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Michigan Wolverines Claim 51st Great Lakes Invitational With 4-2 Win Over Michigan Tech

By Matt Snyder

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The Michigan Wolverines were victorious in the championship game of the 51st annual Great Lakes Invitational with 4-2 win over the Michigan Tech Huskies.

The 51st annual Great Lakes Invitational college hockey tournament wrapped up at Joe Louis Arena Wednesday night with the championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan Tech Huskies.

The game started out with a bang for Michigan Tech — the tournament’s original host school — when freshman forward Jake Jackson beat Michigan goalie Steve Racine on the near side of the post at the 2:55 mark of the game.

The Huskies would add a second goal in the first period when Brent Baltus found the back of the net on the power play (14:21). The 2-0 score would hold through the first intermission.

Michigan would strike quickly just 1:48 into the second period to bring the margin back within one. Tony Calderone rifled a shot into the back of the net from the top of the face-off circle after the Wolverines won a draw in the Michigan Tech end to make the score 2-1.

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A power play chance a few minutes later helped the Wolverines draw even. Michigan was carrying play in the Michigan Tech end and drew a minor penalty to give themselves a man advantage. Tyler Motte subsequently lit the lamp with a deflection at the 6:39 mark to knot the score at 2-2.

Michigan would take their first lead of the game just before the final horn of the second period. Alex Kile drove home a rebound at 19:06 to put the Wolverines on top as the two teams headed back into the locker room with a 3-2 lead.

Michigan’s second period dominance wasn’t due only two a powerful offense. Goalie Steve Racine was equal to the task the few times Michigan Tech found an opportunity in transition in the second period. He was able to deflect a shot that ended up clanging off the post, then stuffed a backhand attempt on a breakaway, and later gloved a dangerous wrist shot from point-blank range.

The third period was a much more ho-hum affair compared to the goal-heavy first and second periods. Both sides were held scoreless until the final minute of action when the Wolverines slid in an empty net goal from just inside center ice to take home a 4-2 victory.

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Northern Michigan slipped past Michigan State in overtime by a 2-1 score in the tournament’s consolation game earlier in the day.

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