Michigan Tech will face tourney-tested St. Cloud State

FARGO, N.D. – Michigan Tech hasn't played in the NCAA Division I hockey tournament since 1981.

But Tech enters the West Regional tied for the national lead in wins (29-9-2) and has confidence entering Friday when it plays St. Cloud State (19-18-1) at 4:30 p.m. at Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D.

"We just watched them a little bit at practice, and we know that they can skate well and they've got some smaller guys who can really move the puck," Tech forward Alex Petan said of St. Cloud State. "We just need to play our hockey and we'll be all right."

Friday's winner plays for the regional title and a trip to the Frozen Four at 9 p.m. Saturday. The other semifinal features top-seeded North Dakota (27-9-3) against fourth seed Quinnipiac (23-11-4) at 8 tonight.

St. Cloud State and Quinnipiac are making their third straight appearances. North Dakota is playing in its 13th straight tournament and reached the Frozen Four last season.

So what does Tech do well?

"When we're playing at our best, we're skating and everyone's moving their feet," forward Blake Pietila said. "When we're not getting pucks deep (in the offensive zone), I think that's when we get into trouble.

"I think we need to play a simple game and make St. Cloud's defensemen go back and play the puck. We should have some success."

Tech enters the regional second in goals against per game (1.77), sixth in goals per game (3.55) and seventh on the power play (21.6%).

Tech is led by senior forward Tanner Kero (19 goals, 45 points) and junior goalie Jamie Phillips, who is third in the nation in goals-against average (1.71) and save percentage (.935). He leads the nation in wins (28).

"It looks like they have a really hardworking team and a great goalie," St. Cloud State forward David Morley said. "They have some offensive players who can really make some plays that we need to be aware of.

"They're a great forechecking team and they work hard, so we're going to have to match that tomorrow and bring our 'A' game."

Tech finished second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association during the regular season and was the runner-up in the conference tournament to Minnesota State-Mankato. The way his team played last weekend in the conference tournament has Tech coach Mel Pearson, a former Michigan assistant, confident.

"Minnesota State is as good as anybody in the country, and it was a good lead-up to this weekend, and I think that will help our players," said Pearson, who is 72-67-17 and in his fourth season as Tech's coach. "I think we can reflect on how close those games were and how hard we had to play.

"I can't take a magic wand and, bang, now you've got experience in an NCAA tournament," said Pearson, who played for Tech in the national tournament in 1981. "But back in my day, we didn't have it either and we went to the Frozen Four."

■ Vs. tournament foes: Tech has played seven games this season against teams that made the NCAA tournament field and went 1-5-1. Four losses and the tie were to WCHA champion Minnesota State-Mankato, which is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Tech hosted Minnesota-Duluth in December and split a series with the Bulldogs. St. Cloud State, which finished sixth in the NCHC in the regular season, played 26 games against teams that reached the NCAA tournament and went 12-14.

■Fargo return: Four St. Cloud State players and one Michigan Tech skater will be making visits back to a former home this weekend. St. Cloud State's Jonny Brodzinski, Jimmy Murray, Nick Oliver and Joe Rehkamp and Michigan Tech's Kero all played at least part of their junior hockey careers for the Fargo Force of the U.S. Hockey League.