ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WZMQ)- Penn State found the net just over two minutes into Friday night’s game against Michigan Tech, and then they just kept scoring.
By the end of the third period Michigan Tech would be down 8-0 and have their season come to an end in a stunning defeat in Allentown Pennsylvania. This game was full of chances for Michigan Tech to score goals but they were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Kyle Kukkonen would be stopped on 2 breakaways in the first period. Tech also had two power play opportunities throughout the game and were unable to capitalize on them.
The game would fall completely out of control in the third period when Penn State scored 4 goals, two within 33 seconds.
Head coach Joe Shawhan was somber during his post game press conference.
“It’s a hollow feeling. My concern always with this group was that ‘it’ factor, and this is the first time we really saw it all year,” Shawhan remarked, he went on to say . “I was worried that this would happen in November and December, and our guys just kept being resilient. This is the most embarrassed I’ve been in a hockey game ever.”
Coach Shawhan went on to praise goaltender Blake Pietila saying the decision to leave him after giving up 8 goals was one that Pietila made himself. Shawhan gave him the option to come out and Pietila wanted to stay and finish his last game as a huskie.
CCHA hockey teams were outscored this weekend 12-0. Big ten teams definitely did some flexing like Shawhan mentioned they outscored opponents 36 to 4 this weekend.
Penn State lost to the University of Michigan in the Regional Final. The Huskies finish the season with a record of 24-11-4.
