with 3:50 remaining in the third, as he banged in a loose puck near the faceoff dot to the left of the UAA net. Jake Jackson and Birks added the assists.

In the first overtime, Tech dominated in shots 5-1. Brent Baltus and Gavin Gould both had quality scoring chances in the opening minute. Baltus carried the puck to the front of the net but had his backhand shot saved. Gould chipped at a rebound that just squeaked wide moments later. Joel L’Esperance hit the post with 2:15 on the OT clock as he was trying to finish off a 2-on-1 rush with Jake Lucchini.

The Huskies controlled much of the play in the 3-on-3, but Trey deGraaf scored for the Seawolves after he brought the puck to the front of the net and Tech goaltender Patrick Munson missed on the poke check.

Like Friday night, the Black and Gold took an early lead before the home team tied it up. Alex Gillies buried his second of the year 2:44 into the game, tipping in Mitch Reinke’s long shot. Greyson Reitmeier won the draw back to Reinke to pick up the secondary assist.

Eric Sinclair tied it up just over 3:00 later, capitalizing on a Husky turnover. Natha Renouf and deGraaf assisted on the play.

UAA (1-7-4, 1-2-3-3 WCHA) then took its first lead of the weekend with 2:39 remaining before the first intermission on a goal by Jonah Renouf.

Jeremiah Luedtke scored the lone goal of the second period 15:14 in for the 3-1 Anchorage lead.

Tech took 80 total shots on the night. 40 made it to the net, 15 were blocked by the defense, and 25 missed the net.

Robbie Beydoun made his second career start for Tech, stopping 8-of-11 shots before Munson came in relief. Munson stopped all 13 shots he faced in the final 35:14 of the game.

Both teams were whistled for six penalties. Tech was 1-for-5 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Tech is 5-6-4 overall and 3-5-4-1 in the WCHA and continues its road trip with a WCHA series at Alaska after Thanksgiving on Friday and Saturday. The puck drops at 11:07 p.m. both nights against the Nanooks at the Carlson Center.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today