Michigan Tech forward Isaac Gordon (middle) celebrates with defenseman Luca Fasciano (right) and Jack Anderson (4) after Fasciano scored his first career goal in a game Saturday against Minnesota at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — With a 6-3 loss on Friday followed by a 5-3 win Saturday, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team made a statement last weekend against the then-No. 8 Minnesota Golden Gophers, a new era of Huskies hockey is here.

“I thought Friday, give Minnesota credit,” said Huskies coach Bill Muckalt. “They’re a skilled team, a lot of skill, high end talent. We just made too many mistakes. We fell apart in the third period. We got away from our structure, identity, and made some mistakes. They capitalized.

“But, it was, overall, a really exciting weekend. (I) loved the response in our group on Saturday. Great environment, it was good to see our fans there and travel, but (I’m) really proud of our group. Not just the result, but it’s how we played on Saturday, how we responded.”

The Huskies feature a roster with 13 freshmen and five new transfers this season, so Muckalt really appreciated how his team took the lessons they learned after a poor third-period effort on Friday and turned things around on Saturday.

“We didn’t back down,” he said. “We talked about being aggressive, being assertive. I thought our forecheck on Saturday was outstanding. When that starts to happen, and you’re on top of a team, and you can pin a team in, it creates a lot of momentum and energy.

“I thought we really established that in the second period, with that long change, and we were starting to out-change, and where you really saw us starting to wear them out.”

With so many new faces in the lineup, along with a nearly fully new coaching staff, except for assistant coach Tyler Shelast, the Huskies will need time to gel, but Muckalt liked a lot of what he saw from the group in their first two games.

“We’re a young team,” Muckalt said. “I mean we have 18 new players, new system, new coaching staff. Those aren’t excuses, but that’s the reality of where we’re at. So, there’s a lot of room for growth.

“We’re not complacent or satisfied. This is just the start of our journey. There’s a lot where we can go. But, to have a team respond, and like that, it says a lot about the character of our group. It’s a statement.”

Muckalt said the Huskies set a high bar for themselves.

“It’s just the start, and now it’s going to be the challenge and the bar, the standard, and expectation is to do it all the time,” he said. “That’s what we’re striving for. When we get on the ice, it’s a five-man unit that has to be committed. When one person doesn’t take the right route, or doesn’t make the right play, it breaks down the strength of our team.

“The strength of the wolf is the pack. The strength of the pack is the wolf. Everybody has to be committed to it. When we are committed to doing our job, and buying in for each other, this can be a team. It has everything it needs to have a special year.”

The Huskies scored eight goals over the two games, with six of them coming from players scoring their first career goal.

“I’ve never seen so many first-goal pucks in a weekend,” said Muckalt. “But, that’s a really good problem to have. I think this team has depth. I really like, up and down our lineup, a lot of guys that can contribute and did contribute.”

Even with the success of the newer faces, a veteran forward stood out in senior Stiven Sardarian. On the weekend, Sardarian racked up a team-high three assists and finished a +3 playing alongside alternate captain Max Koskipirtti.

“Stiv is a special player,” Muckalt said. “He’s a difference maker. He’s got great offensive instincts. (He) had the wide open net there (Saturday), and I guess a couple defenders, and it doesn’t quite go.

“It was great to see him rewarded. He stuck with it. He stayed composed, he finished the game with three assists. Really like where he’s at, like his buy-in. He’s doing a lot of things. He’s playing strong. He’s playing heavy. He’s winning races and battles. Those are the things that he’s going to need to do, from a bigger picture, if he wants to be a real pro and be a good pro.”

On the other end of the rink, junior goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz was given the chance to start both nights against the team he started his collegiate career with. Muckalt felt that Bartoszkiewicz showed signs of nerves during the weekend, but he was proud of how the netminder responded. Muckalt addressed him in the locker room after the game Saturday.

“Just, probably, an emotional moment that kind of hit me,” Muckalt said. “I was really excited for Owen Bartoszkiewicz. People probably don’t know the history that he started his college career there. Things didn’t go our way Friday night, and they certainly didn’t look like they were going our way the first four minutes of that hockey game on Saturday. But, I have a lot of belief and confidence in him.

“I know what he’s about. I know it was probably a tough weekend for him, going back into that environment, and just to show the belief and confidence. He settled down and shut the door. He made some saves, made a big save on (L.J.) Mooney on the breakaway that I think kind of cemented, because we were all over them, and it was really the only chance, or one of the only chances. It looked like the puck was the size of a beach ball. He made a couple saves in the third period that just looked really easy for him. So, I was just really happy for him, and that team, and the response, because we challenged that group, and we had a lengthy video session and talked about what it takes (after the loss on Friday).”

Bye week at a bad time

The Huskies have a week off before heading north to face Alaska on Friday, Oct. 17. With the momentum the Huskies gained from their win Saturday, Muckalt is not thrilled about having a weekend off at this point in the season.

“I would like to get back at it and play,” he said. “The other thing is not to get too high or too low. It’s just one weekend. We want to win every game, and we had success Saturday, but it’s on to Fairbanks.

“It’s going to be a physical, blue collar. It’s going to be a work trip, and they’re going to compete. They’re going to play hard. So, we have to be prepared for that. We have to know that, and we’re going to get their best game.”