Box Score HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Wildcats traveled to Houghton to play Michigan Tech in a pre-season exhibition match, ultimately falling 4-3 despite a hard fought comeback effort.

Colby Browne scored the first goal of the 2024-25 season, followed by Nicolas Ardanaz and Jakub Altrichter. Matthew Romer picked up two helpers on the evening, and both Tynan Ewart and Tanner Latsch added an assist.

Goaltender Ryan Ouellette played the full 60 minutes, making 27 saves on 31 shots for a .871 SV%.

The teams ended close in shots on target, with Michigan Tech holding a four shot advantage. The Wildcats had a successful night in the faceoff dot, winning 34 of 57 (59.6%), led by Altrichter (13/20, 65%) Billy Renfrew (8/10, 80%), and Grayden Slipec (6/8, 75%). 

The Wildcats went 1-3 on the powerplay, while the Huskies went 2-5. 

How it Happened
The Huskies scored first just over a minute into the game, as Owen Baker snuck into a soft area of the ice at the bottom of the left circle. He fired a quick snapshot that was turning end over end and beat Ouellette between the legs.

Just over five minutes to go in the first, a mad scramble in front of the Wildcat net landed on the stick of a Husky in the slot, and he fired the puck on the net through a slew of bodies. Ouellette couldn't pick it up until it was too late, and the Huskies were up 2-0.

Mere seconds later, Romer drove the play into the far right corner of the offensive zone. Romer slipped a pass through two defenders to find Browne all alone in the slot. Browne corralled the puck and fired a shot all in one motion from between the hash marks and beat the Husky netminder to the stick side, cutting into the Husky lead.

It wasn't until the middle of the third period when the next goal was scored, as a Husky walked into the right circle on the power play. Using the defender as a screen, the Husky forward fired a shot along the ice that beat Ouellette. 

Three minutes later, Nicolas Ardanaz found a wayward pass as he was coming out of the box, springing him on a two-on-one. Ardanaz, on his off hand side, came scampering down the right-wing side and fired a wrister through the wickets of the netmider to bring the 'Cats within one again.

Tech was gifted with another powerplay, and two minutes after the 'Cats scored, the Huskies found the back of the net again, doubling the lead.

With the net empty and on the man advantage, Jakub Altrichter corralled a rebound in the right circle and quickly fired a shot past the sprawling netminder, giving the 'Cats life still with two minutes left. 

The Huskies would eat the puck against the halfwall, and the exhibition would end 4-3 in favor of Michigan Tech.

Up Next
The regular season opens on the road, a series with Colorado College on Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12.