Michigan Tech forward Isaac Gordon celebrates after scoring a goal against St. Thomas Saturday, March 2, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies freshman winger Isaac Gordon has been named the CCHA Rookie of the Year the league announced on Wednesday. It’s the second year in a row a Michigan Tech player was honored after Kyle Kukkonen received the award in 2023.

“Couldn’t do it without my linemates and other guys,” said Gordon. “It’s been a roller coaster. I’m just fortunate everything’s worked out.”

Gordon, a native of Landmark, Manitoba, was named to the CCHA All-Second Team and CCHA All-Rookie Team earlier this week. He has skated in all 37 games this season and leads the Huskies with 18 goals and 36 points. He currently leads the CCHA in points and is ranked second in goals. He had a hat trick on Nov. 3 against Augustana while also adding an assist for a four-point night. He had seven-game and five-game point streaks during the season and is currently on a three-game point streak with three goals and five assists.

Part of that success is due to playing on a line with alternate captain Ryland Mosley and co-captain Logan Pietila. All three scored at least four points last weekend to help lead the Huskies to a series sweep over the Bowling Green State Falcons to advance to this weekend’s semifinal matchup with the Minnesota State Mavericks.

“It just seemed to be clicking,” Gordon said. “I mean, our line has been playing some really good hockey lately.”

Gordon tied Kukkonen’s mark from last season for the fifth-most goals by a Michigan Tech freshman in program history. His 36 points are the most by a Tech rookie since Colin Murphy in 2002-03 when he tallied 37. He was named the CCHA Rookie of the Week four times and the CCHA Rookie of the Month in November after tallying nine points.

“We’re very blessed to have him,” said Huskies coach Joe Shawhan. “He fits everything that we’re about.

“Every value that we want within our program is represented. This kid’s on the ice every day, every day. Others are joining him now, shooting pucks in a skill session before practice during the day sometimes, and it pays off.”

In CCHA games, Gordon played in all 24 contests for the Huskies and was second among all CCHA skaters in goals (11) during conference play, pacing league rookies in points (20) and plus-minus (+10) and finishing second in shots (66). He is fifth overall in plus-minus, he was third on Michigan Tech with nine assists, including two helpers on the power play. Notching three multi-point games, he had two five-game point streaks during the conference season and tallied a game-winning goal against Bowling Green (Dec. 2).

Voting for the 2023-24 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The CCHA will be announcing additional major awards today, Thursday, and Friday.

Huskies named Conference Rookie of the Year

1959-60–Lou Angotti

1962-63–George Hill

1964-65–Gary Milroy

1970-71–Mike Usitalo

1972-73–Mike Zuke

2022-23–Kyle Kukkonen

2023-24–Isaac Gordon