The Michigan Tech men’s hockey team celebrates its double-overtime win against Ferris State during the CCHA quarterfinals on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

They have not played as much in recent years, due mainly to the formation of the NCHC, but the No. 14 Michigan Tech Huskies and the No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs have a rivalry spanning decades as part of the former WCHA.

The two familiar foes will rekindle their rivalry Thursday at 3 p.m. EST at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado.

The Huskies are 120-90-20 all time against the Bulldogs, but just 2-7-1 in their last 10 matchups. However, one matchup that all the seniors on the Huskies (21-12-3 overall) remember was the last time the two teams faced each other.

The Huskies defeated the Bulldogs in the 2017 Ice Breaker title game. Fifth year winger Justin Misiak scored the game-winning tally in the contest. Co-captain Trenton Bliss, co-captain Alec Broetzman and senior winger Brian Halonen all had assists in the contest.

“The first college game of my career was against them,” said Bliss in an interview after the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. “(The) same (is true) for a lot of our seniors. Since then, we haven’t seen them.”

The Bulldogs are just three years removed from back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019 when they beat Notre Dame and Massachusetts, respectively. Since head coach Scott Sandelin, who is in his 22nd season with the Bulldogs, Minnesota-Duluth has won three national titles, so they come into 2022 with two major skills: experience and confidence.

“We know they’re a big, physical team with a lot of skill,” Bliss said. “They play in one of the best conferences and in college hockey. We know they’re going to be battle-tested. They have the tournament experience, so we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game.”

Scouting the Bulldogs

The Bulldogs (21-15-4) come into Thursday’s game having won four straight games, all part of the NCHC Tournament. They started with a sweep of St. Cloud State before defeating Denver in the semifinals. In the championship game, they shutout Western Michigan, 3-0.

Huskies fifth year defenseman Michael Karow said the Huskies need to bring the game to the Bulldogs if they want to have success.

“They’re a hot team,” he said. “For them to win their conference tournament, I think they were lower seed in the tournament, is huge for them. They’re going to come in with a lot of momentum.

“It’s gonna be important for us to come out and kind of match their pace early. I’m sure they’re going to come fast. (We) just (need to) get right on top of them, take over the game, like we can do.”

Junior goaltender Ryan Fanti has grown into a leader for the Bulldogs this season. In 36 appearances, he has started 35 games, posted a 19-11-4 record, has six shutouts, and a 1.87 goals against average coupled with a .926 save percentage.

Should he falter, sophomore Zach Stejskal proved that he is capable of stepping up in big moments during the 2021 NCAA Tournament, where he started what eventually became a 3-2 win in overtime for the Bulldogs against North Dakota. He stands an inch taller than Fanti at 6-foot-4, giving the Bulldogs a pair of big, quick goaltenders.

“They have tremendous goaltending,” said Huskies coach Joe Shawhan. ‘Their goaltending is outstanding.”

Sophomore Wyatt Kaiser leads the blue line in scoring with two goals and 19 points in 37 games. Freshman Owen Gallatin has fit in well, putting up two goals and 17 points in 40 games.

Up front, the Bulldogs feature Olympian Noah Cates. The senior has 11 goals and 24 points in 40 games. Sophomore Blake Biondi leads the team in goals (17) and points (28). A pair of fifth years in Kobe Roth and Koby Bender have also played well this season. Roth has 14 goals and 26 points while Bender has seven goals and 25 points.

Dominic James has had a solid freshman year with six goals and 18 points.

“Their (defense) are mobile and get involved in the game,” Shawhan said. “We’ve been already preparing.

“Their forwards are dynamic. (James) is a great freshman for them, and they have Noah Cates, who was on the Olympic team. So they have some dynamic players up front as well.”

Battle of the Gotz

One Huskies skater who is very excited to be seeing the Bulldogs is senior defenseman Eric Gotz. Gotz’s younger brother, Darian is a sophomore on Minnesota-Duluth’s blue line. He has one goal and nine points in 40 games this season.

“I’m not going to put a label on who’s a better player,” said Eric. “He’s got a little size on me, for sure, and he’s got a little physicality on me. Maybe I have a little more offensive touch or whatever, but that’s not taken away from him at all.

“He’s got a great skill set, and he’s really developed over at UMD the last couple years, which has been cool for me to watch as the big, older brother.”

Nerves

Only two skaters on the Huskies have played in an NCAA Tournament. Misiak was part of the 2017-18 team that lost to Notre Dame, 4-3, in overtime. Karow was part of a Boston College team that fell to St. Cloud State in last year’s tournament, 4-1.

Karow admits that nerves can play a factor for the Huskies, who do not have as much tournament experience on their roster as the Bulldogs do.

“I think you just have to shake the nerves out early,” Karow said. “It’s a new stage. It’s a new environment for a lot of guys. Even for myself and a guy like Misiak, who’s been there before, it’s a new experience each time you go in. If you lose, you’re done, so it’s one-and-done in that sense.

“You just have to settle the nerves down right away, and just play your game. Everyone’s got to do what they’re good at, stick to their strengths, and do their best to contribute to the team.”

Injury updates

Shawhan said March 15 he had no updates yet on whether or not sophomore winger Ryland Mosley would be ready to go Thursday. Shawhan is also hopeful to get Broetzman back into the lineup, but appears, at this point, to be a game-time decision.

No further updates were given on senior defenseman Tyrell Buckley or junior winger Parker Saretsky.