David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech center Tom Leppa controls the puck behind the Northern Michigan net during a game Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton.

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

BIG RAPIDS — After not traveling more than 100 miles to play their first six games of the season, including a home-and-home series with Northern Michigan, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team faces their first lengthy road trip of the season this weekend as they head to Big Rapids to face Ferris State in their second CCHA series of the season.

With the sweep last weekend of the Wildcats, the Huskies improved to 4-2 overall on the season and 2-0 in conference play.

Assistant coach Jordy Murray felt that while it was nice that the Huskies earned the wins, what was more important was that the Huskies established the type of game they wanted to play and did not give the Wildcats a chance to do the same.

“Especially against Northern, but I think it’s more how we played than just the wins,” he said. “I thought we played to our identity all weekend. Finally, we’re scoring some goals. I thought we played well against Clarkson, but we just didn’t have the goals. Now we played well, that same level of intensity and identity, but we finished, so super promising going forward.”

Head coach Joe Shawhan has been wanting the older Huskies to set the tone for the younger ones about how they should approach each game, and how hard they should work in games. No line has embodied that leadership role more than the line of junior winger Trevor Kukkonen and sophomore winger Lauri Raiman surrounding freshman center Tom Leppa. The trio all scored at least one goal on the weekend, with Kukkonen scoring twice. The line combined for eight points.

“I think it’s great,” said Murray. “They played great against Clarkson. Probably had the same amount of chances they had this weekend, but this weekend they got rewarded. So, it’s great when you see, especially when the other players on our team see, a line that’s probably there to provide us energy and be really sound defensively, but they just play the right way.

“They’re generating a lot on the forecheck, generating a lot in the ‘O’ (offensive) zone, and they get rewarded for it. (They had) some great shots. Lauri had a great shot, great screen by ‘Kukks’, great shot by ‘Kukks’ kicking it up to his forehand, and then Tom getting in the net on his goal, and then ‘Kukks’ getting rewarded right at the end with an empty net. You’re really happy for players like that, that play the right way and do the right things. When they get rewarded, it boosts the team, for sure.”

Murray feels that Kukkonen, who had only played in eight games prior to this season, and had been on the same team as his brother Kyle, who transferred to Wisconsin in the offseason, has blossomed already this season.

“It’s awesome,” Murray said. “I mean, he’s worked so hard the last two years, and maybe he’s been under his brother’s shadow a little bit. Then his brother leaves, and now it’s his time.

“I don’t think he’s thinking that way. He just comes to work every day and plays hard, regardless if he was getting ice time like he is now, or he was battling for a lineup spot. He’s super consistent in how he approaches practice, and his mentality, even in the gym and everything, is why he’s getting rewarded right now. He’s put in the work, and now he’s just seizing the moment. We have a ton of competition on our team. You hope a player like that takes it, and runs with it. That whole line has.”

While what Leppa’s line has done has been what the Huskies have needed, they are looking for more offense from alternate captain Isaac Gordon, who has not scored a goal yet in six games this season. However, as Gordon has four assists already, the sense amongst the coaching staff is that it is only a matter of time before he breaks through.

“I think, even this weekend, I think he was three or four in scoring chances for our team,” said Murray. “It’s just a matter of numbers. If he gets enough of them, they’re going to start going in.”

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

The Ferris State Bulldogs come into this weekend 2-6-2 overall and 1-3 in CCHA play after getting swept last weekend by Bowling Green State, 2-0 and 5-4. Their one conference win came against Bemidji State.

The Bulldogs are led offensively by a pair of junior forwards in Caiden Gault and Max Itagaki, who have six points each. Gault leads the team in goals (5), while Itagaki leads in assists (6).

In net, fifth-year Noah West has started nine of the team’s 10 games. He has a 2-5-2 record with a 3.06 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

The Bulldogs play their home games at Ewigleben Ice Arena, which has unique dimensions, which can wreak havoc on opposing teams. The Huskies’ sophomores did not play at Ferris State last season, so they will be experiencing the rink for the first time alongside the freshmen.

“That rink is a little bit different,” Murray said. “The corners are non-existent. It’s tight, things happen quicker. If you get an offensive zone, you can shoot from anywhere and it’s a scoring chance. So, it’s going to be a hard game.”

GAME TIMES

Both games this weekend will take place at 7:07 p.m. at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids.