(Photo Illustration by Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette; David Archambeau/Photo for The Daily Mining Gazette)

The Michigan Tech hockey team has finally gotten into a routine, at least for now.

In 2020, a routine has been something hard to come by, especially across the sports world, with cancellations and postponements because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It isn’t much of a routine, but something that could help the Huskies establish consistency. Tech (1-2-1) plays in consecutive weeks for the first time this season after a cancellation two weeks ago. Tech visits Bemidji State (0-1) for a Saturday-Sunday series.

Puck drop is 5:07 p.m. Saturday and 3:07 p.m. Sunday.

Tech is coming off a split against No. 6 Minnesota State a week ago. The Huskies’ series against Northern Michigan the week before was canceled because of positive virus results in the Wildcats’ program. Northern Michigan has yet to play a game this season.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced Friday that Alaska opted out of the remainder of the season. The university suspended men’s and women’s basketball.

The Huskies enter their fifth game of the season with a win against a top-10 team in the Mavericks. Sophomore goaltender Blake Pietila stopped a total of 78 shots over both games and was named the conference Goaltender of the Week.

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been as kind to the Beavers, who have had five straight postponements. Its only game was a 5-0 loss to Minnesota State on Nov. 22.

Bemidji State was chosen No. 2 in the WCHA Preseason Media Poll in November.

In retrospect

Tech was aggressive enough in the first game of last weekend’s series in pressuring the Mavericks and taking a 3-1 win. Tech defenseman Eric Gotz leads the team so far in the young season with two goals.

But Minnesota State rebounded the following night with its characteristic offensive style in looking for open weakside shots and chasing the puck with an aggressive forecheck.

As Tech took seven penalties on the night, the offensive pressure increasingly fatigued the Huskies’ penalty kill.

Tech assistant Dallas Steward said after the 2-0 loss that aside from the penalties, it’s one thing to be in practice shape and in game shape. He said it’s been a challenge getting players in game shape without playing games, especially against teams that grind like the Mavericks.

The Huskies have survived taking a handful of penalties against teams before, but top-10 teams are less forgiving.

Yet after serving those penalties, Tech players not on the penalty kill were rested and responded by pushing the play into the Mavericks’ zone in the third period with multiple scoring opportunities.

Pencil ’em in

The Huskies are scheduled to host Northern Michigan on Friday, Dec. 18 and visit the Wildcats the following night.

Northern Michigan, who has yet to play a game this season, has had three straight weekends postponed because of positive results.

The Huskies and Wildcats were set to square off at the end of November, but the Wildcats canceled because of positive virus tests within the program.