Michigan Tech (4-2-0, 2-2-0 WCHA) hosts No. 2 Denver (3-1-0, 2-0-0 WCHA)

THE MATCHUP
Friday/Saturday, October 28/29, 2011 • 7:07 p.m. (EDT) • John MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,128)
Michigan Tech (4-2-0, 2-2-0 WCHA) hosts No. 2 Denver (3-1-0, 2-0-0 WCHA)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Dirk Hembroff, Randy Heinonen)
Video Webcast: MichiganTechHuskies.com
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: CollegeHockeyStats.net
SEIGO SEVENTH NATIONALLY AMONG DEFENSEMEN
Junior defenseman Steven Seigo is tied for seventh in the nation in points per game among defensemen. He had a goal and an assist last weekend-both points coming even strength in Friday's third period. Seigo owns 2-4--6 on the season and 10-32--42 for his career.
OLSON POINT STREAK REACHES FIVE GAMES, THEN SNAPPED
Center Brett Olson (Superior, Wis.) extended his point streak to five games Friday (Oct. 21) at Bemidji State before having it come to an end Saturday. The senior captain has two goals and five assists on the season and 34-36--70 in 94 career games.
ROBINSON AND GENOE SPLIT STARTS
Tech split its goaltenders last weekend after starting Josh Robinson in both games of the sweep vs. Wisconsin Oct. 14-15. Robinson had 28 saves on 34 shots vs. Bemidji last Friday. Kevin Genoe started Saturday's game and made 13 saves on 16 Beaver shots.
MACLEOD BREAKS OUT
Senior Alex MacLeod had a goal in each game at Bemidji State for his first two points on the season. MacLeod has played in 111 career games as a Husky with 17 goals and eight assists for 25 career points. He will bring his two-game point streak into this weekend's series vs. Denver looking for his first career points against the Pioneers.
TECH EIGHTH IN NATION IN COMBINED SPECIAL TEAMS
Michigan Tech ranks eighth in the nation in combined special teams at 56.4 percent. The Huskies are tied for 13th on the power play at 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) and 21st in penalty kill at 26-for-31 (83.9). Tech will be facing the sixth-ranked team in combined special teams in Denver (57.4).
STEBNER TALLIES FIRST POINT OF 2011-12
Sophomore Bradley Stebner had an assist on Tech's only goal of the game at Bemidji State last Saturday. The point was his first of the season and just the second of Stebner's career in 34 career games. Both points are assists. Incidentally, the other came Feb. 18, 2011, at Denver.
DAVID JOHNSTONE SCORES FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL
Freshman David Johnstone tallied his first collegiate goal in the first period of last Friday's game at Bemidji State. The tally came off an assist from his older brother Jacob, a sophomore forward for the Huskies. Both Johnstones have four points on the season. David has 1-3--4. Jacob has 3-1--4.
HOME GAMES ARE GOOD
Michigan Tech plays a heavy home schedule in the opening six weeks of the season. The Huskies have eight of their 17 regular season games at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena by Nov. 5. The other nine home games are spread over the final 17 weeks of the regular season. Tech is currently 4-0-0 at home this season.
BALANCED SCORING
Nine different players have scored goals for Michigan Tech in the first six games of the season. Seven players are averaging at least a half point per game so far in 2011-12.
NIELSEN SNIPES GOAL AT BEMIDJI
Junior assistant captain Carl Nielsen tallied just the third goal of his 72-game career with a first period marker at Bemidji State last Friday. Nielsen owns 1-1--2 on the season.
SERIES BUSINESS
Michigan Tech and Denver will square off for the 217th and 218th time in the series history this weekend. The Pioneers own a 116-83-18 all-time series advantage, while the Huskies are 50-33-7 at home against DU. The teams split two meetings last year-both in Denver-a 3-2 Tech win Feb. 18 and a 5-1 Denver win Feb. 19.
NHL EXPERIENCE ON THE BENCH
Tech's two new assistant coaches-Bill Muckalt and Steve Shields-both have NHL playing experience. Muckalt played right wing for four different teams in five years. Shields' career spanned 12 years and six different franchises.
OH, BROTHER
The Michigan Tech roster includes lots of family ties. Newcomers Chad and Blake Pietila are brothers joining their cousin Aaron Pietila in the Huskies' locker room. Freshman David Johnstone came to play with his older brother, Jacob, a sophomore. Blake Hietala and Tanner Kero are also distant relatives.
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Wes Frahm
Director of Athletic Communications and Marketing
Michigan Technological University