Michigan Tech’s Nick Nardella (7) celebrates a goal while teammate Jack Works (29) skates over to him during an exhibition game against Lake Superior State on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team returned home from Fairbanks, Alaska, triumphantly, thanks to a pair of wins against the Alaska Nanooks. With the two wins, the Huskies improved to 2-1 on the season.

The success the Huskies had in Alaska came largely from the hard work of a few individuals, according to coach Joe Shawhan. He had praise for the efforts of assistant captain Ryland Mosley, senior forwards Parker Saretsky, and Jake Crespi, and junior forward Nick Nardella.

With a number of players graduating after last season, the Huskies came into this season with a distinct lack of guaranteed faces in Top 6 roles.

“What we’re looking for right now is trying to find players that can grow and continue to trend upward in their contribution and impact on the game,” Shawhan said. “Right now, it’s a constant chess match, trying to find two lines that are showing chemistry on a given night, and work from there trying to find six forwards and four (defensemen) that are on top of it. That’s kind of been a work in progress right now.”

Three weeks into the season, it appears that the Huskies might have found a pair of lines that can give them consistent efforts. While the Mosley, co-captain Logan Pietila, and freshman winger Kyle Kukkonen line has been good, it has been a little inconsistent, the Saretsky, Nardella, and Crespi line is finding its path after two good games in Fairbanks.

Mosley has proven to be a tireless player who works extremely hard. Shawhan is hoping that effort will rub off on his teammates quickly. He has a goal and three points already this season in three games.

“He’s been the most consistent forward execution-wise, read-wise,” said Shawhan. “He’s given us the most. I think, really, whoever we put him with right now is going to have some sort of success.”

Saretsky, Nardelli, and Crespi are all players that Shawhan has felt had more to show if they could just find some consistency.

Saretsky, who had just seven career goals coming into the season, has two already through the first three games this season. He is a player that Shawhan feels can take large strides this season, if he wants to.

Crespi, who had just six goals in his first three seasons in Black and Gold, is in a similar situation. Shawhan is encouraged by the fact that he is using his speed more and feels that is part of why he has a goal and two points through the first three games.

Nardella struggled last season to find consistency in much the same way Logan Pietila struggled to as a sophomore. Shawhan credits him for working on improving his effort level this season, and feels that is a large part of why the junior has four assists already on the season.

“When he’s engaged and he’s getting his nose in there, he’s coming out with pucks,”

Shawhan said. “He has the ability to make plays, more so than many players on our team.”

On the defensive side of the puck, Shawhan likes a lot of the effort he is getting from sophomore Trevor Russell. Russell scored in Saturday’s 6-2 win in Alaska.

Shawhan feels that while Russell is playing well now, he has another level he can get to.

“I think there’s a whole other level that he’s capable of,” said Shawhan. “I’m not sure if he sees that level yet.

“I don’t know what the process is going to be, and how long the process is going to be to get to that level, but I do believe that there’s a whole other level.”

In goal, senior Blake Pietila continues his assault on the Huskies’ record books. On Friday, he earned his 11th career shutout in the Huskies’ 2-0 win. Called upon more heavily this season, due to the inexperience of the team in front of him, Pietila is already off to a great start with a 1.35 goals against average and a .952 save percentage.

Huskies at home

This weekend, the Huskies will host the Bemidji State Beavers for the first weekend of CCHA play. The Beavers come in having earned a split with the Arizona State Sun Devils two weekends ago.

The Beavers eliminated the Huskies last season in the CCHA playoffs, but all three players who made up their top line have either graduated or transferred. Despite that huge loss, Shawhan feels like nothing has changed in how the Beavers approach hockey games.

“It’s gonna be an uphill battle again,” said Shawhan. “They’re going to put a lot of stress on us and we’re gonna have to manage the puck. I’m sure that’s what they’re going to try to do. They’re going to try to go after our defense a bit, and force turnovers, and then turn that into quick offense in the offensive zone.”

Much like the Huskies, the Beavers have a strong presence in goal. Sophomore Mattias Sholl returns having appeared in 26 games as a freshman. He gave up two goals in a 3-0 loss against the Sun Devils, but Shawhan expects him to be stingy against the Huskies.

Game times

Friday night’s contest between the Huskies and Beavers will start at 7:07 p.m. at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. Saturday’s rematch is set to start at 6:07 p.m.