Lucchini prepared to be focal point of Huskies’ offense
HOUGHTON — With the graduation of Joel L’Esperance, Tyler Heinonen, Reid Sturos, and Brent Baltus over the past two seasons, senior forward Jake Lucchini enters his fourth season with the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey program as the highest-scoring returner. Lucchini has 34 goals and 78 points in 126 games played over the past three seasons,
The sports and fitness management major has made many good memories, but he has two in particular.
The first was Michigan Tech’s last two WCHA playoff appearances where they’ve claimed the final Broadmoor Trophy and the first Jeff Sauer Trophy. Both of the trophies signified a WCHA playoff title. The second was their share of the WCHA regular season title, alongside Minnesota State during his freshman year. Lucchini and his classmates, Jake Jackson, Devin Kero, and Dylan Steman, have won the most conference trophies in their tenure since the Huskies rejoined the WCHA.
“We’ve been pretty successful in the three years I’ve been here,” said Lucchini. “We won the MacNaughton Cup my freshman year. Then, obviously, we won the back to back Jeff Sauer (trophies).”
After suffering with his teammates through a rough start last season, Lucchini would like to see his team start off with more wins earlier this season so the Huskies can position themselves better in late-season standings.
“Last season, we kind of didn’t have the start that we wanted, and that was kind of a little bit of a struggle,” he said. Then we finally came together and gelled at the right time going into (the) playoffs.”
Having been voted co-captain for the 2018-19 season, Lucchini wants to work on getting the Huskies to gel quickly, which he feels would help with their on-ice performance.
“(I want us to) just kind of get everyone together (and become) more of a team sooner than we did last year,” he said. “(Then) we can have success earlier in the year.”
The Trail, B.C., native, who is in his final season with the Huskies, and he wants to help the younger players find their way into the lineup.
“I think (by) just bringing everyone together in different ways, just talking to the freshman and getting them used to how things work here with Joe (Shawhan) and our coaching staff,” he said. “This year, we’re trying to keep that success going and keep building.”
When asked if he had any big goals for himself and his team as they move into the season, getting home ice advantage for the playoffs was a must. Lucchini and his classmates have hosted playoff series each year except for last season, and they would prefer to make that three out of four.
“If we have success as a team, then individual success will follow that,” Lucchini said. “At least, I hope so. I think just working as a team and getting better every day, but also getting some wins and getting home ice in the playoffs, is always a goal of ours.”