First conference series of the 2024-25 season
The Michigan Tech Hockey team clinched a 6-3 win over Northern Michigan University on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. This victory followed a 3-0 shutout the previous night at the Berry Events Center to kick off this season’s conference play.
Saturday’s game started fast when Lauri Raiman found the back of the net only 32 seconds after the puck drop. However, the Wildcats quickly regained momentum, scoring three unanswered goals in the first period, including two on a power play.
Marcus Pedersen scored his first goal of the season just 70 seconds into the second period. “We just wanted to get that quick one to get us back into it,” said Pederson, “I don’t care who scores as long as I am helping us win.”
Trevor Kukkonen tied the game late in the period with his first National Collegiate Athletics Association goal. “It was awesome,” said Kukkuonen, “I’ve been getting a lot of chances in the last couple of games, so it felt really good. I got a couple of pucks in the slot and it was the first one that happened to go in.”
The third period also saw a lot of action for the Huskies with Stiven Sardarian earning Tech the lead after scoring off a breakout pass. Northern Michigan pulled their goalie late in the period, allowing Max Koskipirtti to extend the lead with a shot from outside the blue line. Kukkonen ended the game with an empty-net goal from deep in the defensive zone, just 0.07 seconds before the final buzzer.
“[I am] very proud of the boys for their resilience,” said Head Coach Joe Shawhan, “A comeback victory is now in their back pocket, and if you do it again down the road then you say, ‘Okay this team has a lot of will; they never give up.’”
Michigan Tech dominated in shots on goal, outshooting Northern 43-17. Goaltender Derek Mullahy earned his second straight win with the Huskies.
Next weekend, Michigan Tech will play at Ferris State for their first road series of the season.
