Michigan Tech forward Jack Works controls the puck during a game against St. Thomas Satuday in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with a 2-1 loss at St. Thomas on Saturday following a 4-3 loss on Friday.

Tech finished the regular season 16-15-3 overall and 12-11-3 in the CCHA. St. Thomas improved to 16-13-5 and 13-9-4 in the CCHA.

Tech will hit the road for the first round as the No. 5 seed and will play at No. 4 seed Bowling Green. It will be a best-of-three series on Friday, Saturday, and if necessary, Sunday at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

HUSKIES FALL IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

The Huskies tied the game in the third period, but the Tommies scored the go-ahead goal with 12:49 left to secure home ice for the first round of the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs.

“I think the better team won this weekend,” Huskies coach Joe Shawhan said. “They competed hard on the puck, played with speed, and blocked a lot of shots. I thought we battled and didn’t give up. We didn’t give the game away. They beat us.

“The regular season is behind us, and now we have to find a way to put it together and gain some confidence if we want to make a playoff push.”

Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, Jack Works tied the game 1:23 after intermission with a wraparound from behind the net. Logan Morrell and Isaac Gordon assisted on the fifth goal of the season for Works.

Lucas Wahlin scored the eventual game-winner 7:11 into the third period when he broke into the zone and zipped a backhanded shot past the blocker of the goaltender. Matthew Gleason and Chase Foley assisted on the play.

Cooper Gay opened scoring 58 seconds into the second period when he put in a rebound in the slot for his CCHA-leading 16th goal of the season. Ryan O’Neill and Chase Foley added assists.

Similar to Friday night, Shawhan pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker earlier than normal, but the Huskies weren’t able to find the equalizer.

UST led in shots 36-31. Ryan Manzella made 34 saves for the Huskies, and Jake Sibell stopped 30 shots for the Tommies. His teammates also blocked 23 shots in front of him.

The Huskies were 0-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

HUSKIES COMEBACK FALLS SHORT FRIDAY

The Huskies fell 4-3 on Friday at St. Thomas. The Huskies trailed 4-0 and made a late push but couldn’t complete the comeback.

“I’m happy that we were able to execute late with some time and space,” Shawhan said. “Good habits and bad habits stand out at this time of the year. We have a ton of offensive talent but need to compete harder when we don’t have the puck.

“I’m hoping we can win tomorrow’s game for our fans. They want to watch our team play again at the Mac.”

Trailing 4-0 with 7:00 left in regulation, Shawhan pulled the goaltender and the Huskies responded with three straight extra attacker goals.

Elias Jansson scored his team-leading 12th of the season, putting in a rebound with 5:41 on the clock after a shot by Matthew Campbell was saved. Works also assisted in his return to the lineup.

Rylan Brown blasted in a long one-timer 1:32 later to make it a one-goal game. His third of the season was assisted by Matthew Campbell and Max Koskipirtti.

Tech then got a power play and scored 6-on-4. Jansson had the puck behind the net and found Morrell out front for a one-timer and his 11th goal of the season with 2:20 left in regulation. Max Koskipirtti added the second assist and now has 13 points in the last nine games.

The Huskies got another offensive zone faceoff but were whistled on an interference call. Koskipirtti and Chase Pietila had late chances, but Sibell made two more saves of his 36 on the night to seal the win.

The Tommies jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two goals in the first and a pair in the third. Ethan Gauer scored 2:42 into the game when he put in a rebound from Foley and Casy Laylin.

UST added to the lead exactly 12:00 later when O’Neill scored after a cross-ice pass from Jake Braccini. Chase Cheslock also assisted on the play.

In the third period, the puck went off a linesman in the corner and bounced to the middle. Wahlin spun and blasted in a shot through traffic for a 3-0 lead with Gleason assisting on the play 5:37 after intermission.

Laylin made it 4-0 when he collected a loose puck at the side of the net and scored from Quinton Pepper and Cole Miller at 10:18 of the third.

Tech dominated in shots 39-20. Manzella made 16 saves for the Black and Gold.

The Huskies were 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

CCHA PLAYOFFS

In other first-round playoff matchups, No. 8 Lake Superior will travel to No. 1 Minnesota State. No. 2 Augustana hosts No. 7 Bemidji State, and No. 6 Ferris State travels to No. 3 St. Thomas.

The Huskies had a 3-0 shutout win and a 2-2 tie and shootout loss at Bowling Green in late November in their only meeting with the Falcons in the regular season.