North Michigan News

The NMU hockey team faced a narrow defeat against the Michigan Tech Huskies in Houghton, with the final score reading 3-2. The Wildcats' freshman player, Grayden Slipec, continued his impressive performance against the Huskies by scoring two goals. This extends his point streak to four games and brings his tally to five goals in four matches against Michigan Tech this season.

Slipec's linemate, Jakub Altrichter, also contributed significantly with two assists. Altrichter is now on a three-game point streak and leads his team in points. Goaltender Ryan Ouellette made 33 saves during the match, including a crucial 16 in the first period.

For the Huskies, Elias Jansson scored twice on power plays while Isaac Gordon had a goal and an assist. Ryan Manzella managed 18 saves for Michigan Tech.

The Wildcats found themselves trailing by two goals midway through the second period but managed to equalize with goals in both the second and third periods. However, after tying the game, an NMU player was penalized following an incident against the end wall. The Huskies capitalized on this opportunity to score their winning goal on a power play.

Special teams played a decisive role as Michigan Tech converted two out of three power-play opportunities while NMU only had one chance early in the game.

Looking ahead, NMU aims to secure a win at home against the Huskies at Berry Events Center with puck drop scheduled for 6:07 p.m. ET.

The game's initial stages saw NMU awarded a man advantage but they failed to capitalize as Ouellette saved an early short-handed breakaway from Michigan Tech. The Huskies scored first late in the opening period when Gordon found himself unmarked after Ouellette's double save.

During four-on-four play followed by another penalty halfway through the second period, Michigan Tech doubled their lead just before NMU responded through Slipec's well-executed shot after receiving a pass from Altrichter.

In another controversial moment during the third period when NMU was penalized again yet successfully killed off that penalty without conceding further goals; Hutchinson helped spring another counterattack leading to Slipec’s second goal of night thanks largely due clever interplay between him & Altrichter once more.

However soon after Hutchinson got caught up alongside Husky forward into boards resulting yet another shorthanded situation where despite some good chances created notably via combination work involving Altrichter & Slipec - who forced Manzella into making critical glove save - ultimately could not prevent third decisive goal being scored later within same man advantage phase thus sealing outcome favorably towards visitors side

In last desperate attempt even pulling netminder out trying force equalizer yielded no fruitful results leaving final standing unchanged at 3-2 favoring host team