WMU Mich. Tech
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team collected a 6-2 victory over Miami on Saturday night at Lawson Arena, completing a series sweep of the RedHawks.
Ty Henricks lit the lamp twice, while Iiro Hakkarainen, William Whitelaw, Garrett Szydlowski and Liam Valente each scored once. Hampton Slukynsky made 14 saves in net to earn the win.
FIRST PERIOD
The Broncos came out firing in the opening portion of the game, getting shots from Owen Michaels, Whitelaw and Bobby Cowan in the first two minutes of the frame. The Brown and Gold kept firing pucks on frame and eventually broke through just under eight minutes into the contest.
Zack Sharp ripped a shot from the point that was tipped by Cowan. The puck eventually found its way to Hakkarainen who finished the play for a 1-0 lead. The goal was his first of the season. Western Michigan continued to apply pressure, getting some strong chances from Colby Woogk and Valente moments later.
Later, Henricks and Samuel Sjolund played a little two-man game, helping the Broncos add to their lead. Sjolund found Henricks dropping into the left circle, and he ripped a shot just under the bar for a 2-0 WMU lead with under four minutes to play in the period.
Down the stretch, Miami would be called for two penalties. The Broncos took a 5-on-3 advantage into the second 20 minutes of action.
SECOND PERIOD
Miami would get back to full strength, but Western Michigan was able to score right after the power play ended. Cowan slid a beautiful back-door pass to Whitelaw who stuffed the puck in for a 3-0 lead.
A few minutes later, WMU went back on the man advantage. MU was sent off for hooking. Despite multiple chances, the RedHawks worked back to full strength. The Broncos then killed off a Miami power play, blocking two shots in front of Slukynsky.
After killing off a few more Miami power plays, the Brown and Gold went back to work on offense. Henricks found some open space in the right circle and fired a shot under the bar for a 4-0 lead with under two minutes to play in the period.
WMU carried that four-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
Miami got an early 5-on-3 advantage, but the Broncos were able to limit the chances and get back to full strength. However, just a few moments later, the RedHawks would get on the board to make it a 4-1 game.
MU made things interesting, scoring with just under 10 minutes to play in the game to make it 4-2. But Western Michigan had the response, as Szydlowski scored not even 15 seconds later to push the WMU lead back to three (5-2).
Ten seconds later, Miami was sent off for holding. The Brown and Gold wouldn’t score on the man advantage, but Valente was able to find twine just a few seconds after the power play expired. That made the score 6-2 in favor of the home team with under seven minutes to play.
Late in the game, the RedHawks were given two penalties, including a major and game misconduct. That gave the Brown and Gold a power play for the rest of the game. Despite multiple chances, the Miami defense would stand tall. The Broncos closed out a 6-2 victory and series sweep.
UP NEXT
Western Michigan will hit the road for a series against Omaha next weekend. The series opener is set for Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 PM ET.
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Max Koskipirtti scored 95 seconds into overtime to lift the Michigan Tech hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Bemidji State on Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies improved to 8-3-1 overall and remain undefeated in the CCHA at 5-0-1.
“It was two really good teams, fighting, clawing, and battling tonight,” Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. “It was a one-shot hockey game. They got it last night in a shootout, and we got it tonight in overtime. I’m really proud of our effort up and down the lineup.”
In the extra session, Coach Muckalt started Max Koskipirtti, Carson Latimer, and Tyler Miller. The Huskies had a scoring chance saved by BSU goaltender Max Hildebrand as he was sliding over the line early in the frame. Tech challenged the play to see if it went across the line, but also to give the three speedy players a rest.
The players responded. Carson Latimer carried the puck through the neutral zone and attracted defenders. He dumped it over to a wide-open Max Koskipirtti, and he fired it past the goaltender’s glove for his sixth goal of the season and 17th of his career. Tyler Miller added the second assist.
“Lats had a lot of speed and all of their guys went on him,” Koskipirtti said. “I was wide open in the slot. He made a good play, and I took a shot. It went in.
“It’s a big win. Bemidji’s a top team in this conference. We had a bit of a slow start, but we improved our game and had a good second and third.”
The Beavers (7-5-3, 5-1-2 CCHA) opened the game’s scoring 11:01 into the game when Reilly Funk took a sharp-angled shot that bounced in and out in an instant. The officials reviewed the play but stood by their call. Max Namestnikov and Ryan Henderson assisted on the play.
Tech tied it in the second period when Stiven Sardarian extended his point streak to 11 games with his fourth goal of the season. He drove to the net and jammed the puck in at the 9:46 mark with the assist going to Joe Prouty.
Neither team scored in the third. Owen Bartoszkiewicz had to make a huge diving save late in the third after a Tech stick broke and the Beavers had an odd man rush.
Shots favored BSU 27-23. Owen Bartoszkiewicz earned his eighth win of the season and the 19th of his career with 26 saves. Max Hildebrand stopped 21 shots on the other end of the ice.
Both teams went scoreless on the power play, with Tech having five opportunities and the Beavers three.
Tech travels to No. 16 Minnesota State next week for the first CCHA road series.
