Michigan Tech forward Stiven Sardarian celebrates scoring a goal this season in a game at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies senior forward Stiven Sardarian has been named the CCHA Forward of the Year, the league announced Thursday. Sardarian was also named to the All-CCHA First Team.

“He’s been fantastic for us,” said Huskies coach Bill Muckalt. “He makes plays every day. He was terrific again in practice. So, he’s a fun player to coach. I feel like I talk about it all the time, but he makes plays.”

Sardarian led the CCHA with 32 points on 10 goals and a league-high 22 assists. Posting a plus-9 rating, he had 46 shots on goal, nine blocks, two power-play tallies, and two game-winning goals. Averaging 18:21 minutes per contest in conference play, he produced nine multi-point games, including a four-point contest (2 goals, 2 assists) in an 8-2 victory over Northern Michigan on Jan. 23.

“I think, when you’re competitive as an athlete, and he’s certainly competitive, he wants to have success, he’s got long term goals, and he’s got pride,” Muckalt said. “He’s a very proud player. So, it’s a fine line. You need the competitiveness, but you have to focus it into, and channel it to, your next shift. That’s the most important thing.

“I think part of that is his maturity as a person, as a player, is to understand that, and the frustration, and to kind of put that in his next shift. I think we’ve seen tremendous growth in him in that way. Really proud of that. He gets special attention. When you’re one of the best players out there. Other teams are going to try and get him off his game. He’s done a really good job in maintaining his composure and channeling that, and he’s had a fantastic year.”

Sardarian has skated in 36 games in his second season with the Huskies and tallied 12 goals and 32 assists. He ranks fourth in the nation in assists and ninth in points.

Sardarian transferred to Michigan Tech after two seasons at New Hampshire. He has appeared in 132 NCAA games and tallied his 100th NCAA point on March 7. He tallied 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) at UNH and 79 (23 goals, 56 assists) with the Black and Gold. His 44 points this season are tied with Brian Halonen for the most points by a Tech player since Tanner Kero’s 46 in 2014-15.

Sardarian is a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award and was named the CCHA Forward of the Month for November. He was named to both the coaches’ and the media’s Preseason All-CCHA Team and was named the CCHA Forward of the Week four times.

Voting for the 2024-25 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the nine head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.