Michigan Tech forward Noah Reinhart controls the puck behind the Northern Michigan net during a game Friday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — After sweeping rival Northern Michigan last weekend, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team improved to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in CCHA play. Their 12 points in conference play are two points less than this weekend’s opponent, the Bemidji State Beavers.

First-year head coach Bill Muckalt liked some of what he saw from his group against the Wildcats in the home-and-home series the two teams played.

“Obviously, I think Northern played hard,” he said. “They’re an improved team. I think Dave (Shyiak)’s doing a good job in building that program. They give us a handful.

“I really liked stretches of our games. I think giving up only three goals on a weekend is a good recipe for a sweep. It’s hard to sweep in college hockey. That rink’s hard to play in, in Marquette, the Barry Events Center. I know that.”

Muckalt liked how the Huskies responded after the opening few minutes of play on Saturday.

“They started really well,” he said. “I think we weathered the storm in the first seven, eight minutes of that game. Through stretches, I think, through about 35 minutes, we only gave up four shots on goal. So, I think we were clean defensively for a long stretch.

“Obviously won a faceoff, we had missed coverage on the ‘PK’ (penalty kill), and the other one was unearned on a dump-in, a really tough touch on the breakout. We’ve got to clean that up, but we got the job done. We got the house painted on the weekend. So, really happy about that.”

Of the eight goals the Huskies scored on the weekend against the Wildcats, the one that turned heads was scored by sophomore forward Carson Latimer Saturday.

“Beautiful goal, obviously. Anytime it’s on SportsCenter, I think it’s a highlight reel goal,” Muckalt said. “We were talking a little bit about it. When a guy that skates so well, righthanded, you open up, and your head turns towards the middle. You’re basically trying to manipulate the defender’s feet, and if they don’t bite, you drag it across, and make them make him turn, or if he starts to turn and get his weight on that inside foot, you pull it through your feet, and then drive the net, and five hole, and all of a sudden, it’s a tough play for the goaltender.

“He did it against a good defender. Obviously, it was a big goal. It was a go-ahead goal. At that point in the game, (it) gave us a really big lift that we needed. So, I’m really proud of Carson.”
Latimer transferred to Michigan Tech this summer from the University of British Columbia, and is a former draft pick of the Ottawa Senators.

“He’s embraced the process,” said Muckalt. “He had a little bit of adversity, a little learning curve. The game slowed down, and he stuck with it. He worked so hard in practice. He brings so much energy to the group, and now he’s being rewarded. He’s winning pucks. He’s playing strong. He’s skating. He has confidence, and had an assist on the first goal.”

Along with Latimer’s highlight-reel goal came the first goal of the season for junior forward Lauri Raiman, who was playing his first game of the season Saturday.

“Speaking of that, Lauri Raiman gets inserted in,” Muckalt said. “He’s been so good in practice. (We’re) trying to reward players that are adding value and competing. We have some other players too that (are) just sticking with the process. They’ll get their opportunity. But, I think that’s a really big part of adding value to our lineup and competition. Guys are working in practice and it’s nice to see guys come into the lineup, have success, and get the job done.”

Scouting the Beavers

The Bemidji State Beavers come into this weekend 7-4-1 overall and 5-0-1 in CCHA play after a weekend that saw them defeat Lake Superior State on Friday in regulation, 4-1, and then in overtime Saturday, 3-2.

Senior forward Adam Flammang leads the team with five goals and 14 points in 10 games. Junior forward Oliver Peer has a team-high six goals and 13 points in 12 games.

In goal, the Beavers have split up the time between freshman Max Hildebrand and junior Raythan Robbins. Hildebrand has started seven games, going 4-3 with a 3.22 goals against average and an .885 save percentage. Robbins is 3-1-1 in five starts with a 1.97 goals against average and .920 save percentage.

Muckalt knows that facing the Beavers this weekend, followed by Minnesota State and St. Thomas over the next two weekends, will present a challenge for the Huskies.

“It’s the growth mindset. We have to embrace the grind. We have to get better every day,” he said. “We really try to use the video as teaching positive, and areas for improvement, and design practice around that. I think, obviously, identity, being good on the forecheck, being good on the breakout, being clean in the defensive zone, knowing our responsibilities, being committed to that physicality of winning races and battles, and having second quick support, and playing to our structure, is huge.

“We continue to work on the offensive side of the game. Happy with the growth in that. We’re getting some power plays. I think we really worked hard (Monday). We’ll go back at it again with special teams, and really an area where I think we need to continue to focus on. That’ll be a big emphasis this weekend, as it usually is.”

Muckalt is impressed with what the Beavers bring.

“A lot of respect for Bemidji,” he said. “They’re well-coached. They’ve had success. We’re going to have our hands full, but I like it. We’re three weeks into our schedule. We’ve got a real gauntlet coming up, and then we get a bye week, so just really taking care of ourselves, the preparation that goes into it, and getting ready for having that juice for Friday night. Being able to execute will be huge for our hockey club.”

Game times

The Huskies and Beavers will face off Friday night at 7:07 p.m. at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Saturday, the two teams will be back at it at 6:07 p.m.