Photo from the Michigan Tech official website

Michigan Tech wins 2017 Ice Breaker Tournament in Minnesota

Photo from the Michigan Tech official website


By @MichaelCaples –

With a 4-3 victory over the host team – a No. 6 ranked Minnesota Duluth squad, no less – the Michigan Tech Huskies started the season with a bang under their new head coach this past weekend.

MTU won the 2017 Ice Breaker Tournament with the victory on Oct. 7; the previous day, they topped Union 6-3 to put themselves in the position to win the season-opening prestigious tournament.

“We’re honored to be here and honored to show well and represent our school and community well,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said via the Huskies’ website. “To have some success is immeasurable early in the year.”

It was a big weekend for Mark Auk; the Huskies’ senior blueliner recorded two goals and two assists in the two Ice Breaker contests. For his efforts, the St. Clair Shores native was named the WCHA’s defensive player of the week, and the NCAA’s first star of the week.

Another St. Clair Shores native played a big role in the tournament victory, as well; freshman forward Justin Misiak scored the game-winning goal in the tournament. That earned him conference rookie of the week honors.

Junior goaltender Patrick Munson picked up both the wins in the tournament; he played a crucial role in the Huskies making sure that Misiak’s goal stayed the game-winner for the final 25 minutes of play.

“To hold a team like that scoreless for the last 25 minutes is great,” Shawhan said. “There’s a lot of character within our locker room. Now it’s on our team and our staff to cultivate that and allow that to nurture and grow and see where it can take us.”

Highlights from the title-clinching win: