MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team began CCHA play with a 3-0 shutout of rival Northern Michigan Friday at the Berry Events Center. Derek Mullahy made 24 saves to earn the victory in net.
 
"We played a good complete game tonight," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We got contributions from everybody that dressed. We challenged some players and they answered the bells. Derek made some big saves early until we got the offense going."
 
Tom Leppa opened scoring 12:12 into the game when he flipped in a rebound from right in front of the net for his first NCAA goal. Rylan Brown took a shot from the point that bounced off the back wall. Trevor Kukkonen got a piece of it before Leppa put it home. It was the first NCAA points for Kukkonen and Brown.
 
Tech (3-2, 1-0 CCHA) scored a pair of power play goals in the second period. Matthew Campbell setup Stiven Sardarian for a redirect in front of the net for a 2-0 lead 3:24 into the second. It was Sardarian's third of the season and 12th of his career.
 
Max Koskipirtti found some time and space and was able to pick his spot and fire the puck under the goalie's blocker at 6:04 of the second. It was Koskipirtti's second of the season and sixth of his career from Elias Jansson and Isaac Gordon.
 
The Huskies dominated the second, outshooting NMU 17-5. The Wildcats pushed in the third and pulled the goaltender with 2:55 left. They also got a late power play but Mullahy only had to make one save down the stretch and earned his first win as a Husky and second career shutout.
 
Mullahy stopped nine shots in the first, five in the second, and 10 in the third. Ryan Ouellette made 38 saves as the Huskies outshot the Wildcats 41-24.
 
Tech was 2-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
 
The Huskies and Wildcats will wrap up the first CCHA series of the season on Saturday back at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The puck drops at 6:07 p.m.