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Finding his role: Nordstrom grew into a critical piece of the Huskies hockey team

Michigan Tech forward Alex Nordstrom skates with the MacNaughton Cup after the Huskies defeated Bemidji State for the CCHA playoff championship on Friday, March 22, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — In this third year with the Black and Gold, Atlantic Mine native and former Hancock Bulldogs hockey star Alex Nordstrom has not had an easy path to a regular roster spot on the weekends for the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team. However, as the 2023-24 season moved along, he found a groove playing alongside senior center Blais Richartz and freshman winger Henry Bartle, and the trio were an important piece of the puzzle as the Huskies made their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, he played in just 16 games, several of which he played defense, a position that is not natural to him. This season, he saw action in 28 games. He played forward in all of those contests.

Nordstrom is the first to admit that this season was a lot more fun for him from a hockey perspective.

“I think it’s a lot better experience, for sure, being able to get into the lineup,” he said. “When you’re in the lineup, contributing in the lineup, I think the biggest thing is, obviously, helping the team win in any way. Whether the last couple years, stepping in as a defenseman, or playing forward, or just in practice there, (I’ve) just (been) trying to get better every day.

“Being in the lineup, and being in the lineup consistently, is definitely something that was really exciting for me this year.”

Having grown up in the Copper Country, getting a chance to have a regular spot in the Huskies’ lineup has been a dream come true for Nordstrom.

“It’s definitely cool,” he said. “I used to go to Tech games as a kid, and you kind of pick out your favorite players. I’d always keep an eye on the local guys, the Keros and Ray Bryce. Just kind of looking at those guys as kind of role models, I just try to do the same for the kids that come to watch Michigan Tech (now).”

After scoring at least 50 points a season for three years with the Bulldogs, Nordstrom played a year for the Grande Prairie Storm in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and then two season in the United States Hockey League, one with the Fargo Force and then one with the Green Bay Gamblers. Still, despite playing three years of hockey after high school, he knew there was more work to be done once he returned to the Copper Country for college.

“College hockey, it’s tough,” he said. “It’s a big jump. I think coming in my freshman year, and even sophomore year, I was a little undersized. (I was) just working out in the summers and getting more strength, I think definitely helped me.

“We’ve had some good teams. We made the tournament three years in a row now, so we’ve had some good teams here at Tech. It’s just basically trying to find a way, any way, to contribute to the team.”

Nordstrom learned some important lessons playing hockey after high school.

“I think high school probably came a little bit easier, but college, and even you learn in juniors, you have to grind to get it done. You have to go to the hard areas, get those greasy goals or points or whatever.

“It’s definitely harder in college, and (it) definitely does not come as easy, but that’s the fun in it. You just have to embrace the grind and keep going.”

Playing with Richartz came pretty easily for Nordstrom this season. The two forwards have spent two seasons trying to earn a regular spot in the lineup.

“We both, the past two years, have been kind of guys that have been in and out of the lineup,” said Nordstrom. “So, I think we kind of just used that as motivation and really gelled well together.”

Bartle saw ice time in just six games prior to a 3-3 tie with Northern Michigan on Feb. 3, From there, he found a home with Nordstrom and Richartz.

“He didn’t play a whole lot at the beginning of the year, and he kind of found his groove and all three of us just kind of clicked,” Nordstrom said. “The biggest thing for us was we just wanted to keep it simple and contribute when we can.”

Nordstrom scored two goals against Bowling Green in a 7-0 win, and then added three more assists down the stretch as the Huskies won seven of their final nine games of the season. The Copper Country native felt that the trio got stronger as the team found success over those final nine games.

“I think there was a stretch there in the second half of the year where, as a line, we felt like we were providing scoring chances every single game, and having good numbers consistently,” said Nordstrom. “I think that gave us confidence within ourselves to kind of just keep going and keep it simple.”

SCORING HIS FIRST CAREER GOALS

During his first consistent stretch in the Huskies’ lineup, Nordstrom broke the seal on his college career with his first career goal in a 4-3 loss to St. Thomas on the road on Jan. 11. He followed that up with a second goal in the same game.

“It would have been cool to do it here, but, yeah, it’s just a relief,” he said. “Any time you can get that first goal at any level, obviously, had some chances early on in the year, you’re always kind of thinking about it in the back of your mind. So, to see that one go in, even though it wasn’t the prettiest of goals, it was definitely a sigh of relief.”

Nordstrom’s first career goal was not a highlight reel tally by any means, but it still makes for a good story.

“I don’t remember a whole lot, but I just remember, I think it was (Tyrone) Bronte, me, Bronte and Kash (Rasmussen),” said Nordstrom. “Kash kind of chipped it over in the corner, and I tried centering it to Bronte. I just hit the goalie and it went in, so, a fortunate bounce, for sure.”

To score a second one in the same game was not something that Nordstrom ever expected.

“I think anytime you get a goal, you just get an extra boost of energy,” he said. “(I) just kind of rode that, was able to get a puck in the slot, and kind of whacked at it and it went in.”

WATCHING THE TEAM AGAIN

Despite scoring against the Tommies, two games later, Nordstrom was out of the lineup for five of the next eight games. He spent that time working hard to get back to dining what was making him successful before.

“It’s definitely a work in progress, I guess,” he said. “I guess you just kind of try to help the team in any way you can, whether that’s in practice or games, and just try to prove to the coaching staff that you can be put into the lineup, and you can help contribute and help the team win. You feel like you can definitely help the team, and just that’s what you try to do, just try to keep going.”

PLAYOFFS AT HOME

Nordstrom has been a part of multiple Huskies’ teams that have hosted playoff series. He said the experience of playing at home cannot be topped.

“Any time you can play in front of our crowd, and our band, they’re awesome, so, any time you can get an extra two games, two, three games in front of them, is unreal,” he said. “I think, for Michigan Tech, it’s a standard to be home ice, first round of the playoffs. So, I think, obviously, growing up with the band and the student section, and then being able to skate out the tunnel for them now, is pretty surreal. So it’s an awesome experience.”

PLAYING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

On March 22, Nordstrom and the Huskies battled the Bemidji State Beavers for the CCHA playoff title at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. During the game, which the Huskies won, he picked up an assist on the game’s first goal, a tally from freshman defenseman Chase Pietila.

“It’s always fun going into another building and taking it away from them,” Nordstrom said. “It was a great atmosphere. It was loud in there. It was a lot of fun. Any time you can play for a championship is an awesome experience.”

Being able to chip in with a point in the game was very memorable.

“Any time you can contribute in a game like that, you feel good about it,” he said. “(The) most important thing was our team coming out with a win. That was unreal for our team, for our university.”

TOUGH ENDING

Trailing 2-1 in the third period against No. 1 Boston College in the opening game of their NCAA Regional game, Nordstrom and his teammates struggled to finish the game as well as they had played the first 45 minutes. The Huskies gave up four goals over the final stretch for the loss to the team that eventually lost in the Frozen Four title game.

“I think first, second period, we felt that we controlled the play,” said Nordstrom. “I think we had some chances to score and weren’t able to capitalize, but we felt that we kind of took it to them for a couple periods there. We had full confidence going into the third that we were going to be down 2-1. There was nothing new for us, so we felt that we could easily come back and win that game.”

Nordstrom feels that the Huskies, who have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1981, are capable of breaking through.

“I think you just have to go in there with confidence,” he said. “I think obviously, one and done games, they’re always tough. But, I think, yeah, we know we can beat any team if we play our game. I think the biggest thing is going with confidence, and I think it’ll be all fine.”

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