HOUGHTON -- Courtesy: MTU
Senior defenseman Carl Nielsen has been selected to be the captain of the 2012-13 Michigan Tech hockey team as announced by head coach Mel Pearson. The Amherst, Ohio, native was chosen by his teammates in a team vote and will be assisted by fellow defensemen Steven Seigo (Edenwold, Sask.) and Bradley Stebner (Fort McMurray, Alb.).
Nielsen, who has played in 103 career games for the Huskies, served as an assistant captain a year ago. The 6-4, 225-pound blueliner posted one goal and six assists in 37 games a year ago and helped the Huskies to a WCHA Final Five appearance.
“It’s an honor to be picked as the captain of a Division I hockey team, especially one that has as much tradition and history as Michigan Tech,” said Nielsen, who is a management major. “Brett (Olson, 2011-12 team captain) was a big part of leading us in the right direction last year, and I want to continue leading us in that direction and hopefully take another step further.”
Seigo will spend his second straight season as an assistant captain. The 6-0, 185-pound senior was Tech’s top-scoring defenseman a year ago with five goals and 17 assists for 22 total points in 39 games. For his career, Seigo owns 58 total points (13 goals, 45 assists) in 113 games.
Stebner steps into an assistant captain role on the heels of a breakout 2011-12 season. The 6-4, 210-pound junior posted three goals and seven assists while playing in 37 games for the Huskies. He also amassed a team-best plus-minus rating of plus-12 on the year.
“Overall, we have very good senior leadership on this team,” said Pearson. “Carl has made great improvements as a player. He’s a tireless worker who is going to be a very good leader for us. Steven is obviously one of our best players, and I’m really looking for him to take another step forward with his game. Brad has come a long way and proven to be a valuable asset both on and off the ice.
“Not only will these three be big contributors on the ice, but they’ll do a great job off it.”
Michigan Tech’s 2012-13 hockey opener is scheduled for Oct. 8, a little more than three months away.
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