Michigan Tech wanted to play a complete game to complete a Superior Cup sweep, and it got it.
Freshman Milos Gordic scored twice in the Huskies’ 6-2 victory over Lake Superior State on Saturday.
“We talked about it before the game that we wanted a complete 60 minutes with good jump and energy,” Michigan Tech coach Jamie Russell said. “Throughout our roster I felt we did that. … I was happy with most of the facets of our game. I thought our offensive cycle was good, especially in the first two periods. Our forecheck was good.”
Steven Seigo added a goal and an assist while Bennett Royer set up a pair of goals for Michigan Tech (2-0). Patrick McCadden and Brett Olson also scored for the Huskies, who had eight freshmen in their lineup in the game.
“We were very excited about the freshmen class coming in,” Russell said. “They’ve got good size and they put up good numbers in junior hockey. They’re a little older class. In my 16 years of coaching, they’re one of the most mature classes I’ve ever been around. … They all paid their dues in junior hockey and they’re coming in, they’re getting an opportunity and they’re making the most of it.”
It was a tough couple of days for Lake Superior State. The loss came a day after a 6-6 tie with Minnesota-Duluth.
“I have to give Tech credit too; they checked really well,” Lakers coach Jim Roque said. “They didn’t give us a lot either. In the third period we tried to play with a little bit of desperation to get back in the game.”
The Lakers carried the play by way of holding a territorial advantage throughout though Roque was critical of his team defensively as well.
“The first goal was kind of a bad goal,” Roque said. “And then we gave up a couple of goals right around our net from poor coverage and poor defensive play.”
Freshman goaltender Kevine Kapalka stopped 19 shots for the Lakers (0-1-1).
“Kevine played OK,” Roque said. “The first goal [by McCadden] was kind of a bad goal and then we gave up a couple of goals around our net because of poor coverage. It was a combination of not great goaltending and poor defensive play around our net that cost us again tonight. We’ve given up a lot of goals in three games here so far so we’re going to have to fix that really quick. You’re not going to win many games giving up five or six goals a game, that’s for sure.”
The loss marked the third straight game the Lakers had given up at least five goals. Last weekend the Lakers dropped a 6-4 decision to Western Ontario in exhibition play.
