MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University hockey was beaten by Michigan Tech 3-1 in the final game of the regular season.  The game was physical and saw 24 total penalties including three game misconducts and a game disqualification.  Sophomore Casey Purpur netted his first career goal in the loss, while sophomore goaltender Michael Doan made 37 saves in the contest.

"Kudos to Tech, they are a real good team and did a real good job," commented head coach Walt Kyle.  "I thought we were better tonight than we were last night and I think we took a step forward.  We are a little banged up but I have faith in them.  I believe that whoever is out there is going to get the job done.  The guys at the bottom of the lines tonight had the best nights."

The Huskies outshot NMU 40-21 for the game with an 18-1 margin in the second period.

Michigan Tech got on the board first when Tyler Heinonen found the back of the net on a power play at the 8:40 mark in the first period.  Malcolm Gould and Tanner Kero picked up assists on the goal.

Kero then gave the Huskies a two goal lead when he scored 1:57 into the second period for his 18th score of the year.  Alex Petan and Walker Hyland assisted on the goal.

The Huskies scored once more in the second period at the 9:15 mark shortly after the conclusion of an NMU penalty with Reid Sturos credited with the goal and Mark Auk and Shane Hanna on the assist.

The third period then saw 14 penalties including six penalties in the final eight minutes of the contest.  The Wildcats were able to get on the board with 55 seconds remaining in the game on the power play.  Senior forward DJ Vandercook passed the puck up to sophomore defenseman Brock Maschmeyer who fired a shot from the point that was redirected by the stick of Purpur past the Tech goalie.  Maschmeyer picked up his 11th assist of the season on the play with Vandercook earning his second assist of the year.

The Wildcats managed to outshoot Tech in the third period by an 11-6 margin with six of their shots on the power play.  NMU would go 1-6 on the power play in the final period and 1-7 for the game.

Northern Michigan opens up the WCHA Tournament next weekend as the No. 6 seed and will travel to the No. 3 seed Bowling Green.  The Wildcats and Falcons open the series Friday, March 13th with game two Saturday, March 14th and if necessary game three will be played Sunday, March 15th.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (EST) for all three games.