Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University Michigan Tech forward Alex Nordstrom corrals a puck during an NCAA regional game against Boston College on Friday, March 29, in Providence, Rhode Island.

HOUGHTON — Several hockey players who have either grown up in the Copper Country, or made a stop in the area during their college years, have had major impacts this season for their teams.

Junior forward Alex Nordstrom finished his season with the Michigan Tech Huskies in a loss in the NCAA Tournament to No. 1 Boston College, 6-1, on Friday, March 29. While he did not record a point, he did have a shot on goal in the game.

Nordstrom had his best season in Black and Gold, scoring four goals, the first four of his collegiate career, and eight points in 28 games. The Atlantic Mine native finished the season by playing in the team’s final 10 games.

Freshman forward Tanner Rowe and the Michigan Wolverines have advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Frozen Four after defeating Michigan State in their regional final.

Rowe, a Calumet native, did not dress for either of the two regional games the Wolverines played in against North Dakota and Michigan State, but he is making a trip to the Frozen Four in his first season of college hockey.

He has played in 26 games this season and has one goal.

LOCALS IN JUNIORS

Three Copper Country area players are nearly the end of the regular season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League’s Central Division. The Bruins have struggled down the stretch, and find themselves in third in the division with a record of 30-24-3-1, good for 64 points.

Hancock native Austin Salani, who is committed to play for Dartmouth, continues to lead the Bruins in scoring with 30 goals and 67 points in 58 games. He is currently on a four-game point streak where he has scored four goals and five assists for nine points over that stretch.

Calumet native Jackson Rilei has seen action in 51 games for the Bruins this season and has set new career highs with six goals and 12 points in 51 games. He has been particularly good of late, as he has two goals and two assists in his last seven games.

Houghton native Camden Markham has played in 14 games for the Bruins since being acquired by Austin from the Wisconsin Windigo in a trade in January. He has two points, both assists, over that stretch.

For the season, he has two goals and seven points in 36 games as a rookie.

In the North American 3 Hockey League, Houghton native Matthew Ryynanen has helped the Boseman Icedogs finish third in the Frontier Division with a record of 30-18-0-1, good for 61 points.

Ryynanen appeared in 36 regular season games, going 19-13-0-1 with a 3.64 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.

The Icedogs were eliminated from the Fraser Cup Playoff with two losses to the Gillette Wild. Ryynanen appeared in both games for the Icedogs.

In the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Houghton native Gaborik Carlson and Green Bay, Wisconsin, native Eli Mikesch helped the Melville Millionaires get to the playoffs as they won the Viterra Division with a record of 32-23-0-1, good for 65 points. However, they drew the Battlefords North Stars, who finished second in the Nutrien Division in the playoffs, and fell in four games.

Carlson played in 25 games for the Millionaires after being acquired at the trade deadline. He scored three goals and 11 points over that stretch. Mikesch also saw action in 25 games after being traded to the Millionaires. He finished with six goals and 13 points.

In the playoffs, both players saw action in all four games, with Mikesch scoring one goal. Carlson was held off the scoresheet for the series.

In the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Houghton native Landon Stevens played his rookie season for the Soo Eagles. The Eagles finished the regular season tied for fourth in the West Division with a record of 33-22-1-2, good for 69 points. Unfortunately, the Espanola Paper Kings finished with a record of 34-23-1-0, which meant they earned the final playoff spot, rather than the Eagles.

Stevens finished his season with nine goals and 28 points in 46 games.

HUSKIES JUMP TO THE PROS

Four Huskies recently signed professional contracts to further their careers after college.

Senior defenseman Jed Pietila was signed by the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. The Walleye are coached by Hancock native and former Michigan Tech center Patrick Mikesch.

Jed has played in three games for the Walleye and is a plus-1 so far.

Co-captain Arvid Caderoth has also signed in the ECHL with the Fort Wayne Komets. Caderoth made his debut with the Komets on Sunday, April 7.

In the American Hockey League, both of the twins, Logan and Blake Pietila, have signed contracts. Logan signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Blake signed with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Logan has played in one game for the Penguins, alongside former Huskies forward Matthew Quercia, but he did dress for a game before he made his debut. The opponent for that game was the Monsters, so he took warmups in that contest, as did Blake.

Blake has not appeared in a game for the Monsters yet.