Mix 93 had a special summer edition of the Mel Pearson Show and there was enough interesting information provided to make it seem necessary to have a post. The new scoreboard is up and running. It looks amazing. Coach Pearson discussed wanting to showcase the scoreboard and its new features by maybe having a movie night for locals and their families to come check it out. The addition certainly puts Michigan Tech at the head of the class in the WCHA now that many of the heavy hitters have moved on.
One of the more surprising revelations in the Mel Pearson Show is that both Tommy Brown and Milos Gordic, who have a year of eligibility remaining, have decided to forgo that eligibility and move on from Michigan Tech. Tech Hockey Guide wishes them luck wherever life takes them. Recruiting numbers now make more sense with those departures. The blueline looks a little thin at the top after losing Steven Seigo and Carl Nielsen to graduation but Pearson said he expects big things from sophomore Walker Hyland and freshman Shane Hanna. He also stated that he expects two committed players to be drafted in the 2013 NHL Draft. He mentioned Jake Jackson, who has signed his letter of intent and will attend Michigan Tech in 2014–15, and another player he couldn’t talk about. Tech Hockey Guide believes that player is Dane Birks, a crafty defenseman currently playing in the BCHL. He’s been considered one of the best in his age group and would have competed in last year’s World Jr A Challenge if it wasn’t for some non-hockey items that required Birks’ attention. Birks (121) and Jackson (170) were both mentioned on the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings for North American Skaters.
Below is full audio of the Mel Pearson Show
In other news, the Mankato Free Press is reporting that the WCHA will be broadcasting all games free in high definition on the internet through Fox Sports. It is a great step in the right direction to get games out there for fans, families and recruits to watch games. If they can pair this with the ability to watch through roku, ps3/ps4, xbox 360/one they will take a giant leap forward in providing unprecedented access for college hockey. Having one place to go for every game in the WCHA (excluding non-conference road games) will be huge. If they come through on the promise of HD they should actually be leading the way to the future. Only the Big Ten will be able to match this with their access on Big Ten Network and through BTN’s streaming. Hopefully Shane Fredericks’ source is right and this all happens because it will be amazing for WCHA fans and help show that after the reshuffling, the WCHA isn’t sitting back and playing second fiddle to anyone.
Keep an eye out for other updates this summer. THG still has commitment articles for defensemen Mitch Reinke (Stillwater [USHS–MN]) and Matthew Roy (Indiana [USHL]) plus goaltenders Angus Redmond (Salmon Arm [BCHL]) and Matt Wintjes (Newmarket [OJHL]). We’re also hoping to do the “Future Huskies” series again this season and have already completed a few of the interviews and there are a few other things in the works including a possible roundtable discussion with some recruits and current players and a team-by-team preview of the new-look WCHA. Also keep an eye out for the July 16 recruiting preview from Over the Boards of your Michigan Tech Huskies.
Tim is a 2004 graduate of Michigan Tech. He is a co-founder of both Mitch’s Misfits and Tech Hockey Guide. With recent additions to the staff, Tim is again able to focus on his passion, recruiting. He currently works as an environmental engineer and resides in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area.
