Huskies hockey officially opens season this weekend
No. 19 Michigan Tech hosts No. 14 Minnesota
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HOUGHTON -- After weeks of preparation, and a dress rehearsal intersquad game, the No. 19 Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team gets to hit the ice for real this weekend in their season-opening series against the No. 14 Minnesota Golden Gophers at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Last season, the Huskies and Gophers met in Minneapolis, with both squads coming away with a win. It was the beginning of a very successful first season for Huskies coach Bill Muckalt that felt like it ended too early.
"We talk a lot about having some adversity, some bumps, and certainly one of the losses last year and one more goal in a different game, and we’re talking about winning the league and getting into the tournament," said Muckalt. "So the importance of consistency, I guess, would be a big message from myself and for our staff toward our guys. I think they understand that. You can tell them, 'Don’t touch the stove, it’s hot,' but sometimes, you have to touch the stove a little bit.
"So, as painful as it is to get through that, the message is the next step and it’s going to take more, not less, to achieve that."
The Huskies had 18 new faces last season between freshmen and transfers, and the growing pains that came with that many new voices was evident at various points during the season as Muckalt alluded to. This year, the Huskies brought in just four freshmen, and four transfers, so there is a lot more continuity, which excites the Huskies' coaching staff.
"It’s been competitive practices," he said, "obviously, having returning players in the mix, knowing the drills, and the details within the drills. But I like our group. I’ve liked the intensity of practice. I think we’re getting to a point here where things have gotten kind of spirited, and (it's) probably time to play somebody."
The four transfers joining the Huskies this season are junior forward Giovanni Morneau, junior forward Connor Roulette, junior defenseman Lucas Brenton, and sophomore defenseman Luke Shipley. Muckalt likes how all four have looked in practice.
"I think Gio Morneau looks extremely comfortable," Muckalt said. "Lucas Brenton looks comfortable now getting to know the systems. Same thing with Connor Roulette and Luke Shipley. Some of the new players that we’ve brought in have fit in really well with our returning corps."
The team's core still revolves around senior forwards Isaac Gordon and Max Koskipirtti. The pair will both wear the captain's "C" this season. Joining them as alternates will be Brenton, junior forward Tom Leppa, and senior goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz.
"Isaac’s done a tremendous job," Muckalt said. "Gordon’s done an unbelievable job being the captain, helping establish our culture, our standard, our expectations.
"We had some other guys get some strong consideration and votes. Obviously, you don’t need to wear a letter to be a leader, but those guys are going to. We feel really good as a staff with having them be leaders and captains for our group."
Koskipirtti has 23 goals and 80 points in 104 career games. He brings consistency to every facet of the Huskies' game.
"He leads by example," said Muckalt. "He practices hard. He’s got good details within his game. He’s dependable, whether it’s faceoffs, killing penalties. He’s (a) two-way (player). He’s got good offensive ability, has the ability to score. He’s reliable.
"If he’s a vehicle, that car’s going to start if it’s 40 below, or it’s always going to run."
Adding a goaltender to the leadership group is not a choice every team makes, but Muckalt has challenged Bartoszkiewicz to be a leader for the Huskies' defense.
"We have confidence and trust that he can stop the puck and do the job," Muckalt said. "But, being in that position, he’s the backbone and foundation of this group. He’s earned the trust from the guys within the locker room.
"I think he is going to continue to evolve and take that next step. He had a great year for us last year. (We) challenged him a little bit to make other guys around him better, too, and bring them into the fight. He’s demonstrated that so far this year."
Scouting the Golden Gophers
The split between the Huskies and Gophers last season set the Huskies on a path that ended just short of the NCAA Tournament. For Minnesota, the season was an unmitigated disaster. They went 11-22-3, and coach Bob Motzko was let go.
Enter Brett Larson, who held the same position at St. Cloud State for eight seasons.
The Gophers return their captain and leading scorer Brodie Ziemer, who had 23 goals and 36 points in 36 games. Co-captain LJ Mooney, who finished with a team-high 23 assists and 30 points, is also back.
In total, there are 15 NHL draft picks on the Gophers, and one familiar face for CCHA hockey fans, senior defenseman Evan Murr, who has terrorized the Huskies for three years at Minnesota State.
Ziemer, senior goaltender Luca Di Pasquo, and Murr have all been named to Big Ten Preseason Teams, with Ziemer named to the first team, and Di Pasquo and Murr to the second team.
They have 15 NHL draft picks," said Muckalt. "They have a lot of talent. Obviously (I have) a lot of respect for Brett Larson. I’ve known him a long time, coached against him for a long time.
So, I think it’s just about us going out and executing and competing. We know that they’re dangerous, and they have players that can make plays."
Muckalt wants to see his team play the way he believes they are capable of.
"We have to play to our identity, play to our structure, play connected, play fast, and defend well," he said, "and then do what we can do well offensively. I’m sure there’s an excitement there for a new coach. For us, it’s about how we prepare, what we’re doing, and how, ultimately, we execute."
Game times
The Huskies and Golden Gophers will battle Friday at 7:07 p.m. at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Saturday, the teams will meet at 6:07 p.m.