2022–23 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season explained

The 2022–23 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season was the 102nd season of play for the program and 5th in the CCHA. The Huskies represented Michigan Technological University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, were coached by Joe Shawhan in his 6th season and played their home games at MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Season

While the Huskies were coming off their best season in 6 years, the team lost a great deal of experience to graduation, including 5 of their top 6 scorers from 2022. As a result, expectations were low for Michigan Tech and the team was hovering around the bottoms of both preseason polls. The lack of offense was not too keenly felt as the Huskies were led by senior netminder, Blake Pietila and he turned in several stellar performances early. In October alone, Pietila earned three shutouts in non-conference play to stake Tech to a solid national ranking. By November some of the new players were being integrated into the lineup and Tech's offense began to improve. The biggest addition was the team's top prospect, Kyle Kukkonen, who led the Huskies' in goals for the year and was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year.

One of the biggest moment for the program in the first half was winning the weekend of last year's national runner-up, Minnesota State. The solid performance over the Mavericks was followed up by pair of sloppy weekends but as Tech entered the winter break they were back in the national polls.

Michigan Tech began the second half of the season with one of their worst performances on the year, losing 1–8 to Western Michigan. After the embarrassing defeat, the team recovered swiftly and won their next three games, two coming against ranked clubs, and finished by winning the Desert Hockey Classic. Pietila continued his outstanding play and carried the team to a 7–3–1 record in the second half against conference teams. Entering the final weekend of the year, the Huskies and Mavericks had a showdown in Mankato for the regular season championship with Tech needing both games to win the title. Pietila, who had set a new program record for shutout in 2022 with 7, opened the final series with his 9th shoutout on the year to at least temporarily lift Tech up to #1 in the conference. Unfortunately, the Huskies got into penalty trouble in the rematch and allowed 3 power play goals, losing 2–3 and letting the conference championship slip through their fingers.

Despite finishing 2nd, Michigan Tech was ranked ahead of Minnesota State nationally and were all but guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament so long as they got out of the first round. Tech was set opposite St. Thomas who, though they had made strides, were still a long-shot to beat MTU. Despite the difference in record, the Tommies played hard and gave the Huskies all they could handle. Pietila withstood an 18-shot barrage in the third period to allow Michigan Tech to escape with a 1–0 victory. The rematch was a completely different game as it was the offense that was key. Tristan Ashbrook and Kyle Kukkonen each scored twice to give the team two 3-goal leads. St. Thomas would not go away, however, and Tech was fighting for its life in the third when the Tommies came within a goal of tying the score. Pietila held in the end for another 1-goal win and a near-certain appearance in the NCAA tournament. The team's comfortable position turned out to be very important as Tech lost the conference semifinal to long-time rival Northern Michigan 0–4.

Michigan Tech returned to the NCAA tournament and were given a favorable draw in Penn State. The Nittany Lions had stumbled in the second half of the season, posting a record of 4–10–1 since January 1. As the game began, however, it was apparent that Penn State had come to play. PSU opened the scoring just over 2 minutes into the game and, though they didn't score again in the first, dominated the pace of play. Penn State broke the game open in the third and added three more goal to their total. Tech fought back with 13 shots in the middle frame but could not get anything past Liam Soulière. The game became comical in the third and the Nittany Lions scored 4 more times while Tech looked like they just wanted the game to end. When the dust settled, Tech had lost 0–8, the worst shutout defeat in NCAA tournament history. The horrible end marred what had previously been a very successful year for the Huskies.[1]

Departures

Cayden Bailey Goaltender Left program (retired)
Trenton Bliss Forward Graduation (signed with Grand Rapids Griffins)
Alec Broetzman Forward Graduation (signed with Iowa Heartlanders)
Tyrell Buckley Defenseman Graduate transfer to Canisius
Brenden Datema Defenseman Transferred to Canisius
Grant Docter Defenseman Transferred to St. Thomas
Eric Gotz Defenseman Graduate transfer to Vermont
Forward Graduation (signed with New Jersey Devils)
Michael Karow Defenseman Graduation (signed with Texas Stars)
Justin Misiak Forward Graduation (signed with Idaho Steelheads)
Tommy Parrottino Forward Graduation (signed with Idaho Steelheads)
Matthew Quercia Forward Graduation (signed with Wheeling Nailers)
Mark Sinclair Goaltender Graduation (signed with Cincinnati Cyclones)
Colin Swoyer Defenseman Graduation (signed with Pittsburgh Penguins)

Recruiting

Oliver Bezick Defenseman 21 Delray Beach, FL
Frank Dovorany Defenseman 21 Wausau, WI
Topi Heiskanen Defenseman 20 Kuopio, FIN
David Jankowski Forward 25 Dundas, ON
graduate transfer from St. Lawrence
Kyle Kukkonen Forward 19 Maple Grove, MN
selected 162nd overall in 2021
Trevor Kukkonen Forward 21 Maple Grove, MN
Michael Morelli Goaltender 21 Arvada, CO
Ryan O'Connell Defenseman 23 Gloucester, ON
graduate transfer from Ohio State; selected 203rd overall in 2017
Evan Orr Defenseman 21 Shelby Township, MI
Kash Rasmussen Forward 21 Cochrane, AB
Kasper Vähärautio Defenseman 19 Helsinki, FIN
Max Väyrynen Goaltender 20 Espoo, FIN

Roster

As of August 26, 2022.[2]

Schedule and results

|-!colspan=12 style=";" | Exhibition|-!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season|-!colspan=12 style=";" | |-!colspan=12 style=";" | |-!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season|-!colspan=12 style=";" | |-!colspan=12 style=";" |

Scoring statistics

39 12 19 31 13
39 18 9 27 18
39 11 11 22 10
29 7 13 20 8
34 3 15 18 34
37 10 7 17 14
39 8 9 17 12
35 1 15 16 26
34 4 10 14 30
32 1 13 14 12
37 5 6 11 17
30 2 8 10 22
28 4 5 9 2
38 2 7 9 31
24 3 4 7 8
24 0 7 7 2
28 2 4 6 8
28 2 3 5 2
16 4 0 4 10
32 3 1 4 12
35 0 3 3 14
16 0 2 2 4
16 1 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
6 0 0 0 4
37 0 0 0 0
Total 103 171 274 321
[3]

Goaltending statistics

37 2173:57 23 11 3 78 951 10 .924 2.15
4 180:39 1 0 1 7 65 0 .903 2.32
Empty Net - 10:28 - - - 3 - - - -
Total 39 2365:04 24 11 4 88 1016 10 .920 2.23

Rankings

See main article: 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings.

PollWeek
Pre123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 (Final)
USCHO.com20bgcolor=FFFFFF-NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR191817bgcolor=FFFFFF-161314131212121111101313bgcolor=FFFFFF-13
USA TodayNR20NRNRNRNRNRNRNR20181817161613141312121311111013131313
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26.[4]

Awards and honors

Blake PietilaAHCA West All-American First Team[5]
Blake PietilaCCHA Player of the Year[6]
Blake PietilaCCHA Goaltender of the Year[7]
Kyle KukkonenCCHA Rookie of the Year[8]
Joe ShawhanCCHA Coach of the Year[9]
Blake PietilaCCHA First Team[10]
Ryland Mosley
Brett ThorneCCHA Second Team[11]
Kyle KukkonenCCHA Rookie Team[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Michigan Tech 0, Penn State 8 F . USCHO . March 24, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2020–21 Hockey Roster . Michigan Tech Athletics . January 20, 2021.
  3. News: Michigan Tech 2022-2023 Skater Stats . Elite Prospects . March 2, 2020.
  4. Web site: USCHO Division I Men's Poll . USCHO.com . November 26, 2019.
  5. News: Two Northeastern players repeat as first-team All-Americans . USCHO.com . April 7, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  6. Web site: Blake Pietila Named Player of the Year . CCHA . March 16, 2023 . March 16, 2023.
  7. Web site: Blake Pietila Collects Goaltender of the Year . CCHA . March 15, 2023 . March 16, 2023.
  8. Web site: Kyle Kukkonen Named Rookie of the Year . CCHA . March 14, 2023 . March 16, 2023.
  9. Web site: Joe Shawhan Voted Coach of the Year . CCHA . March 16, 2023 . March 16, 2023.
  10. Web site: All-CCHA First Team Honorees Revealed . CCHA . March 14, 2023 . March 16, 2022.
  11. Web site: Six Are All-CCHA Second Team Selections . CCHA . March 14, 2023 . March 15, 2023.
  12. Web site: CCHA All-Rookie Team Announced . CCHA . March 13, 2023 . March 15, 2023.