HOUGHTON, Mich. — Through the first eight games of the 2016-17 season, Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson has felt that one of the reasons his team got off to the tough start (1-5-2) has been the goaltending of senior Matt Wintjes and sophomore Devin Kero.
Friday night, Pearson chose to start freshman Angus Redmond against the Huskies’ closest geographical rival, Northern Michigan, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The move proved to be a smart one as Redmond stopped all 19 shots he faced as the Huskies skated away with a 2-0 win.
“It’s important for Angus,” said Pearson. “It’s good to get him in. He hasn’t had the opportunity to start a game. When you come in and play in front of a packed house against your rival, and you are honoring the 1975 National Championship team, no pressure. He came in and did what he was supposed to do. He stopped the ones he should.”
Redmond was proud of the way his team played in front of him.
“The guys in front of me, I could not have done it without them,” said Redmond. “They were blocking a lot of shots. [We] didn’t really give them much, so my night wasn’t too difficult. It’s a great start and I am excited.”
One of the main reasons Pearson chose to go with Redmond Friday was his ability to calmly handle the puck, something that cost the Huskies a week ago in a 4-3 loss at then-No. 11 Michigan.
“It’s just something I’ve always worked on in practice and in games growing up,” said Redmond. “Now it just comes natural to me. I don’t think twice about going out there to touch it because I just feel comfortable with it.”
Redmond found out after the team lunch early Friday that he was going to get the start. With several hours until game time, he found his nerves getting the better of him. This was understandable considering that his only action previous to this was in a 7-3 win over Alabama-Huntsville, where he gave up two goals in a little over 12 minutes of work.
Calmed down mentally before the game, Redmond struggled through warm-ups. However, 15 minutes later, he was ready to go, and it showed early as the Wildcats and Huskies were engaged in back-and-forth action from the drop of the opening faceoff.
“I just wanted to make it through the first five minutes of the game and then settle down,” said Redmond. “Obviously, I got a few touches playing the puck, and a few outside shots, so that just settled me right down. I felt really comfortable.”
After the Huskies took a 1-0 lead on the power play thanks to a goal from Jake Lucchini, Redmond was able to settle in and focus on the next save. He held down the fort in the final minutes of the first when he made a pair of stops in close.
In the middle frame, Redmond had to come up big on a great scoring chance by the Wildcats’ Gerard Hanson, who fired a quick shot off a hard pass from Filip Starzynski. He also made five more stops in that period to keep the Huskies in the lead heading into the third.
Redmond was not challenged much in the third, making five more saves. The stops he did make were crucial in allowing his defense to play with confidence in front of him.
After Jake Jackson gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead with 3:44 remaining in regulation, Redmond and the Huskies’ defense corps shut down a 6-on-3 power play advantage for the Wildcats with under a minute remaining to preserve the shutout.
WCHA roundup
Lake Superior 3, Alaska 2
Lake Superior State trailed early, but three second period goals — including a short-handed goal by Diego Cuglietta — gave the Lakers a 3-2 victory. Tristan Thompson and Chad Staley netted first period goals for Alaska.
No. 9 Minnesota State 4, Ferris State 2
A pair of goals by Brad McClure helped No. 9 Minnesota State double up Ferris State 4-2 in Mankato, Minn. Craig Pefley gave Ferris State a short-lived lead when he scored 21 seconds into the contest.
Miami 2, Bowling Green 1 (OT)
Anthony Lewis scored 2:05 into overtime to lift Miami to a 2-1 victory over winless Bowling Green. Mark Friedman forced the overtime when the Falcons pulled their goalie and he capitalized on the 6-on-5 advantage with 1:06 left in regulation.
No. 10 St. Cloud State 5, Alabama-Huntsville 1
St. Cloud State broke a 1-1 tie with four third period goals en route to a 5-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville.
No. 20 Bemidji State 2, Alaska-Anchorage 1
Phillip Marinaccio scored 2:05 into overtime to give Bemidji State a 2-1 victory over Alaska-Anchorage.
