As those in school enjoy the final hours before they head back to class this week, it’s important to remember that not every student had time off during the holidays.
Jack Works was one of those who was busy doing his thing on the ice with his Michigan Tech Huskies and he ended up making it a weekend to remember late last month.
Works and the Huskies are your champions of the 57th Great Lakes Invitational Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after defeating the Michigan State Spartans in the final on Dec. 29 by a score of 4-3 in a shootout. The 22-year-old junior from Yellowknife was the star of the show with a hat trick in the final on his way to being named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Works, who was born and raised in Yellowknife, said the Huskies’ disappointing performance in the tournament the previous year was motivation for the latest edition.
“We didn’t have a good showing (in 2022), and we wanted to get out there and take it home this time,” he said.
The tournament featured four teams playing collegiate hockey in the U.S. — in addition to Michigan Tech and Michigan State, Ferris State from Michigan and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) hit the ice.
The Huskies played their semifinal against UAF on Dec. 28 and ended up winning 3-2 in overtime — the winner came 35 seconds into bonus hockey to set up the final.
And that’s where Works shone.
He opened the scoring on the power-play just before the midway mark of the opening period, but the Spartans jumped out in front with two goals in the second to take a 2-1 lead into the third frame. Works would score his second of the game early in the third period to tie things up and then put the Huskies ahead just before the middle of the frame. The Spartans would get the equalizer a couple of minutes later, though, and that would be it for scoring in regulation time.
Both teams had chances to win it in sudden death — Works very nearly made it a four-bagger, but he hit the post in OT. Ryland Mosley ended up being the hero in the shootout as he scored the only goal to give the Huskies the win and the championship.
The Spartans are ranked no. 7 in the U.S. and Works said he knew they would come out fast in the final.
“We had good looks at the right time and we had a great game from (goalie) Blake (Pietila),” said Works. “Having a game like that is really special and it’s great when you’re able to chip in like I did.”
Even more special was having his family in attendance, he added.
“My parents and my aunt were there watching and that made it even better,” he said.
Works said winning the tournament was a great way for the Huskies to close out 2023 and now the focus turns to the second half of the season.
“We had a tough start to our season, but we’ve turned it around and now we’re in a groove,” he said. “Our conference is wide open for the regular season and playoff titles, and we’re hoping to get one of those and get a bid for the (NCAA) national championship.”
