Michigan Tech’s Tristan Ashbrook controls the puck in the offensive zone during an exhibition game against Lakehead earlier this season at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Given how the Michigan Tech Huskies looked in the first two exhibition games at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena, it was easy for those in attendance to remember that this season’s roster includes 10 freshmen, three transfers and four players who had been with the program, but had yet to suit up in a game in the Black and Gold.

That extreme amount of youth was on display last weekend as the Huskies opened their season at Ferris State in Big Rapids.

Three freshmen, all three transfers and three rostered skaters made their Huskies debut in the 2-1 loss to the Bulldogs. One of the players making his debut, sophomore Alex Nordstrom, picked up his first career point in the game.

The Huskies threw 29 shots at the Bulldogs’ Logan Stein with junior defensemen Jed Pietila and Brett Thorne both leading the way with five shots each.

As good as both players were, Thorne turned a puck over just seconds into the contest, which the Bulldogs’ Tyler Schleppe went the other way with from center ice to score.

Nordstrom’s hard work on the forecheck allowed junior winger Nick Nardella to free the puck up and get it to senior center Parker Saretsky for the tying goal just over five minutes later. Saretsky, who had just seven career goals prior to Friday, showed great patience, forcing Stein to make the first move before he deked to his forehand and beat the young netminder.

The Huskies kept working hard on the forecheck in the first period and were rewarded with numerous scoring chances, but they could not buy a goal.

In the second period, during an early-period power play, the senior center Logan Pietila lost control of the puck just inside the Bulldogs’ blue line. Nick Nardecchia took off the other way unimpeded, but his shot was stopped by senior goaltender Blake Pietila.

Freshman defenseman Topi Heiskanen turned the puck over just inside his own blue line late in the second period, and the scramble that followed led to the Bulldogs’ second goal with 4:18 remaining in the frame.

The teams traded chances in the third until a faceoff with 58 seconds left to Stein’s left. Junior center Arvid Caderoth won the draw back to Heiskanen, who quickly slid the puck across the blue line to senior winger Tristan Ashbrook, but Ashbrook’s shot was blocked. He got the puck back, but his shot was deflected in front of Stein.

On Saturday, the Huskies traveled to Plymouth to take on the U.S. National Development Program’s (USNTDP) U18 team in their final exhibition game of the season.

The USNTDP scored the game’s first four goals before Nardella got one back for the Huskies at 7:32 of the second period. Junior center Tyrone Bronte worked hard to help set up the goal.

After the USNTDP struck again early in the third, junior winger Ryland Mosley answered just over four minutes later, but that was as close as the Huskies would get as they fell, 6-2.

Great White North

The Huskies made their way to Fairbanks, Alaska, after the game against the USNTDP. Thursday and Friday this week, they will face the Alaska Nanooks, who were part of the WCHA before the formation of the current version of the CCHA.

The Nanooks, who are independent, are 2-1-1 on the season, having beaten and tied American International College and having split with St. Thomas.

Sophomore forward Simon Falk and fifth year forward Jonny Sorenson lead the Nanooks with two goals each. Sophomore forwards Chase Dubois and Brady Risk both have a goal and an assist each.

Senior goaltender Matt Radomsky has started all four games for the Nanooks to this point. He sports a 1.71 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Game times

The Huskies and Nanooks will faceoff Thursday at 11:37 p.m. Friday, the two teams will play at 11:07 p.m.