Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Michigan Tech Looks to Continue Resurgence in 2007-08
Sept. 17, 2007
By Jon Oman
HOUGHTON, Mich. - The resurgence of the Michigan Tech hockey team provided one of college hockey's most compelling storylines a year ago, and with 85 percent of its roster back, the Huskies will look to write another chapter for their narrative in their 86th season of competition.
Michigan Tech returns 22 players and 79 percent of its scoring from a 2006-07 squad that posted an 18-17-5 overall record and made an appearance in the 2007 Red BaronTM WCHA Final Five. The Huskies ranked sixth in the WCHA standings and with a 10-5-3 record in their final 18 contests, the momentum is building as Michigan Tech continues to cement its place among the WCHA's elite.
Forwards
The Huskies return 11 forwards for the 2007-08 campaign, including four of their top five scorers up front. Leading the offensive attack is Peter Rouleau (Hancock, Mich.), who poured in a team-high 30 points, including seven goals and 23 assists. The senior centerman increased his scoring output by 28 points from his sophomore to junior campaign, and was recognized as the squad's most improved player for his efforts. He provided a team-best four game-winning goals and was one of two Huskies to net a hat trick last year.
Rouleau's linemates -- senior Tyler Shelast (Kelowna, British Columbia) and junior Malcolm Gwilliam (Kamloops, British Columbia) -- are expected to provide their share of points as well. Shelast recorded a team-best 15 goals, including four power-play markers, and registered a career-best 24 points in 2006-07. The assistant captain added two goals at the 2006 Great Lakes Invitational (GLI), pushing his career goal total to seven in six GLI games. Gwilliam returned from a medical hardship in 2005-06 with a solid sophomore campaign, as he totaled nine goals and eight assists. He also led Michigan Tech forwards with a +13 plus-minus rating.
Graced with the honor of wearing a 'C' on his uniform, senior Jimmy Kerr (Leduc, Alberta), will not only be asked to provide a lift as a physical presence up front, but also as a constant on the score sheet. Kerr tallied 10 goals, including a club-high five on the power play, and his 19 points ranked fourth on the team last season. A clutch performer, Kerr compiled the game-winning goals in the Huskies' final two victories of the 2006-07 slate.
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Adding to the offensive depth for Michigan Tech is junior Alex Gagne (Rock Forest, Quebec), who is looking to expand his scoring prowess after notching five goals and 10 assists in his first year of college competition. He gained WCHA Rookie of the Week (Jan. 30) laurels as a result of tallying a goal and an assist in helping the Huskies secure a three-point weekend against Colorado College Jan. 26-27. Gagne was one of four Michigan Tech players to amass at least three points in a game last season.
A physical mainstay in the lineup a year ago, Jordan Foote (Edmonton, Alberta) saw his scoring production jump seven points from his sophomore to junior season, as he chipped in two goals and seven assists. Even more scoring contributions are expected of the winger during his final season in a Husky uniform.
Another tandem that skated together most of the 2006-07 season -- junior Ryan Angelow (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore Ryan Bunger (Sammamish, Wash.) -- have solid credentials as two-way forwards, and are poised to leave their mark in the year ahead. Angelow totaled five goals and five assists in 39 games from his center spot, including one game-winning tally and another game-tying marker. Bunger was given the Norbert Matovich Award as Michigan Tech's outstanding freshman in wake of his 10-point season. He finished with two game-winners, including the marker that sent the Huskies to the WCHA Final Five for the first time in 11 years.
Completing the list of returning forwards for the Huskies are three juniors -- Justin St. Louis (Calgary, Alberta), Alex Lord (Magog, Quebec) and Derek Kitti (Laurium, Mich.). St. Louis pitched in six goals and two assists 28 contests, and closed his sophomore year with five lamplighters in his last eight games. His hat trick Mar. 3 at Minnesota was one of two two filed by the Huskies in 2006-07, and allowed him to garner WCHA co-Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Lord added two goals and three helpers in 33 games, while Kitti lit the lamp once in 10 contests.
A trio of highly-touted newcomers will also be ushered into the veteran lineup. Jordan Baker (Chestermere, Alberta) spent the past three seasons with the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), where he was a two-time AJHL South Division All-Star Team selection. He ranked third in the AJHL with 26-22-48 points in 47 games in 2006-07. Baker recorded 16-19-35 points in 36 games during the 2005-06 slate. Eric Kattelus (Houghton, Mich.) joins the roster after playing in two different junior hockey leagues. Originally from Traverse City, Mich., Kattelus put together 18-21--39 points in 50 regular-season games for the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL) last season. He notched 35-40-75 points in 50 regular-season games during the 2005-06 campaign with the Bismarck Bobcats in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and was selected the NAHL Rookie of the Year for his exploits.
Completing the new crop of rookie forwards is Bennett Royer (Calgary, Alberta), who skated for the AJHL's Calgary Canucks during each of the past two years. A two-time AJHL South Division All-Star Team selection, Royer was fifth among AJHL scorers in 2006-07 with 32-44-76 points in 56 games. Named the AJHL Rookie of the Year the previous season, Royer registered a team-high 26-35--61 points for the Canucks.
Defense
With eight of its nine letterwinners back from last year's squad, the Huskies' blue line is one of the most experienced in the WCHA. The only question mark, however, is who will fill the offensive void left by outgoing captain and former All-WCHA Second Team selection Lars Helminen? Michigan Tech's highest-scoring blueliner in each of the past three seasons, Helminen capped his stellar career in 10th place all-time among Husky defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 68 assists in 153 career games.
On paper, a logical candidate appears to be junior Geoff Kinrade (Nelson, British Columbia). One of only two Michigan Tech blueliners to skate in all 40 games a season ago, Kinrade tallied five goals and 14 assists, and recorded a team-best +15 plus-minus rating. He led Husky defensemen with two goals and four assists on the power-play, and is penciled in to be the point man on Michigan Tech's top power-play unit in 2007-08.
A pair of defensive-minded seniors -- Mark Malekoff (Grande Prairie, Alberta) and Jake Wilkens (Eagle River, Alaska) -- are back to provide stability in the Huskies' zone. The duo has played in a combined 208 games over the last three seasons. Malekoff chipped in three assists in 2006-07, while Wilkens' posted a career-high seven points, including one shorty.
John Schwarz (Calgary, Alberta), a consistent and physical staple among the defensive corps during his two previous campaigns, will serve as an assistant captain in the year ahead. In addition to filling a vital role as a leader, Schwarz will earn his share of time on the penalty-kill. He also handed out five assists as a sophomore.
Sophomores Drew Dobson (Palatine, Ill.) and Eli Vlaisavljevich (Shoreview, Minn.), both of whom are prototypical offensive-defensemen, turned in solid rookie campaigns, and are primed to expand their roles. Dobson saw action in 23 games, tallying a goal and four assists last year. Vlaisavljevich filed a goal and three helpers in 36 contests, including two assists on the power-play.
Mike VanWagner (Traverse City, Mich.) and John Kivisto (Brighton, Mich.) complete the list of returning blueliners for Michigan Tech. VanWagner resumes his career after taking a medical hardship last season. The rigors of two years of strength training should benefit VanWagner, who has added 20 pounds of muscle since his rookie season. Kivisto saw ice time in six games at the end of the year, after several teammates went down with injuries. He not only was a respectable replacement, but he distributed the primary assist on Ryan Bunger's game-winning goal in the Huskies' Game 3 win over Colorado College in the WCHA Playoffs.
Complementing the already strong cast of defensemen is decorated newcomer Deron Cousens (Georgetown, Ontario). Cousens spent the previous two seasons before arriving at Michigan Tech with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He ranked second among BCHL blueliners in scoring during the 2006-07 slate with 16-35-51 points in 55 regular-season games, and was tabbed as the top defenseman in the BCHL Interior Conference. An alternate captain for Canada West at the inaugural World Junior A Hockey Challenge, Cousens helped lead his squad to a gold medal by notching seven points, and was recognized as the tournament's best defensemen by Hockey Canada.
Goaltenders
For the second consecutive season, Michigan Tech enters practice with three returning goaltenders.
Michael-Lee Teslak (Fernie, British Columbia) is coming off a breakout year in which he garnered All-WCHA Third Team accolades after filing an 11-8-3 overall record and .916 save percentage in 1258:33 of action. The sophomore posted a 2.00 goals-against average, which ranked third nationally and first in the WCHA. He tied Jim Warden (1975-75) for first all-time among Husky goaltenders for shutouts in a season with four, and was named WCHA co-Defensive Player of the Week Feb. 27.
A more than accomplished counterpart, Rob Nolan (Sherwood Park, Alberta), crafted a 2.26 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 1170:05 of playing time between the pipes during his sophomore campaign. Nolan was lauded as the WCHA co-Defensive Player of the Week Dec. 19 after turning away 59 of 62 shots in a two-game sweep at North Dakota. He also was in net for one of Michigan Tech's five shutouts in 2006-07.
Senior Kevin Hachey (Ontario, Calif.) is available in the third spot if necessary.
