HOUGHTON, Mich. ? Alaska Anchorage suffered its first setback of the season by falling to upstart Michigan Tech 9-0 in its Western Collegiate Hockey Association opener tonight here at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
The Huskies (4-1-0, 1-0-0 WCHA) would storm out to a 4-0 first period, adding two more scores in the second and three in the third, to grab their third consecutive win of the young season. The Seawolves (2-1-2, 0-1-0 WCHA), who were unbeaten against MTU in the previous five meetings, had their season-opening four-game unbeaten streak snapped with the loss.
The nine-goal setback tied for the second-worst loss in program history, matching the 9-0 loss at Minnesota last season (11/11/05) and an 11-2 loss to North Dakota (1/17/04). The loss, which also marked the largest margin of defeat in the 48-game history between UAA and MTU, also tied for the largest defeat for the Seawolves in a WCHA game.
Peter Rouleau tallied three goals to lead the Huskies in scoring, netting two in the first before recording a hat trick with his third in the second frame. Alex Gagne posted two goals and one assist and Tyler Shelast added three assist.
UAA goalie Nathan Lawson saved 10 shots before being replaced by freshman Jon Olthuis, who recorded 22 saves in two periods of work.
MTU's Michael-Lee Teslak posted 22 saves in net in the win.
The Seawolves, who gave up their second shorthanded goal of the season, went scoreless in four attempts on the power play while the Huskies were 2-of-6.
The Huskies, who tallied eight goals in their previous four games combined, outshot the Seawolves 30-22.
UAA is now 1-13-0 all-time in its WCHA season-opening game.
Senior Justin Bourne and freshman Josh Lunden led UAA with four shots each on goal.
Both teams will lace it up for the series finale Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Alaska time.
