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Tech’s defensemen net 3 goals in 5-2 victory over Alaska

Michigan Tech’s Mark Auk passes as Alaska’s Ryker Leer defends Friday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — There’s a sports cliché that often finds its way into the vocabulary of old-school coaches: Defense is the best offense. Those coaches mean that stopping an opponent from scoring is just as effective to getting a win as scoring yourself. But for Michigan Tech on Friday against Alaska, the saying took a more straightforward meaning. The team’s defense was literally its best offense.  

The Huskies defeated Alaska 5-2 in the MacInnes Student Ice Arena thanks to three goals scored by their defensemen.  

Coach Joe Shawhan said for Tech (12-9-5, 8-6-5-2 WCHA) to have success in the tail end of the season, he will need consistency from his defensive core. He got that and then some on Friday.  

The Huskies are already playing without sophomore Keegan Ford, who is out for the season with an ACL injury, and their defense got a little smaller late in the first period. Sophomore Mitch Reinke was whistled for checking from behind and was given a game misconduct, meaning he was removed from the game.  

“They were outstanding,” Shawhan said of his defensemen. “We lost a tremendous defenseman in the first period, and we got two goals out of (Mitch) Meek, and great play out of those guys. I thought Dane Birks was outstanding. I thought Mark Auk was tremendous.” 

Shawhan couldn’t say enough about his players, and the coach was almost in awe of their performance. 

“I mean, how could you not be proud of them?” he said.  

Freshman Mitch Meek, who hadn’t found the net since Tech’s second game of the season, scored the team’s first two goals. It’s too bad he doesn’t remember them.  

“I kind of blacked out there and didn’t really know what happened,” he said laughing. “But it is great to get credit for some offensive plays, and even better to get the win.” 

What happened was two heads-up plays that gave Tech a 2-1 lead over Alaska (9-14-2, 7-11-1-1 WCHA).  

His first goal came at 7:05 in the first period. Meek saw Alaska’s goaltender, Anton Matrinsson, playing down, close to the ice, so he fired the puck over his head and into the net. His second came after Alaska’s Tyler Cline had evened the score at 1, and Tech needed a response.  

This time, Meek knew he was scoring. 

The freshman called for the puck when he saw an opening and fired his third goal of the season past Martinsson.  

Then, Raymond Brice netted another goal in the third period giving Tech a 3-1 lead, but it was short-lived. The Nanooks scored 15 seconds later to keep themselves in striking distance.  

The Huskies needed to put the game away, and Auk stepped up to the challenge. The senior found the net at 14:25 in the third, giving Tech a two-goal cushion.  

Auk flew under the radar for most of the game, but when it came time for Tech to score, Shawhan thinks the senior was aided by a little divine intervention.  

“He kept the game simple and ended up scoring a goal,” Shawhan said. “I think the good Lord rewarded him for his contribution, for his attention to detail for us.” 

The way Auk saw it, things were a bit simpler.  

“I think the biggest key for us was just getting shots through to the net, taking the goalie’s eyes away and getting into our offensive zone formation where we can either put it behind the net or get it on the net,” he said.  

Thomas Beretta tacked on Tech’s fifth goal with an empty net in the final moments of play, but by that point, the defense had already done enough damage to secure a win. 

The Huskies have a young defensive core with just two upperclassmen: Auk (senior) and Dane Birks (junior). Those two are joined by three freshmen, Seamus Donahue, Cooper Watson and Meek.  

But at this point in the season, Meek doesn’t think age matters.  

“We have great depth and are confident with everyone who plays defense for our team,” he said. “So, we are just going to keep it up and work hard.” 

Tech’s defense was aided by goaltender Devin Kero, who had 29 saves in his sixth appearance of the season. The Huskies have rotated between three goalies all season, as Shawhan hasn’t been able to pinpoint an every-day starter. This week, Kero earned his ice time because of his play in practice.  

“That is the only way I can gauge it,” Shawhan said. “We are still trying to find that guy that can get us over the hump. They all work extremely hard, but in my opinion, Devin has been the guy that has stood out in practice.” 

Up next, Tech will take on Alaska again tonight in the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. 

INJURY UPDATE 

Senior captain Brent Baltus missed the action against Alaska with a concussion, which he suffered during the GLI. His return for tonight’s game is uncertain.  

– – – 

Alaska  0  1  1  —  2 

Tech  1  0  4  —  5 

First period 

Tech — Mitch Meek (Alex Smith), 7:05, 1-0. 

Second period 

Alaska — Tyler Cline (Kyler Hope, Zach Frye), 0:27, 1-1. 

Third period  

Tech — Meek (Greyson Reitmeier, Raymond Brice), 2:10, 2-1. 

Tech — Brice (Mark Auk, Dylan Steman), 12:22, 3-1. 

Alaska — Chad Staley (Steman, Steven Jandric), 12:37, 3-2. 

Tech — Auk (Meek, Steman), 14:25, 4-2. 

Tech — Thomas Beretta, 19:21, 5-2. 

Saves 

Alaska: Anton Martinsson 37; Tech: Devin Kero: 29. 

Penalties 

Alaska: 7/14; Tech: 7/25. 

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