Michigan Tech’s Parker Saretsky controls the puck during a game against St. Lawrence Saturday, Oct. 29, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team earned a CCHA split this past weekend on the road against the Bowling Green State Falcons. They won the Friday night contest, 3-2, before fall Saturday, 6-1.

Huskies hold off Falcons for CCHA win

The Huskies earned their first CCHA win of the season with a 3-2 victory at Bowling Green State Friday. Logan Ganie scored the game-winner 6:04 into the third period, and the Huskies held on for Coach Joe Shawhan’s 100th career victory.

“I thought our guys played extremely hard,” Shawhan said. “We had an inexperienced defensive corp tonight, but we got timely goals and our seniors stepped up. It’s hard to win a game on the road and hard to win in this building.”

Tech never trailed in the game, taking the lead three different times. Parker Saretsky opened scoring with his fourth of the season 14:11 into the game. Logan Ganie and Saretksy crisscrossed in the zone and Saretsky fired it far side past the goaltender’s blocker. Topi Heiskanen also assisted as the team’s skated 4-on-4.

The Falcons tied it up 9:11 into the second on a goal from Anton Malmstrom from Ben Wozney and Ethan Scardina.

Ryland Mosley put the Black and Gold back in front with a power play goal at 16:16 of the second. He corralled a pass from Logan Pietila and buried his fourth of the season with Nick Nardella adding the secondary assist.

BGSU quickly tied it up 1:41 later when Ethan Scardina scored an unassisted goal.

Tech once again took the lead, this time for good. Ganie found some space in front of the net and redirected a shot by Jake Crespi on net. The rebound popped right out, and Ganie buried it for the go-ahead tally with 13:56 remaining. Saretsky also assisted on the play.

The Falcons got a power play with 90 seconds left and pulled the goaltender for the 6-on-4 advantage. Blake Pietila only had to make one save down the stretch with defenseman Ryan O’Connell blocking three shots.

Blake Pietila picked up his 40th career win, making 41 saves for the Huskies–two short of a career-high. He made three saves on breakaways and added a stop on a penalty shot in the second period.

The Huskies were 1-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Huskies fall at Bowling Green Saturday

The Huskies fell 6-1 to the Falcons Saturday. Trevor Russell scored the lone goal for the Huskies as the teams split the CCHA series at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

“It was a disappointing game for us tonight, but I’m happy we were able to come out of this weekend with a split,” Shawhan said. “We have to look at the areas where we can get better, and that will start at practice.”

Like Friday night, Tech took a first-period lead when Russell buried his second of the season with a long shot through traffic 14:09 into the game. Logan Pietila fed the puck back to Russell, and Logan Ganie added the secondary assist.

Just under 4:00 later, Bowling Green tied it up and then took lead 11 seconds later. The first goal was a power play tally by Ethan Scardina at 18:00.

The Falcons quickly took the lead with a shot from the top of the circle past the glove of Blake Pietila off the stick of Adam Pitters at 18:11.

Tech began the second period on the power play after the Falcons were whistled on their third major of the weekend. The play was evened up after Logan Pietila was sent to the box on an interference call, and the Falcons capitalized for a 3-1 lead on a goal by Austen Swankler 1:35 into the second.

Blake Pietila made a big save on a breakaway when the major expired.

The Huskies then had a number of chances looking to cut into the lead. Logan Pietila was stopped on a breakaway, and Levi Stauber had a wraparound chance that somehow stayed out.

The Falcons made it 4-1 with a shot through traffic from Nathan Burke. Max Vayrynen was then inserted between the pipes for Tech.

Tyrone Bronte had a chance at the side of the net that was on the goal line but never crossed. The officials reviewed the play but the call stood.

From there, the Falcons took over. They added to the lead with 6:13 left with an empty net goal by Taylor Schneider. The Huskies had a power play and pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker.

Jaden Grant rounded out scoring for the final tally with 2:41 left on the power play. His shot deflected off a player in front.

The Huskies led in shots 37-33. Blake Pietila made 16 saves and Max Vayrynen stopped 11 shots.

Up next

Tech returns home next weekend for a CCHA series against Lake Superior State. It will be Hall of Fame weekend at Michigan Tech, and Pat Mikesch will be inducted as a member of the class of 2022. Mikesch played hockey for the Huskies from 1992-96 and is seventh all-time at Tech in career scoring with 169 points and sixth in career assists (112).