Michigan Tech’s Chase Pietila selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft | WJMN

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (WJMN) – The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Michigan Tech Hockey’s Chase Pietila in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft on Saturday.

Following the selection, Michigan Tech Athletics announced the following:

Michigan Tech defender Chase Pietila was selected 111th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Pietila will enter his second season with the Huskies in 2024-25 after playing in all 40 games as a rookie.

Pietila is the 85th Michigan Tech player in history to be drafted and the first since David Weninger in 1996 to be drafted after playing one season for the Huskies.

Pietila, a native of Howell, Michigan, led the team with 19 assists and scored three goals, ranking fourth in the CCHA and eighth nationally among first-year defensemen in assists. He was also the league and NCAA freshman with the most penalty minutes (60).

Pietila, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenseman, played 175 games in the USHL over three seasons before joining Tech. He was an alternate captain of the Youngstown Phantom’s Clark Cup championship team during the 2022-23 season. He played two seasons with Youngstown and one with Lincoln.