Michigan Tech sophomore defenseman Brett Thorne (27) handles the puck against Ferris State on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Normally, when a college hockey team gives up only three even strength goals on the weekend, it will most likely find itself on the winning end at least one of the two games on a given weekend.

When you play the No. 1 Minnesota State Mavericks, that is not always the case.

The Michigan Tech Huskies did much of what they wanted to do last weekend. They held the Mavericks, who were No. 2 against the Huskies, to three even-strength goals, held them to one power-play goal, and one 3-on-3 goal. That being said, the Huskies only scored twice themselves, one on the power play, and one shorthanded.

“We’re certainly happy with the effort of the group, overall,” said Huskies head coach Joe Shawhan. “Hard place to play, a good team to play against. It’s always the same. I mean, when we’re there, it always seems to be a one-goal game. Or, when we play them, it’s always a one-goal game. You’re looking to come out more with that advantage than not.”

What Shawhan is saying is that in the past several seasons, the Huskies and Mavericks have traditionally battled each other in close contests. Unfortunately, to this point, the Mavericks still have a little something extra that the Huskies are still trying to find.

“In reality, we scored a power play goal and a shorthanded goal on the weekend,” Shawhan said. “So, 5-on-5, we didn’t score a goal. That was the difference. We outperform them on special teams, they had a power play goal and give up a shorthanded goal on the weekend. 

“So, we outperformed them on the special teams portion of it.”

Facing the Tommies

All three players should continue to be a big part of what the Huskies do moving forward. That starts with this weekend, as they get set to host the St. Thomas Tommies for the first time in program history.

Opening faceoff between the Huskies and Tommies is set for 7:07 p.m. Friday, and 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

The Tommies (1-17, 1-11 CCHA), who recently made the jump to Division I, are off to a tough start, but Shawhan said they’re close to winning more games. 

The Tommies, who are coached by former Miami Redhawks coach Enrico Blasi, are already embodying much of what Blasi’s teams were known for in the past, a work ethic that is hard to match. Shawhan respects Blasi’s style.

“He’s a tremendous coach,” Shawhan said. “We know that they will compete extremely hard.

“The first thing you have to do is to at least match that, if not give everything you can to surpass or compete level, which is that hard skill. If they outwork you, they can nullify whatever skill level you have. Then, the advantage goes to them. The work ethic, the attention to detail, and the synergy of the group will surpass any individual players that you have.”

The Tommies have seen some lopsided scores early in the season, including a 12-2 loss to then-No. 2 St. Cloud State, and a 9-0 loss to then-No. 3 Minnesota State, but Shawhan isn’t fazed by those results. He figures that the Tommies will be ready to battle when they step on the ice against the Huskies Friday night.

“Chances are, if you look at the history of us, it’s still going to be a one-goal game,” he said. “It’s still gonna be a one-goal game. We want to be the team that comes out with the one-goal win, and if we’re fortunate enough that it’s more than that, we’re blessed. If it goes the other way, then they earned it more than we did.”

The Tommies are led offensively by a pair of seniors in Christiano Versich and Matthew Jennings. Versich has three goals and nine points. Jennings has a team-high seven assists and nine points. 

In goal, senior Peter Thome has established himself as the starter, seeing action in 13 games, going 1-12 with a 4.42 goals against average and a .870 saves percentage.

Standing out

A player that  Shawhan felt made an impact last weekend was fifth-year winger Justin Misiak. Misiak missed the first three weekends of the year before joining the team for the trip to Clarkson in late October. He scored his first points of the season on Nov. 13 against Northern Michigan, but had not found the net until he struck on the power play Saturday night in Makato.

“He always performs when you need them when you need it the most,” said Shawhan. “He shows up at big times. He’s got that innate ability in him. He’s got that competitive drive.

“He’s always been vital to us at critical times. You’d never consider not going with him at a critical time, if he’s healthy and able to go. (He is a) tremendous, tremendous competitor.”

Another player whose effort Shawhan was impressed with throughout the weekend was senior defenseman Michael Karow. While the 6-foot-2 Green Bay native will not light up the scoresheet, he has just one goal this season, what he does to defend keeps him in the lineup each weekend.

“There was a whole different level to Michael Karow in everything,” Shawhan said. “I honestly think there were guys that just wanted to jump on his back and ride him. What I mean by that is (to) follow his lead because he was competitive, and driven, and physical and mean, which is a good thing.”

Shawhan feels that Karow has the ability to push his game even further, and that he could be an NHL-level defender, much like former Huskies star Matt Roy. 

“The only thing that’s really missing in his game is (the offense), because he has the puck on his stick a lot, he eliminates time and space,” said Shawhan. “He holds lines well. He’s an elite skater. He’s got good size and strength. That’s what we want. That’s what we work with. We want him to develop because that’s what will help him in his future is those plays when he has (the puck).”

Following Karow, senior defenseman Tyrell Buckley has been working hard to find his place in the lineup week in and week out. After playing in just five games his first two seasons, Buckley blossomed last season, seeing action in 29 games. This year, he has already surpassed his point total from last season through 13 games.

“First of all, he’s a team-first guy, which is what you’re after out of everybody,” Shawhan said. 
”He’s shown a willingness to sacrifice his personal ambitions, and goals, for the good of the team, and then to work to prepare himself to position himself to be a player that is necessary to the team going forward. He’s a left-handed (defenseman) that’s aggressive, that has worked into being the best version of himself as he can. He’s really an example that you want.”