The Michigan Tech hockey team fell 3-2 in its season-opening game at No. 12 Wisconsin Yesterday (Oct. 1). Joel L'Esperance and Jake Lucchini scored the Huskies' goals, both on the power play, to cut the lead to one each time, but the Badgers held on for the non-conference win in the annual US Hockey Hall of Fame Game.

"We obviously didn't get the result that we wanted, but we can't complain about the effort," Tech Head Coach Joe Shawhan said after his first game as the leader of the Huskies. "We started out a little tentative and gave up some things early, but that will happen with a team in the first game and with guys playing in bigger roles than they're used to."

Down 2-0 after the first period, the Black and Gold capitalized on a couple of power plays after a physical opening to the second. L'Esperance broke free on a breakaway and buried his 35th career goal 13:13 into the middle frame to cut the lead to one. Mark Auk threaded the pass up to L'Esperance, and goaltender Patrick Munson added the secondary assist.

The Badgers pushed the lead back to two 1:35 later on a goal by Linus Weissbach—his second of the game.

Wisconsin was then called for back-to-back penalties and Lucchini made it 3-2 on the second power play with 1:34 left in the second. He ripped in a shot from the faceoff dot to the left of Badger goaltender Kyle Hayton for the 19th of his career. Gavin Gould had the primary assist and Auk picked up his second assist of the night with the secondary helper.

Tech outshot UW 8-7 in the final frame, including quality scoring chances from Brent Baltus midway through and a backhander out front of the net by L'Esperance.

Munson made 24 saves in his Huskies debut. Read the full story and find out more on Tech Sports at michigantechhuskies.com.