The Misfits are going to need a new flag.
According to Brad-Elliott Schlossman’s portal tracker for the Grand Forks Herald, Michigan Tech has received a commitment from British centerman Cade Neilson. Neilson previously played at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, where he had 19 points in 31 games as a sophomore this past season. With only one returning center (Max Koskipirtti) and one incoming freshman center (Ryder Matter), Neilson fills a major need for the Huskies. Expect to see him nail down a role as Michigan Tech’s #2 center and be a relied upon piece offensively across his 2 remaining seasons of eligibility. For those who would like a sneak peek of Neilson before he dons the black and gold in the fall: He will be representing Great Britain at the upcoming IIHF World Championships.
The Huskies have also lost yet another player to the transfer portal in defenseman Evan Orr. This is not a surprise, as Orr is good enough to play regularly but has been buried by the defensive depth that Michigan Tech has amassed recently. He will head to Stonehill in the fall and immediately become one of their better players as they attempt to function as a proper D1 program under new head coach David Berard.
Even with all of the recent portal additions, the Huskies still have several needs remaining as next season’s roster begins to take shape. Michigan Tech still does not have a third string goaltender and still requires at least one other center. In spite of the outstanding needs, the roster is shaping up nicely for Michigan Tech moving forward. This had the potential to be a devastating offseason given the players the Huskies have lost, but the coaching staff has done an excellent job identifying and recruiting players from the portal that will likely make a large impact right away.
Nathan is currently a student at Michigan Tech, studying Engineering Management. He cultivated his love for the game over a 10 year youth hockey career and is excited to bring his passion to Tech Hockey Guide and Michigan Tech hockey. While not at school, Nathan resides in the Chicagoland area
