PREVIEW: Huskies travel to Augustana for first time – Michigan Tech

ONLY MEETING
• Michigan Tech makes its first-ever trip to Augustana this weekend.
• The puck drops at 8:07 p.m. Eastern on Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday at Midco Arena.
• It’s the only meeting of the regular season between the Huskies and the Vikings.
• Tech is 15-11-2 overall and 11-7-2 in the CCHA and sits in fourth in the standings.
• Augustana is 16-9-3 overall and 8-5-1 in the CCHA and is in second place in the playoff picture.
 

ON THE RADIO
• Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ broadcasts all Michigan Tech hockey games.
• Fans can listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ, online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.com, or by using your favorite radio streaming app.
• Dirk Hembroff will call all the action in his 23rd year behind the microphone.
 
WATCH THE GAMES
• All Michigan Tech home and CCHA games during the 2024-25 season will be live-streamed on Midco Sports Plus 2.
• Fans can stream all CCHA games live and on-demand, on their home televisions, computers, tablets, and mobile devices via Midco Sports Plus.
• The app is available on mobile/tablet apps (iOS and Android), connected TV device apps (AppleTV, FireTV and Roku) and a web-based browser interface.
 
INTERNATIONAL STREAMING
• International viewers can stream all CCHA games through a partnership with Stretch Internet at https://stream.prestosports.com/cchahockey
• The pricing structure reflects Midco Sports Plus and is only available to viewers outside of the United States and Canada.
 
NEW ALTERNATE
• Coach Joe Shawhan has added Alex Nordstrom to the leadership team as an Alternate Captain.
• Nordstrom, a senior from Atlantic Mine, Michigan, has appeared in 23 games this season and has two goals and two assists. Both of his goals this season have come against Bemidji State.
• He has skated in 67 career games in the Black and Gold and has 14 points with six goals and eight assists.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
• Elias Jansson is the CCHA Rookie of the Week for the third time this season.
• Jansson recorded a hat trick on Saturday with three power-play goals against Bemidji State. He scored the game’s first goal in the opening period and added a pair in the third period, including the tying goal with 20.8 seconds left to force overtime.
• Jansson is tied for the team lead with 10 goals in his rookie campaign which leads all CCHA freshmen.
 
RETURN TO SD
• Isaac Gordon and Ryan Manzella both played in Sioux Falls for the Stampede.
• During the 2022-23 season, Gordon put up 41 points in 58 games.
• Manzella played 11 games for the Stampede at the beginning of this season, holding a 2.40 goals-against average and .904 save percentage with a pair of shutouts while going 7-2-1.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
• Augustana is 16-9-3 overall and 8-5-1 in the CCHA.
• The Vikings are 7-2-1 at Midco Arena, and are unbeaten in their last seven home games.
• Payton Matsui leads the team with 19 points and Luke Mobley leads with 11 goals.
• Josh Kotai 15-7-3 between the pipes with a 1.76 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. He ranks second in the nation in save percentage and seventh in GAA.
• Augustana ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense (1.96) and sixth in penalty killing percentage (.893).
• Garrett Raboin is in his second season as head coach.
• The Vikings were picked seventh in both CCHA Preseason Polls after going 12-18-4 during their first season of NCAA hockey.
 
SERIES INFO
• Tech 2-0 all-time against Augustana.
• The Huskies swept the Vikings on Nov. 3-4 of last season at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
 
STATISTICAL NOTES
• Tech ranks eighth in the nation in power play percentage (.261) to lead the CCHA.
• Elias Jansson has six goals in the last four games with five coming on the power play.
• Stiven Sardarian, Logan Morrell, and Elias Jansson lead the team with 10 goals each.
• Morrell and Jansson lead CCHA freshmen in scoring which ranks 11th amongst NCAA rookies.
• Kasper Vaharautio ranks eighth in the country with 60 blocked shots.
• Stiven Sardarian leads the Huskies with 32 points this season with 10 goals and 22 assists. His 22 assists lead the CCHA and ranks sixth in the nation.
• Logan Morrell is second in the CCHA in faceoff winning percentage (.594).
• Isaac Gordon is fifth in the CCHA in shots on goal (95).
• Chase Pietila leads the CCHA in penalties (18) and penalty minutes (44).
 
CCHA & NATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
• Ryan Manzella is the National and CCHA Rookie of the Month for January after going 5-0 with a 1.23 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. He also had three shutouts.
• He led the CCHA in GAA and shutouts for the month.
• Manzella joined the Huskies in late December and is 6-0 through seven appearances and five starts. He has a 1.41 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. His three shutouts rank third in the country.
• He played 11 games this season with Sioux Falls in the USHL and held a 2.40 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
 
POINT STREAKS
• Two-Game – Rylan Brown – 4 assists
• Two-Game – Chase Pietila – 1 goal, 2 assists
• Two-Game – Matthew Campbell – 1 goal, 1 assist
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Bemidji State took 5-of-6 CCHA points against the Huskies at Winter Carnival.
• Tech fell 5-3 Friday and 6-5 in overtime on Saturday.
• Elias Jansson was named Winter Carnival MVP with a hat trick on Saturday.
• Owen Baker, Matthew Campell, Chase Pietila, Max Koskipirtti, and Alex Nordstrom also scored goals on the weekend.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
• The final home series is Feb. 21-22 against Ferris State.
• The regular season wraps up at St. Thomas (Feb. 28-Mar. 1).
 
COACH SHAWHAN
• Joe Shawhan won his 150th game as head coach of the Huskies on Jan. 11, 2025.
• He is in his eighth season and is 153-114-28.
• Shawhan was named the 2023 CCHA Coach of the Year and is one of only two coaches to take four different Michigan Tech teams to the NCAA Tournament.
• He won his 100th career game at Bowling Green on November 5, 2022, and ranks second in wins by a Tech hockey coach.
• Shawhan’s 22 wins in his first season tied for the most ever by a first-year Michigan Tech coach. Jim Nahrgang won 22 games in 1982-83.
• Shawhan was named the 22nd head coach of the Huskies on May 30, 2017, after serving as an assistant coach for Tech over the previous three seasons.
 
DECEMBER POM

• HCA National & CCHA Rookie of the Month – Logan Morrell scored a CCHA-leading six goals and added one assist for seven points across December, producing a plus-6 rating. He notched at least one point if 4-of-6 games.
• CCHA Forward of the Month – Stiven Sardarian produced a nation-best 10 points in December, scoring one goal and contributing nine assists. Compiling a league-leading plus-7 rating, his month was highlighted by his first five-point game (1 goal, 4 assists) at Bemidji State.
 
NON-CONFERENCE
• The Huskies went 4-4 in non-conference play.
• Tech swept Alaska on Oct. 11-12 with a pair of 2-1 victories.
• Clarkson swept Tech on Oct. 25-26 in Houghton.
• Tech fell 4-3 in OT to No. 6 Western Michigan in the GLI Semifinal and defeated NMU 4-3 in OT in the GLI Third Place Game.
• The Huskies fell 3-2 to No. 10 UMass Lowell in the Cactus Cup Semifinal and defeated Holy Cross 4-3 in OT in the consolation game.
 
GLI ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
• Matthew Campbell was named to the GLI All-Tournament Team after scoring a goal in each game.
• The junior defenseman has three goals and an assist over the past four games.
 
CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• Feb. 10 – Elias Jansson – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Jan. 27 – Elias Jansson – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Jan. 6 – Logan Morrell – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Jan. 2 – Stiven Sardarian – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Jan. 2 – Logan Morrell – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Dec. 16 – Stiven Sardarian – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Dec. 16 – Logan Morrell – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Dec. 2 – Derek Mullahy – CCHA Goaltender of the Week
• Nov. 11 – Stiven Sardarian – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Nov. 4 – Max Koskipirtti – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Oct. 14 – Max Vayrynen – CCHA Goaltender of the Week
• Oct. 14 – Elias Jansson – CCHA Rookie of the Week
 
CAPTAINS
• Senior Jack Works was named the captain of the 2024-25 Huskies.
• Senior Alex Nordstrom, junior Trevor Russell and sophomores Isaac Gordon and Chase Pietila are also on the leadership team as alternate captains.
 
CCHA PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Sophomore Isaac Gordon was named the CCHA Preseason Player of the Year as voted on by the league’s coaches.
• He was tied with Lucas Wahlin from St. Thomas and Connor Milburn from Lake Superior State for the honor.
 
PRESEASON ALL-CCHA
Sophomore forward Isaac Gordon and sophomore defenseman Chase Pietila were both named to the coaches and the media’s Preseason All-CCHA Team.
 
ASSISTANT COACHES
• Former captain Raymond Brice was added as an assistant coach in the offseason.
• Brice joins Tyler Shelast (fourth season) and Jordy Murray (third season) on staff.
 
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
• Tech was picked in a tie for second in the Preseason CCHA Coaches’ Poll with Bemidji State. The Beavers earned one more first-place vote.
• Minnesota State, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Augustana, and Ferris State round out the top eight with Northern Michigan in the ninth slot.
 
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
• Tech was picked fourth in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll behind Bemidji State, St. Thomas, and Minnesota State.
• Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Augustana, Northern Michigan, and Ferris State rounded out the poll.
 
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
• Matthew Campbell – Philadelphia Flyers (2024)
• Isaac Gordon – Columbus Blue Jackets (2024)
• Viktor Hurtig – New Jersey (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Chase Pietila – Pittsburgh Penguins (2024)
• Trevor Russell – New Jersey (2022, 2023)
• Stiven Sardarian – Buffalo Sabres (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Max Vayrynen – Calgary Flames (2023)
 
NHL DRAFT PICKS
• Stiven Sardarian was selected by Buffalo in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 88th pick.
• Chase Pietila was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 111th pick.
• Viktor Hurtig was picked by New Jersey in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 164th selection.
 
TRANSFERS
• Owen Baker played seven games in one season at Michigan State. He notched two points with a goal and an assist.
• Viktor Hurtig skated in 43 games over two seasons at Michigan State. He tallied seven points with two goals and five assists.
• Derek Mullahy saw action in 30 career games for Harvard from 2020-24. He held a career 2.69 goals-against average and .903 save percentage, going 10-14-4.
• Stiven Sardarian played the last two seasons for New Hampshire. In 61 NCAA games, he has tallied nine goals and 12 assists
• Jack Works began his collegiate career with 15 games over two seasons with Denver. He tallied one assist with the Pioneers in his NCAA debut and was a member of the 2022 NCAA National Championship team.
 
FRESHMEN
• Tech has 10 freshmen on the roster with six forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders.
• Forwards: Tom Leppa, Logan Morrell, Elias Jansson, Philip Fankl, Ryder Matter, and Quinn Disher.
• Defensemen: Rylan Brown and Tyler Miller.
• Goaltenders: Bryant Lee and Ryan Manzella.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION
• Isaac Gordon – CCHA Rookie of the Year (2023-24), All-CCHA Second Team (2023-24) & All-CCHA Rookie Team (2023-24)
 
2023-24 RECAP
• Tech made its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and its fourth under Shawhan after winning the program’s first CCHA Mason Cup Championship.
• The Huskies finished 19-15-6 overall and tied for second in the CCHA with a 12-10-2 record.
• The Black and Gold swept Bowling Green in the CCHA First Round. The Huskies then edged Minnesota State in the CCHA Semifinal and won the conference tournament title at Bemidji State.
• Tech won the 58th Great Lakes Invitational after defeating Alaska in overtime and earning a shootout win over Michigan State in the title game.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
• Tech’s roster boasts players from five different countries.
• United States: 12
• Canada: 7
• Finland: 6
• Sweden: 3
• Russia: 1
 
HUSKIES HOCKEY RADIO SHOW
• The Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey Show airs weekly throughout the season at 10 a.m. on Mondays with host Dirk Hembroff.
• The program features regular appearances by the coaching staff and current Huskies.
• The show can be heard live on Mix 93.5 FM and is streamed on the TuneIn Radio app and online at Pasty.net or themix93.com.
 
SUPERIOR PLAYER OF THE GAME
• Superior National Bank sponsors the Superior Player of the Game.
• Oct. 5 – Elias Jansson – Two goals
• Oct. 11 – Max Koskipirtti – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Oct. 12 – Max Vayrynen – 15 saves
• Oct. 25 – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal
• Oct. 26 – Derek Mullahy – 31 saves
• Nov. 1 – Derek Mullahy – Shutout, 34 saves
• Nov. 2 – Max Koskipirtti – 1 goal, 2 assists
• Nov. 8 – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Nov. 9 – Derek Mullahy – career high 36 saves
• Nov. 22 – Rylan Brown – scored first NCAA goal
• Nov. 23 – Jack Works – scored lone goal
• Nov. 29 – Viktor Hurtig – scored first Tech goal
• Nov. 30 – Isaac Gordon – tied the game
• Dec. 6 – Rylan Brown – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Dec. 7 – Logan Morrell – 1 goal
• Dec. 13 – Logan Morrell – 2 goals
• Dec. 14 – Stiven Sardarian – 5 points
• Dec. 29 – Trevor Kukkonen – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Dec. 30 – Stiven Sardarian – 3 assists
• Jan. 3 – Elias Jansson – 1 goal
• Jan. 4 – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal, 2 assists
• Jan. 10 – Trevor Kukkonen – 2 assists
• Jan. 11 – Ryan Manzella – shutout
• Jan. 17 – Nick Williams – 1 assist, 3 blocks
• Jan. 18 – Ryan Manzella – shutout
• Jan. 24 – Elias Jansson – 2 goals
• Jan. 25 – Ryan Manzella – shutout
• Feb. 7 – Henry Bartle – 2 assists
• Feb. 8 – Elias Jansson – hat trick