HANCOCK — With a pair of come-from-behind victories last weekend over St. Scholastica, 7-4, and Northland, 4-2, the Finlandia Lions men’s hockey team moved into a tie for third in the NCHA North Division with the Lumberjacks and moved three points ahead of the Saints.

The Lions are now 5-5-2 in NCHA play and 7-10-2 overall. They are in the playoff hunt for the first time since coach Joe Burcar was previously the team’s head coach.

For the team’s seniors, the team’s final six regular season games are all important ones if they want to help the Lions extend their season beyond Feb. 9.

“(During) my years here at Finlandia, we have gone through some tough times,” said captain Alex Rezansoff. “It’s truly something special to be here with this group of guys and having the success that we have accomplished so far.”

Rezansoff had a huge weekend offensively last weekend against the Saints and Lumberjacks. After picking up just one goal and one point in his last four games, he racked up two goals and two assists, including a game-winner Saturday, in the weekend sweep. The four points nearly doubled his season totals as he now has four goals and nine points, which is a new career-high.

For his efforts, Rezansoff was named NCHA Offensive Player of the Week.

“‘Rez’ is a guy I gravitated to right away,” said Burcar. “His work ethic is second to none. He takes care of himself on and off the ice.”

The Lions have also solidified three lines offensively after last weekend. The line of sophomores Connor Hannon, Hunter Kero and freshman Teddy Randell are developing quickly into a dangerous line every time they are on the ice. Part of what makes the line of locals work is that Hannon accepted a move to wing, allowing Kero, a natural center, to do what he does best in both ends of the rink.

Rezansoff anchors a line with junior center Blake Peavey and senior winger Bryce Mitzel. Mitzel was a player whom Burcar’s staff struggled to get going in the early season, but is now a difference maker when the team needs him most.

Mitzel and Peavey are covering for each other on the forecheck, which is opening up space for Rezansoff to find soft spots in a team’s defense.

“Their job, most of the year, has been to shut down the other team’s top line,” said Burcar. “They are always asked not to get scored on. Saturday, they did not get scored on and they countered with a lot of points. It sure was nice to see that.”

The line of sophomore winger Cale Markham, freshman center Tyler Watungwa, and senior winger Paul Lochner is also showing signs of becoming a dangerous trio. Markham scored three goals in Friday’s win and Lochner had assists on all three tallies.

Lochner missed a huge chunk of his season due to injury and the lengthy recovery that followed, but since returning to the lineup, he has four assists in his last five games.

Markham leads the team in goals with eight, and most of them are coming as they did Friday night, from right in front of the net, getting to places coaches refer to as the “dirty” or “greasy” areas of the ice.

Burcar got a look a freshman Lee Pietila, a new face who joined the team in time for the spring semester, in two games this past weekend. Burcar likes what the Brighton, Michigan, native brings and sees the potential in being able to play him either at forward or defense.

Another young player who is stepping up as the Lions are looking for more leadership is freshman defenseman Cory Richardson. On Saturday, with the Lumberjacks’ goalie pulled, Richardson picked up a loose puck near his bench. Rather than try for the open net, Richardson flipped a high pass over a defender and right to a streaking Kero, who later deposited the puck in the empty goal.

“He doesn’t get credit for making plays like that,” Burcar said. “He makes a good read. He makes a good decision. He’s always about the team and putting us in a good situation. He plays above his freshman status.”

This weekend, the Lions remain at home, taking on the Trine Thunder Friday and the No. 7 Adrian Bulldogs on Saturday.

The Thunder are in the same position the Lions were in last weekend, they sit fifth in the NCHA South and are one point out of a playoff spot. The Bulldogs are nationally ranked and come into this weekend having won their last three games.

Freshman Garrett Hallford leads the Thunder in goals (11) and points (19) in 19 games this season.

Junior goaltender Brett Young has been solid in net, going 7-8-2 in 19 starts with a 2.48 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Senior defenseman Cory Dunn leads the Bulldogs offensively with five goals and team-highs in assists (15) and points (20). Senior forward Bryan Yim has a team-high 12 goals.

Senior goaltender Kevin Entmaa is 10-4-1 overall in 15 starts. He sports a 2.13 goal against average and a .908 save percentage.

GAME TIMES

Friday’s game against Trine will start at 7:15 p.m. at the Houghton County Arena. Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs is slated for a 3:15 p.m. start.