Click on the bold scores for more details.
MTU
Alex Petan’s goal in overtime lifted the Michigan Tech hockey team to a 3-2 win over Alaska Saturday night. Tyler Heinonen and Joel L’Esperance also scored for the Huskies, who outshot the Nanooks 51-19. On Friday, the Huskies gave up a four-goal lead before L’Esperance scored the game-winner with 36 seconds remaining in a 6-5 victory over Alaska. With two games to play, the Huskies and Bowling Green remain two points behind first-place Minnesota State in the WCHA standings.
NMU
The NMU hockey team skated to a 2-2 tie with Lake Superior State Saturday night. The Wildcats lost to the Lakers 3-1 Friday night. LSSU earns the Cappo Cup by taking the season series 2-1-1.
FINLANDIA
The Finlandia University women’s basketball season ended Saturday, with a tough 76-72 loss to top-seeded UC-Santa Cruz in the semifinals of the Great South Athletic Conference tournament. The seesaw battle saw the Lions trailing by eight at halftime, then leading by eight early in the fourth quarter. An eight-point run by the Banana Slugs put them back on top. Mikayla Hakela’s jumper with 15-seconds remaining closed the gap to two points, but Santa Cruz sank four free throws down the stretch to earn the win. Brooke Turin led the Lions with 19 points. Finlandia reached the semifinals with a 67-53 victory over Agnes Scott College on Friday.
At the Dome Tournament in Marquette, the Finlandia softball team dropped a 13-3 decision to Lake Superior State Saturday morning. Christina Krider scored twice. Saturday afternoon, the Lions lost to Marian University 8-0. The Lions opened their season Friday with a 14-6 loss to Northland College. Finlandia will face Edgewood College today at noon… and Lakeland College today at 2:00.
GLHL
The Calumet Wolverines dropped a 4-3 overtime heartbreaker to the Eagle River Falcons Saturday night. The Wolves led 3-2 at the end of the second period, thanks to goals by Eric Mattila, Eric Bausano and Jeff Erkkila. The Falcons tied it in the third, and Dustin Madlung scored the game winner nearly four minutes into the extra period. The result of the Portage Lake Pioneers’ game against the Falcons Friday night was not reported.
NHL
In an outdoor game filled with snow, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 Saturday night. Brad Richards’ goal with one minute remaining was the game winner. Darren Helm’s empty-netter with 20 seconds left sealed the win. The Wings skate at Dallas tomorrow night. Face-off is at 8:30 on AM 1400 and FM 99.3, WCCY.
The Wings have traded defenseman Jakub Kindl to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. The move opens up some salary cap space. Kindl was Detroit’s first-round pick in the 2005 draft, but was losing playing time to the Wings’ group of promising younger players.
NBA
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 102-91 Saturday evening. Reggie Jackson led Detroit with 22 points. Andre Drummond posted his 50th double-double of the season, with 15 points and 17 rebounds. The Pistons host the Raptors tonight. Tip-off is at 6:00 on AM 1400 and FM 99.3, WCCY.
COPPERDOG 150
Defending champion Dennis LaBoda maintains the lead after the second stage of the CopperDog 150 dogsled race. LaBoda began leg two with a six-minute advantage over veteran Frank Moe. Martha Schouweiler started in third place, but posted the best run of the day, and moved into second place, about three-and-a-half minutes back. Local mushers Tom Bauer and Chad Grentz are 14th and 15th. Local musher Becky Bean is 17th. Stage three, between Copper Harbor and Calumet, will be held today.
Lynne Witte holds the lead at the midpoint of the CopperDog 80. She’s three-and-a-half minutes ahead of Mallory Sturmer, who is racing for Deepwoods Husky Dogs out of Bruce Crossing. Among other local mushers, Jerry Trudell of Calumet is in fourth place, Kelly Jo Engle of Atlantic Mine is sixth, Susan Serafini of Hancock is eighth, Shannon Cummings is 10th, MTU student Adam Schmidt is 11th, and 13-year-old Naum Raskind is 12th. The final stage of the CopperDog 80 will be run today between Copper Harbor and Calumet.
Today’s schedule has been modified because of anticipated snow. Instead of starting at Grant Township Park in Copper Harbor, teams will depart from Manganese Street. That’s farther from the staging area, so the usual two-minute break between departures has been extended to three minutes. Mushers in the 50 will leave first, followed by competitors in the 80. The first finishers are likely to arrive in Calumet shortly after noon.
See full results at CopperDog150.com. Todd VanDyke will provide updates from the race today on the Voice of the CopperDog, 97.7 The Wolf.
Our coverage of the girls Class D district basketball tournament begins on Monday, and our coverage of the hockey regional tournament will start on Tuesday on KBear 102.3 and KBear102.com.
Email scores and sports news to mornings@up.net.