Monday, October 10, 1994
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
MTU OPENS SEASON AGAINST LAURENTIAN FRIDAY
 
This Week: Michigan Technological University will commence its 74th season
of varsity hockey Friday (Oct. 14) when the Huskies entertain Laurentian
University of Sudbury, Ontario. Opening faceoff for the non-conference
affair is slated for 7:35 p.m. On Saturday (Oct. 15), MTU will play its
annual Silver/Gold Intrasquad game, beginning at 5:05 p.m. Both contests
will be staged at the 4,200-seat John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
 
The Broadcast: Michigan Tech's game with Laurentian can be heard live on
WZRK radio, 93.5 FM.  Bob Olson, the dean of broadcasters in the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association, is in his 24th season as the voice of the
Huskies.  Volunteer assistant coach Darcy Way is back for his fifth year
providing color commentary.
 
The Records: The contest will be the first for both Michigan Tech and
Laurentian. The Huskies are coming off a 13-27-5 mark overall last year.
MTU finished 8-19-5 (10th place) in the WCHA.
 
The Coaches: Bob Mancini (Colorado College, 1982) begins his second year
behind the bench at MTU.  He owns a 30-42-10 record at the school and in
four years as a college head coach sports a 66-74-22 mark.  Stu Duncan is
the head coach of Laurentian.
 
The Series: Michigan Tech's meeting with Laurentian Friday (Oct. 14) will
be just the third ever between the two teams. In a series that dates back
to the 1990-91 campaign, the Huskies have a 2-0 advantage.
 
Coach Mancini on the Laurentian Game: "We're excited to be opening the
season at home with Laurentian. The game is a good opportunity to see
exactly where we're at and get ready for our games next weekend at Ferris
State and Lake Superior State.
 
Skate With The Huskies Sunday: Skate With the Huskies, an annual event
sponsored by the Michigan Tech Blueline Club, will take place Sunday (Oct.
16) from 5 - 7 p.m. at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Skate With the
Huskies is a free event that offers fans an opportunity to skate with
members of the MTU hockey team and staff. Each fan attending will receive a
free MTU Hockey Face Poster.
 
 
 
 
About The Opponent: Laurentian is a member of the Ontario University
Athletic Association. The Voyageurs are located in Sudbury, Ontario,
Canada, and play their home games at the 5,500-seat Sudbury Arena.
 
MTU Alumns White and Way Join Coaching Staff: Scott White (Michigan Tech,
1989) and Darcy Way (Michigan Tech, 1982) have joined the Michigan Tech
coaching staff for 1994-95. White replaces Jim Roque as MTU's restricted
earnings coach. White has spent the last five seasons playing professional
hockey at various levels. Way, who is currently Michigan Tech's Director of
Alumni Relations, replaces Tiger Pierce as the Huskies' Volunteer Coach.
 
About the Huskies: Michigan Tech has 16 letterwinners back from last year's
13-27-5 team. The Huskies return one of the premier lines in college hockey
in senior left wing Brent Peterson (Thunder Bay, Ont.), junior center Pat
Mikesch (Hancock, Mich.), and senior right wing Randy Stevens (Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich.). Peterson, an All-America and All-WCHA candidate, had 25
goals and 21 assists last season and is the second-leading-returning goal
scorer in the WCHA. Mikesch led the squad in points a year ago with 50
points and has 88 total points in two years. Stevens is coming off his
finest season as a Husky, a  year in which he recorded 21 goals and 12
assists. On defense, junior Jason Wright (Thunder Bay, Ont.) returns to
lead five letterwinners. Wright has been named MTU's top defenseman the
last two years. Seniors Jason Hanchuk (Nepean, Ont.) and Liam Garvey
(Glenwood, Ill.) will also play major roles in MTU's effort on the blueline
this season. In goal, sophomore Luciano Caravaggio (Etobicoke, Ont.) will
replace two-time All-American Jamie Ram. Caravaggio was just 1-7-0 a year
ago, but has the potential to be one of the WCHA's best netminders.
 
Huskies Hints: Michigan Tech was picked number 10 in the annual WCHA
Pre-Season Coaches Poll, conducted by the Grand Forks Herald. St. Cloud State was picked to win the league, while Minnesota was second, Colorado
College third, Northern Michigan fourth, and Denver fifth. . . . Michigan
Tech had its first official practice Sunday, Oct 2, at 12:01 a.m. as part
of Midnight Madness III. The team participated in an on-ice NHL-style
skills competition during the event. Freshman Mark Loeppky (Saskatoon,
Sask.) won the showdown competition, senior Travis Seale (Mississauga,
Ont.) won the fastest skater competition, and senior Liam Garvey (Glenwood,
Ill.) won the hardest shot contest. . . The Huskies have a couple of new
faces around the lockerroom this year.  Roy Britz has taken over as
assistant equipment manager and will be primarily responsible for working
with the hockey team and Todd Korpi is MTU's head student manager . . .
Senior right wing Randy Stevens (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) will miss this
weekend's games due to a shoulder injury. Stevens is expected to be back in
the lineup for MTU's home games with Denver on Oct. 28-29 . . . MTU returns
nine of its top 10 point getters from a year ago.
 
Bob Mancini Radio Show: The Bob Mancini Radio Show is heard every Monday
throughout the season from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on WZRK radio, 93.5 FM.  Host
Bob Olson joins coach Mancini each week to discuss Huskies hockey in-depth.
 The first Bob Mancini Radio Show of the '94-95 season is Monday, Oct. 10.
 
Huskies on Teamline: All Michigan Tech games can be heard live by those
outside the WZRK listening area on Teamline.  Fans wishing to hear a game
should dial 1-800-846-4700 and then enter MTU's Team Code of 1149.  The
cost to hear a game is billed either to your Visa or Mastercard.  A portion
of the proceeds goes to MTU athletics.
 
Coaches Corner/Blueline Luncheon: The first Coaches Corner/Blueline
Luncheon of the '94-95 season will take place Friday, Oct. 14, at 12 noon
in the Lake Superior Room of the Northern Lights Restaurant.  MTU hockey
coach Bob Mancini, MTU volleyball coach Mary Kaminski, and Huskies football
coach Bernie Anderson are the featured speakers.  Cost for the buffet
luncheon is $6.75 per person, which includes tax and tip.  Blueline Club
members receive a 50-cent discount.
 
Up Next: Michigan Tech will hit the road for a pair of non-conference
affairs next week. Friday (Oct. 21), the Huskies will  be in Big Rapids,
Mich., for a contest with Ferris State University. Opening faceoff is set
for 7 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 22), MTU will visit Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for
an engagement with defending national champion Lake Superior State
University.