Michigan Tech center Logan Morrell makes a pass during a game against St. Thomas on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies hockey forward Logan Morrell has not been known for his offense throughout his junior career. The Mesa, Arizona, native has seen action on four different junior teams between the USHL and the BCHL, but on none of those stops has he had the kind of success he is currently having with the Huskies.

The 21-year-old first year center has nine goals and 14 points in 18 games. Of those stats, 10 points, seven of which are goals, in his last nine contests, including two overtime goals to help the Huskies to two consecutive third-place finishes in the Great Lakes Invitational and the Coachella Valley Cactus Cup at the end of December and beginning of January, respectively.

Also, he has been named CCHA Rookie of the Week twice during that span, CCHA Rookie of the Month for December and HCA National Rookie of the Month for December.

“I definitely have to give a lot of credit to my teammates,” he said. “I wouldn’t have the success I’m having right now if it wasn’t for them. And, honestly, the coaches here, we work really hard, and I do a lot of video with them, and just kind of learning new things has helped me a ton.”

While trying to stay humble, Morrell has been playing on a line with alternate captain Isaac Gordon, who scored 18 goals and 36 points as a freshman last season, and junior transfer Stiven Sardarian, who is tied with him in goals (9) and leads the team in points (27).

“I mean, it’s pretty easy,” Morrell said, about scoring his most recent overtime game-winning goal. “Sardarian, I always say this, he is so easy to play with. He kind of just threw the puck in the space, I think, from Chase (Pietila)’s block in the ‘D’ (defensive) zone.

“I was lucky enough to get a twig on it for (it to go) five-hole.”

The coaching staff has really enjoyed seeing the trio grow together as a line.

“I think Logan, they’re just very different players, so I think that’s why they complement each other a lot,” said assistant coach Jordy Murray. “Logan’s a little bit more of a power forward. He’s a little hard nose. He’s not afraid to get to the corners and get the pucks to those two players.”

Murray pointed to one area of Morrell’s game that he uses to his advantage as much as he can within a game.

“He’s good with the puck, like he’s smart,” Murray said. “He’ll win every faceoff. I shouldn’t say every faceoff, but he’ll win a lot of faceoffs and then he’ll make quick, simple plays, which is what you want when you’re playing with some high-end talent.”

For Morrell, improving his faceoffs is what he believes earned his spot in the lineup.

“Honestly, I think a big thing for me was winning faceoffs,” he said. “That kind of got me in the lineup, I’d have to say. Just building off that, I personally think if you’re really good at one thing to get you in a lineup, it can help you a lot. Faceoffs did that for me.”

Morrell credits the time and effort of assistant coach Tyler Shelast for making Houghton an attractive destination for him while he was playing with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, where he played 41 games over parts of two seasons.

“‘Shells,’ our assistant coach, last reached out to me when I was in Cedar Rapids, and we scheduled a visit here,” Morrell said. “I came out here and loved it and fell in love with the coaching staff, Jordy, Joe (Shawhan), Ray (Brice), Shells, so it’s definitely been a lot of ups and downs in my career, and I’m super happy that they believed in me through all of it.”

Morrell was moved from the RoughRiders to the Omaha Lancers in 2022-23, where he played in 24 games. The next year, he played for the Coquitlam Express in the BCHL, where he saw action in 24 games before ending the season with the Langley Rivermen, where he played in 19 games.

In Houghton, Morrell already feels like he has found a home.

“It’s super cool,” he said. “I tell people this all the time. I think we have the best fans in college hockey, easily. I love our rink. I love how passionate everyone is about it. It’s unbelievable to play (here).

“It’s unbelievable, especially the (Pep) Band. The band’s so loud, they get us going, and (it’s) so fun to play for you.”

Morrell is one of 10 freshmen on the roster that also includes three transfers as well. He feels that having such a large group of newcomers in the locker room has been good.

“Definitely,” he said. “Stiven’s coming from UNH (New Hampshire), (Owen) Baker, (Viktor) Hurtig, Michigan State, and even (Jack) Works here, captain, (is) from Denver. It’s nice to kind of hear what they’ve all been through, because everywhere is different. So (to) kind of like learn from everyone to see how we get better (is great).”

As far as his favorite memory from his first year of college hockey goes, it isn’t either of his game-winning goals in recent weeks, but instead a pregame moment.

“I want to say there’s a memory that sticks out,” he said. “There’s so many good memories with the guys. But, I would definitely say probably my first game in the GLI, when we were standing there for the starting lineup before the game, and just hearing the crowd chant our school name and all that, was a super-cool feeling.”