LOVELAND, Colo. — The season ended for No. 14 Michigan Tech in a 3-0 loss to No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA Tournament West Regional first round on Thursday.

Minnesota-Duluth fifth-year senior left wing Kobe Roth scored two goals, including a last-second empty net tally.

The Bulldogs (22-15-4) advance to the regional championship at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center against the winner of Denver vs. UMass Lowell.

The loss abruptly ended Michigan Tech’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017-18.

The Huskies (21-13-3) outshot the Bulldogs, but UMD goaltender Ryan Fanti made 28 saves for his third consecutive shutout.

Michigan Tech junior goaltender Blake Pietila made 25 saves.

The Huskies bench was shortened after senior forward Brian Halonen was ejected less than four minutes into the game following a boarding major and a game misconduct.

Offseason outlook

Michigan Tech loses a senior core of 10 players that were among the first players Joe Shawhan recruited after taking over as head coach.

Fifth-year senior Justin Misiak was a freshman when the Huskies last appeared in the NCAA Tournament. He leaves as the school’s all-time leader with 154 games played including Thursday.

Halonen a strong forward revered for his offensive prowess and scoring ability, hit a cold streak at the end of the season. He exited in the first period of Thursday’s game without having scored a point in his final three appearances.

The other seniors include co-captains Trenton Bliss and Alec Broetzman, Tyrell Buckley, Eric Gotz, Brian Halonen, Michael Karow, Tommy Parrottino, Mark Sinclair and Colin Swoyer.

Looking ahead

Michigan Tech’s underclassmen includes a familiar face for the Copper Country.

Atlantic Mine forward Alex Nordstrom, although on the Huskies’ roster, didn’t appear in any games this season. He scored four goals and 11 assists for the Green Bay Gamblers in 2020-21. Nordstrom scored nine goals and 11 assists in 34 games for the Fargo Force in 2019-20. Nordstrom is a 2018 Hancock graduate. He was part of the Bulldogs state championship team in 2017.

Trevor Russell, Grant Docter Levi Stauber and Marcus Pedersen also joined the roster as freshmen this season. Russell, a defenseman, played in 17 games. Docter, also a defenseman, played in six games, scoring an assist.

MTU 0 0 0 — 0

UMD 1 0 2 — 3

First Period–Scoring–1, UMD, Roth, 14:54. Penalties–MTU, Halonen (boarding major), 3:17. MTU, Halonen (game misconduct), 3:17. UMD, Gotz (slashing), 3:17. UMD, Anderson (interference), 11:17. UMD, James (cross-checking), 18:23.

Second Period–Penalties–UMD, Gotz (hooking), 14:40.

Third Period–Scoring–2, UMD, Kleven, 6:09. 3, UMD, Roth, 19:53, en.

Shots on Goal–MTU 9-7-12–28. UMD 13-6-6–25.

Power-play Opportunities–MTU 0 for 3. UMD 0 for 1.

Penalties-minutes–MTU 2-5. UMD 4-8.

Goalies–MTU, Pietila 12-6-5–25 saves. UMD, Fanti 9-7-12–28.

Referees–Colin Kronforst, Sean Fernandez. Linesmen–Justin Cornell, Pat Richardson.