Michigan Tech’s Ryan O’Connell (3) plays a puck in front of Blake Pietila (31) during an exhibition game against Lake Superior State Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Head coach Joe Shawhan likens a high-numbers offense to going to war, it is always better to go war with teammates than without. Fielding a roster Saturday that had 12 players who had never donned the Black and Gold, Shawhan’s Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team scored in all three periods of a 5-2 exhibition win at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena over the visiting Lake Superior State Lakers.

The Huskies, who defended with numbers and then attacked with numbers, lost five of its top six scorers from last year’s squad. However, that did not stop the new faces in the lineup from making an impact on all five Michigan Tech tallies.

Shawhan liked much of what he saw from the new faces.

“Those guys competed hard,” said Shawhan. “It starts with passion and work ethic. People say all the time work will beat skill. Skill doesn’t work, so that is how important that is.”

One freshman who made an impact from the drop of the puck was winger Kyle Kukkonen. He used his speed early to draw the game’s first powerplay. He took a shift on that advantage and then had another shift later on the penalty kill, showing his versatility, something that caught Shawhan’s eye.

“This kid’s tremendous talent,” said Shawhan when asked about Kukkonen. “We’re going to hold him accountable to learning. I think he’ll do that himself because he’s a drafted hockey player and an elite player.”

His straight line speed was on display in the third period when, 30 seconds after senior defenseman Ryan O’Connell struck at 5:45, Kukkonen stole a pass at the Huskies’ blue line and exploded down the ice before beating Lakers goaltender Ethan Langenegger with a wrist shot low to his glove side.

“I figured they’ve been going (defenseman)-to-(defenseman) all night long,” he said. “So, I just took a chance and kind of was ready for it to come D-to-D, and I picked it off and ended up going on a breakaway. (I) just took a shot, had my spot, and picked it, and luckily it went in.”

That ability to predict where the puck was going was key to play, in Shawhan’s opinion.

“The goal he scored is the best combination you can have, speed and hard skill,” Shawhan said. “The best combination you can have, and that’s what the NHL people look for.”

O’Connell, one of three transfers to see playing time Saturday, scored when he tossed a puck on net as he was looking to make a line change. The puck found its way past Langenegger, who seemed surprised the puck got to him at all.

Another transfer player who made an impact in the contest was senior forward David Jankowski. The fifth-year transfer from St. Lawrence chipped in two assists, the first on a goal from senior center Logan Ganie at 15:49 of the first period and the second on O’Connell’s tally in the third.

For Jankowski, nothing he heard from teammates could prepare him for the experience of hitting the ice at the MacInnes.

“It was a great experience,” Jankowski said. “You hear stories and stuff, but you don’t really know what they’re talking about until you experience it. It was crazy out there. I’ve never had a pep band before, to play in front of with a home crowd, so it’s certainly a different aspect of the game. It’s a lot of fun out there.”

The third transfer, sophomore winger Jack Works, picked up an assist on Ganie’s second goal of the contest 6:23 into the second. Ganie beat Langennegger with a backhand for the marker.

The Huskies’ first goal of the night came off the stick of senior defenseman Chris Lipe, who wired a wrist shot through traffic that beat Langenegger 9:39 into the contest.

Three Huskies skaters who have been on the roster for multiple seasons made their debut Saturday. Sophomore forward Alex Nordstrom, junior defenseman Jed Pietila, and sophomore winger Marcus Pedersen all found their way into the lineup. Nordstrom picked up an assist, and Shawhan liked the compete level he saw from all three.

“I am happy that they were ready to go,” he said. “I’m happy that they were ready to go and gain some confidence in this game.”

Senior goaltender Blake Pietila also had a strong game for the Huskies, stopping 23 of 25 Lakers’ shots, including multiple looks in close from Dawson Tritt and Logan Jenuwine.

Up next

The Huskies return to the ice on Monday for another exhibition contest. They will host the Lakehead Thunderwolves at 6:07 p.m.