Michigan Tech forward Teydon Trembecky controls the puck in the corner to the left of the Northern Michigan net during a game Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team spent the holiday break playing in a pair of tournaments, the Great Lakes Invitational and the Desert Holiday Classic. They finished second in the GLI and third in the Desert Hockey Classic in Tempe, Arizona.

The Huskies are now 12-8-2 overall and 7-3-2 in CCHA play.

Huskies coach Bill Muckalt liked three of the four games his team played over the break, especially the two games at the GLI.

“I liked the GLI. I thought we played really well against Miami. Thought we played really well against Michigan State. Didn’t get the results,” he said. “I think Trey Augustine was a huge factor in that game, as was Charlie Stramel. But, I really liked the way we played.

“We played well enough to win both games. Obviously, didn’t get the result.”

Muckalt was less happy with the effort in his team’s semifinal loss in Tempe to Air Force.

“Did not like our game at the Desert Classic against Air Force,” he said. “We dug ourselves a hole. Still trying to figure out why. We had a couple good practices. We’ve been really good up until that point. I think they made a couple bang-bang plays, caught us off guard, and put us right off our game. I think we were down 3-0, 2:43 in. Called a timeout when it was 2-0 to try and stem the tide. That didn’t work. So, yeah, disappointed about that game.

“Obviously, we had a discussion. Loved the bounce back from our team against Alaska. When things are going smooth, it’s easy. When you have a game like that, how we respond is everything. Not just in hockey, but in life. You’re going to have tough games, tough situations that don’t go your way, and it’s everything. It says a lot about our team, a lot about our group, that they’re not satisfied, it’s not acceptable.”

Part of the reason for that immediate bounce back was the play of alternate captain Jack Anderson, who earned CCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors after scoring a hat trick against Alaska-Anchorage.

“Anytime you can have a defenseman score three goals, I think it’s huge,” Muckalt said. “It wasn’t just the goals. I thought he was outstanding. He was all over the place watching the film back. But, it was nice to see him get rewarded.

“I think just to get those first two goals were really just a really good start. Anytime where you can start, and put a team behind the eight ball early, that’s a real good recipe.”

Another player who had a big night against the Seawolves was freshman forward Teydon Trembecky. He scored back-to-back goals in the first and second periods. The goals were his first goals since Nov. 8 against Northern Michigan.

“He’s a competitor,” said Muckalt. “He loves to score. Obviously, he’s got a great release, as we talk about. (He) got a really nice goal in the 2-on-1. Got another one on the power play there. So, he’s playing with more confidence again. He’s moving his feet.

“I think it’s an adjustment at this level. He’s becoming a better two-way hockey player, and I think that’s showing. He’s getting chances.”

Muckalt likes the way Trembecky is playing with his current linemates, sophomore forward Elias Janssen and freshman forward Noah Reinhart.

“That line with Janssen and Reinhardt seems to have a lot of chemistry here,” he said. “They have been, even at the GLI. They had a lot of chances to generate and to score.”

The Huskies will rely on secondary scoring, especially as they make a run in the second half of the season for a home playoff spot. Muckalt feels that players like freshmen Carson Birnie and Matthew Van Blaricom could be important in that way.

“It seems when we can get that (secondary scoring), so that’s an added bonus,” said Muckalt. “I thought Carson Birnie, Tom Lepa, and Matthew Van Blaricom had a really good game as well. From a forecheck, and an offensive zone standpoint, they generated a lot of momentum and zone time for the team, and had some really good, good chances as well.”

Scouting the Beavers

The Bemidji State Beavers come into this weekend 9-8-3 overall and 7-2-3 in CCHA play. They played Minnesota to a 3-3 tie on Friday, Jan. 2.

Senior forward Adam Flammang leads the team in scoring with six goals and 24 points in 18 games. Junior forward Oliver Peer leads the Beavers in goals (12) and has 21 points in 20 games.

Junior forward Kasper Magnussen has also had a strong season, scoring eight goals and 18 points in 20 games.

In goal, the Beavers are still splitting time between junior Raythan Robbins and freshman Max Hildebrand. Robbins has started 10 games, going 5-3-2 with a 2.27 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. Hildebrand has also started 10 games, going 4-5-1 with a 3.00 goals against average and a .888 save percentage.

Game times

The Huskies and Beavers will play Friday at 8:07 p.m. and Saturday at 7:07 p.m. at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.