Monday, January 9, 1995 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MTU AT ST. CLOUD STATE THIS WEEKEND IN KEY LEAGUE SERIES This Week: The Michigan Technological University hockey team will travel to St. Cloud, Minn., this weekend for a key Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against the St. Cloud State University Huskies. Game time both Friday (Jan. 13) and Saturday (Jan. 14) night is set for 8:05 p.m. (EST). Both contests will be staged at the National Hockey Center (6,000) on the SCSU campus. On Radio: All Michigan Tech games can be heard live on WZRK radio, 93.5 FM. Bob Olson, the dean of broadcasters in the WCHA, 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: MTU is 10-9-2 on the season overall and 7-8-2 in the WCHA. The Huskies are coming off a split at home against North Dakota last weekend. St. Cloud State, which split with Denver last weekend, is 9-11-0 overall and 7-9-0 in the WCHA. The Coaches: Bob Mancini (Colorado College, 1982) is in his third year behind the bench at MTU. He owns a 40-51-12 record at the school and in four-plus years as a college head coach sports a 76-83-24 mark. Craig Dahl (Pacific Lutheran, 1976) is in his eighth season at St. Cloud State and owns a 124-142-18 record at the school. In 13-plus seasons as a college head coach, Dahl has a 200-229-20 career mark. The Series: Michigan Tech and St. Cloud State will meet for the 27th and 28th times this weekend in St. Cloud, Minn. In the all-time series, which began during the 1947-48 campaign, Michigan Tech has a 15-10-1 advantage. Coach Mancini on the St. Cloud State Series: "St. Cloud is an excellent team. They were picked to finish first in the league and for good reason. We'll have to be ready for two very tough games this weekend. They're a senior dominated team and that experience is certainly something we'll have to contend with." Coach Mancini on the North Dakota Series: "Quite honestly, I was disappointed that we were not able to win twice on our home ice. On the flip side, we were able to bounce back and win on Saturday and get what I thought was pretty much a must win." Current WCHA Standings: Team (Overall Record) WCHA W L T Pts Colorado College (17-5-0) 12 4 0 24 Denver (14-6-0) 10 6 0 20 Wisconsin (11-9-1) 9 7 1 19 Minnesota (11-7-2) 8 6 2 18 North Dakota (10-9-1) 8 7 1 17 Michigan Tech (10-9-2) 7 8 1 15 Northern Michigan (8-11-1) 7 8 1 15 St. Cloud State (9-11-0) 7 9 0 14 Minnesota-Duluth (7-12-2) 4 11 2 10 Alaska-Anchorage (6-12-0) 5 11 0 10 About St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State is led offensively by senior forward Brett Lievers. In 20 games, the Wayzata, Minn., native has 10 goals and 18 assists, good for 28 points. Other top SCSU point getters include senior defenseman Kelly Hultgren (7-19--26), senior forward Eric Johnson (6-17--23), senior forward Dave Holum (10-9--19), and senior forward Bill Lund (6-8--14). In goal, freshman Brian Leitza has played all but two games. He owns an 8-10-0 record, along with a 3.59 goals against average and an .883 saves percentage. Senior Dave Stone (1-1-0, 4.89, .833) is Leitza's backup. St. Cloud State is operating at a .170 clip on the power play (21-122), while SCSU opponents are scoring at a .170 rate in man advantage situations (23-138). Last Weekend's Summaries: Friday, January 6, 1995 at MacInnes Student Ice Arena (2,457) North Dakota 1 3 3 7 Michigan Tech 1 2 0 3 1st: ND-Kirton (5) (Hryniuk, Wilson); PPG; 11:20 MT-Jensen (2) (B.Peterson, P.Mikesch); 14:27 2nd: MT-Savage (5) (Seale); 5:52 ND-K.Murphy (3) (Beswick, Slukynsky); 9:23 ND-C.Murphy (3) (Kirton, Pivetz); 4-on-4; 12:53 MT-Stevens (3) (Wright, P.Mikesch); PPG; 15:54 ND-Hryniuk (9) (Wynne, Naumenko); 16:33 3rd: ND-Wynne (14) (Kirton); 4-on-4; 5:29 ND-K.Murphy (4) (unassisted); SHG; 11:29 ND-Trew (8) (C.Johnson, Vig); 18:09 Pen: ND 16-65, MTU 16-51 PP: ND 1-6, MT 1-6 Saves: ND-Kvalevog (10-7-11--28); 60:00 MT-Caravaggio (6-10-3--19); 51:19; Pete Hamilton (x-x-3--3); 8:41 Saturday, January 7, 1995 at MacInnes Student Ice Arena (2,553) North Dakota 1 1 3 5 Michigan Tech 1 1 4 6 1st: MT-J.Mikesch (3) (Figliomeni, Savage); 7:19 ND-Naumenko (6) (R.Johnson, Wynne); PPG; 14:07 2nd: ND-Wynne (15) (Hyrniuk); 2:55 MT-Prokopetz (2) (unassisted); 17:34 3rd: MT-P.Mikesch (7) (Figliomeni, Harris); 1:25 MT-B.Peterson (13) (Wright, Stevens); PPG; 4:25 ND-Mitani (7) (Trew, Pivetz); 8:22 MT-J.Mikesch (4) (Figliomeni, P.Mikesch); 9:41 ND-Hryniuk (10) (Wynne, Hoogsteen); 10:14 MT-Stevens (4) (Dupont, B.Peterson); PPG; 14:12 ND-R.Johnson (unassisted); 19:34 Pen: ND 9-18, MT 13-34 PP: ND 1-7, MT 2-5 Saves: ND-Lembke (3-7-12--22); 58:37 MT-Caravaggio (8-10-6--24); 60:00 Huskies Hints: MTU broke a five-game home losing streak with its 6-5 win over North Dakota last Saturday (Jan. 7). The five-game home losing streak tied the school record for consecutive home losses originally set by the 1953-54 team . . . The 10 wins by MTU equals the number of regular-season wins the Huskies had all of last season . . . MTU has at least one power play goal in six straight WCHA games . . . Junior center Pat Mikesch (Hancock, Mich.) broke a 13-game goal-less streak with his third-period goal last Saturday (Jan. 7) against North Dakota. Mikesch will bring a three-game point streak (1-5--6) into Friday's game at St. Cloud State . . . MTU's 6-5 win over North Dakota last Friday snapped a five-game losing streak against the Fighting Sioux . . . MTU netminders have made 30 or fewer saves in 15 of 21 games this season. A year ago, MTU goaltenders made 30 or fewer saves in just 18 of the team's 45 games . . . Freshman goaltender Pete Hamilton (Stillwater, Minn.) gained his first action of the season last Friday (Jan. 6) against North Dakota. He played the final 8:41 of the contest, making three saves and yielding one goal . . . MTU has not lost more than two in a row all season. In addition, the Huskies haven't won more than two in a row . . . Sophomore defenseman Eric Jensen (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was disqualified from last Friday's game with North Dakota for fighting . . . MTU will bring a 5-2-2 record in true road games with it to St. Cloud State this weekend . . . Sophomore goaltender Luciano Caravaggio (Etobicoke, Ont.), who has started each of MTU's 21 games, had his eyes checked before Saturday's (Jan. 7) game with North Dakota. It was found that Caravaggio, who has yielded several goals from long range this season, is near-sighted and needed corrective lenses . . . MTU needs one WCHA victory to equal its total of eight last season . . . Senior forward Travis Seale (Mississauga, Ont.) missed last Saturday's game due to a thumb injury he suffered in the first period of Friday's (Jan. 6) game. Seale is probable for this weekend's series with St. Cloud State. MTU Hockey To Celebrate 75 Years At Reunion This Summer: One of the biggest events in Michigan Tech's hockey history will take place in conjunction with Alumni Homecoming Aug. 3-5 on the Michigan Tech campus as the Huskies celebrate 75 years of hockey. Several special events are planned to commemorate the occasion and all former players are encouraged to make plans to attend. For more information, call the MTU Hockey Office at (906) 487-3070. 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 next Coaches Corner/Blueline Luncheon will take place Friday, Jan. 20, at 12 noon in the Lake Superior Room of the Northern Lights Restaurant. MTU hockey coach Bob Mancini and Minnesota-Duluth hockey coach Mike Sertich will be the featured speakers. Cost for the buffet luncheon is $6.75, which includes tax, tip, and beverage. Up Next: Following its series with St. Cloud State, the Huskies will return home for a two-game league set against Minnesota-Duluth on Jan. 20-21.