As a new season and a new era for the Michigan Tech hockey program dawns today, it’s important to remember that new head coach Mel Pearson has stated that he is not throwing this year away for the upperclassmen. We have a chance to do some winning this season, and there are some good players who have already donned a Tech sweater recently. So let’s take a quick look at who is already here.
Senior Brett Olson will captain the team again this season, and figures to be the primary leader on the ice and in the locker room. In naming him captain, Coach Pearson stated that he’s like having a fifth coach, running practices when the coaches haven’t been able to be on the ice with the players due to NCAA rules. The 6’0, 185 lb. native of Superior, WI had a rough, injury-riddled campaign last season which saw him post a 4-6-10 line in just 18 games, with half of those points coming in Tech’s first four games. For comparison, Olson’s first two seasons saw him play 70 games and score 53 points, including an 18-12-30 line as a sophomore which led the team. Brett should be hungry to win, and hopes to get off to a fast start again and stay in good health, to end his time with the Huskies on a high note.
Junior Steven Seigo now looks to lead what will hopefully be an improved defense and special teams. Seigo was the highest scoring defenseman as a freshman, finished second behind the now-graduated Deron Cousens last year, and owns career stats of 8-28-36 in 74 games played. The 6’0, 185 lb. defenseman from Edenwold, SK has established himself as a solid skater and puck-mover, and Coach Pearson feels that he has a high hockey IQ with good vision, making him a potential point-man on the power play.
Redshirt sophomore Milos Gordic was last season’s top goal-scorer and the winner of the team’s Merv Youngs MVP Award, having posted 15 goals and 21 points, while being limited to 31 games due to injuries. The towering native of Burnaby, BC stands 6’5, weighs 210 lbs., and can be a physical force around opposing team’s nets. Unfortunately, Gordic is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and has been listed by Coach Pearson as “week-to-week”. Tech Hockey Guide wishes him a speedy and full recovery.
Sophomore Ryan Furne from Oakdale, MN is coming off a very solid freshman outing during which he tallied twelve goals and nine assists for 21 points in 38 games, and tied with two other players for the team lead in points. He was given the team’s Norbert Matovich Memorial Award for most outstanding freshman. At 6’2, 215 lbs., Furne also uses his size around the net to his advantage, and should be expected to improve his stats with a year of experience under his belt.
Sophomore Jacob Johnstone of Grand Ledge, MI also hopes to figure into this year’s group of top six forwards. 5’11, 190 lb. Johnstone has mostly proven to be a passer/setup guy thus far, with a 4-15-19 line in 38 games last season. He got off to a quick start last season, and then faded a bit before finishing the year strong, notching four assists during a three-game point streak from Feb. 19-26. Johnstone was also one of the least penalized players on the team. His younger brother David will be joining him on the team this year.
Finally, we wanted to give an honorable mention to redshirt senior Jordan Baker. After sustaining a major shoulder injury near the end of his junior season (which was not the first such injury of his career), Baker has battled recovery from surgery for over a year which forced him to sit out all of last season and seek a medical redshirt. The native of Chestermere, AB is now ready to go and hopes to return to his sophomore form, during which he lead the team in goals (16) and points (27).
As the season kicks off, Tech Hockey Guide wishes all the Huskies the best of luck, and knows that they will make the fans proud this year.
