Michigan Tech defenseman Chase Pietila controls the puck in the offensive zone during a game against Northern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Coming off a sweep of the Ferris State Bulldogs on the road, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team is currently sitting on top of the CCHA standings with a record of 4-0 in conference play. They are also 6-2 overall, which is a lot better than how well they think they are playing to this point in the season.

“I think, obviously, any time you can come out with a sweep on the road is important for us,” said assistant coach Raymond Brice. “Now, our quality (of) play (we) probably would like a little better, but, yeah, any time you get six points, and in a hard place to play in too, is key.”

Given how much of the Huskies’ roster has turned over during the past two offseasons due to graduation and the transfer portal, most of the Huskies had not played at Ewigleben Ice Arena prior to this past weekend. The coaching staff did what it could to prepare the players for the experience, but nothing trumps actually being on the rink.

“It’s just a small ice sheet, so plays obviously happen pretty quick,” said Brice. “I think we expected a lot of pressure, applied a lot of pressure in practice during the week. I think we had two players that previously played there, so just important to know, make plays quick.

“I think Ferris did a really good job of outworking us, and credit to them. They had a good weekend for their quality of play. I think that, for us, we just had to make those simple chips and stuff like that when we brought the puck back, and our wingers were low and tried to go back with it. Ferris did a good job of sealing us and keeping it in their ‘O’ (offensive) Zone. I think just trying to get that pressure all week, and apply that pressure so our guys are ready for it, was pretty key.”

Brice felt that, as Friday night’s game wore on, the Huskies made the adjustments they needed to be successful, which is why they were able to score all three goals in the final two frames.

“I think, as the game went on on Friday, we were definitely better,” he said. “Our third period was our best period. Special teams are important for us. Friday, our power play did a good job. I think that our penalty kill was 100%, so, obviously, that helps. Our power play is probably the most important part of that game. Ferris played five really good periods of hockey all weekend, and, fortunately, we were able to come out with six points.”

Saturday night, the Huskies struck three times in a matter of 1:05, which drove Bulldogs netminder Connor McDonough from the net in his first career start. However, after that, the Huskies could not keep that pressure up the rest of the game.

“We push a goalie out, his first start, in four shots, and we score three,” Brice said. “Now the next step for our team is finding that killer instinct and really putting them away. We let them back in the game and Ferris, honestly, I think, played really well, and dominated us most of the game. So, I think it’s important for us to not get focused away from what we do well, and have that killer instinct to finish those games off and put them away early.”

One player who is off to a great start to his Michigan Tech career is junior forward Stiven Sardarian, who played two seasons at New Hampshire before coming to Houghton. A third round draft pick of Buffalo in 2021, Sardarian had nine goals and 21 points in 61 games with the Wildcats. This season, he already has six goals and nine points in eight games with the Huskies and earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday.

“The biggest thing for him is learning to play away from the puck and play defensively,” said Brice. “Obviously, when he has the puck on the ice, good things happen, right? (He) creates offense. He’s got sneaky ability and skating, ability to bait defenders in and then beat them. Makes really good plays below the goal line too, plays that we may not even see on the bench.

“He’s just been an awesome player for us and continues to grow and continues to find the score sheet. I think he scored in four straight games, which is huge for us.”

Brice said that where Sardarian has room to grow is in his defensive game, which is something he is trying to help the newcomer figure out.

“I think the biggest thing with him is just staying focused when the opposing team has the puck,

Brice said. “He thinks the game at a really high level with the puck, and now it’s just staying focused without drifting in the ‘D’ (defensive) Zone, staying inside his quadrant, his coverage, same thing in the Neutral Zone, not going to defend other guys in other areas when he just needs to stay focused in his quadrant. I think he’ll grow throughout the year with that, and that’s a big thing for a coach. I think it’ll be really good for him here to develop that part of his game.”

Sardarian played junior hockey with Huskies sophomore defensemen Chase Pietila and Nick Williams at Youngstown in the USHL. Pietila, for one, seems to be benefiting from having his former teammate playing alongside him this season. The alternate captain has three goals and seven points in eight games.

“I think Chase is obviously an important player for us,” Brice said. “He’s a leader and he plays really hard. I think he’s almost a point-a-game guy for us as a sophomore defenseman, which is big. The biggest thing for Chase is just keeping it simple every night, staying to what he does well and sticking to that, and ceiling plays, making a quick first pass, getting pucks through on the power play, shooting the puck on the power play. He needs to continue to do those things to be successful throughout the year.”

Brice said that the Huskies will make use of the week off to work on improving their forecheck, an area of their game that they struggled with at points last weekend.

“I think our forecheck wasn’t great this weekend, and (we need to) work in our ‘D’ zone below the dots,” he said. “I think those will be two crucial areas that we need to improve on. Obviously, (we will) continue to work on special teams. Our penalty kill has struggled in games, so I think that’s something that we need to focus on this week. Just trying to play really well-structured, and finding our identity every night, is going to be important for us. Teaching these guys, and getting them on board with that, is going to be important this week.”

UP NEXT

The Huskies return to action next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena against Minnesota State.