Michigan Tech goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz goes down on one knee to protect the net during a game against Ferris State Friday, Oct. 24, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — With 13 freshmen and five transfers on the roster, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team has been going through some early season growing pains. They are 5-3 overall and 2-0 in CCHA play, but first-year coach Bill Muckalt feels there is still plenty of room for his team to improve.

The Huskies are returning home Friday after a road trip to New York that saw them blow leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in a 6-4 loss to Clarkson on Friday and follow that up with a 3-0 shutout Saturday at St. Lawrence.

“(We played) well at times in both games,” Muckalt said. “The difference being, on Saturday, we played a full 60 minutes. I liked our start in Clarkson. I think we were in complete control of that game for the first half of the game. Didn’t like our breakouts, our turnovers.

“I think we lost some races and battles as the game went on, and they capitalized on our mistakes. So, we didn’t play a full 60. Then, Saturday we played a full 60. So, that would be my summarization of the weekend.”

While things didn’t work out in the end on Friday, it wasn’t as though the Huskies didn’t have chances to put the game out of reach.

“We were up 3-1 in the hockey game, had a glorious chance,” said Muckalt, “(Noah) Reinhardt made a great play to Jack Anderson. I think that would have given us some separation, or created further separation. We made a couple of huge saves, and then the tide turned. You could see the miscues on the breakouts, and we’re in a tie game, 3-3 in the third period. We lost a race in battle 140 feet from our net. We missed coverage, ended up taking a penalty. ‘Bart’ (Owen Bartoszkiewicz) made an unbelievable save on a second missed coverage on the same play.

“They scored on the power play. Then we were pushing. It was a one-goal hockey game. We were on the ice for a minute and a half with the goalie pulled, and we decided we were making a wholesale change, and probably just wanted to try and do too much. We were called for too many men on the ice, and that probably prevented us from getting the equalizer. I know they scored with one second left, ultimately a power play goal. But, it ultimately was a one-goal hockey game.”

Muckalt was also blunt.

“When you give up five goals on the road,” he said, “it’s not a recipe for winning hockey.”

Muckalt went on to say that the reason he did not argue the penalty at the end of the game on Friday was because the Huskies made a poor change.

One positive from the Clarkson game was the play of freshman forward Teydon Trembecky, who scored twice in the game. He added an assist on Saturday night against St. Lawrence.

Trembecky was honored by the CCHA as the Rookie of the Week. Tuesday, he was named the CCHA Rookie of the month, as he has five goals, including three on the power play, and 10 points in eight games.

“I think we spoke about it last week here,” said Muckalt, “just as a goal scorer, loves to score. He competes, (has good) drive, (and is) just scratching the surface. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. But, he’s been off to a great start.

“He’s a fun player to coach. He wants to get better. That line has some chemistry with Michael Cicek and Isaac Gordon. So, definitely like what he brings to our group.”

Scouting the Wildcats

This weekend, the Huskies play a home-and-home series with Northern Michigan. The Wildcats are 0-10 this season overall, and 0-2 in CCHA play, but they have been in a number of games against Top 20 teams like then-No. 15 Massachusetts, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 19 Colorado College and No. 1 Michigan State.

Muckalt is excited about the chance to experience the rivalry for the first time as a head coach.

“Rivalries are special, right? I mean, let’s face it. That’s what makes sports. That’s what makes competition,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Northern Michigan. They’re a much improved team over last year. They’ve gotten really good goaltending, so we know that we’re going to have our hands full.

“They’re going to come out and play with a conviction, and we’ve got to match that. We have to be on. Then it’s about executing, and it’s battle and battle and stay with the process. So, super excited to be at the Mac (MacInnes Student Ice Arena). I think it’s going to be an electric atmosphere with our band, our student section, the Misfits, our fans. It is a great rivalry.”

The Wildcats are led offensively by freshman forward Tobias Pitka. He has three goals and five points in 10 games. Senior forward Caiden Gault, a transfer from Ferris State, leads the team in goals with four.

In goal, the Wildcats are splitting time between junior William Gramme, a transfer from Wisconsin, and freshman Oliver Auyeung-Ashton. Gramme is 0-5 with a 3.91 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Auyeung-Ashton is 0-5 with a 2.84 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. His loss to Augustana on Saturday was the first time he made less than 36 saves in a game.

“You drive down the road, you either see a Northern Michigan bumper sticker, or you see the Husky one,” said Muckalt. “So, there’s no gray area. I think it’s super healthy. It’s been going on for a long time, and, obviously, our job is to be prepared and ready to execute.”

Game times

The Huskies and Wildcats will battle Friday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton at 7:07 p.m. Saturday, the two teams will reconvene at the Berry Events Center in Marquette at 6:07 p.m.