SEASON OPENER
• Michigan Tech hockey begins the Bill Muckalt era and the 2025-26 season this weekend at No. 8 Minnesota.
• The Huskies and Gophers last met in October 2012 in Houghton and December 2011 in Minneapolis.
• The puck drops at 8 p.m. Eastern both nights at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
 
ON THE RADIO
• Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ broadcasts all Michigan Tech hockey games.
• Fans can listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ, online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.com, or by using your favorite radio streaming app.
• Dirk Hembroff will call all the action in his 24th year behind the microphone.
 
WATCH THE GAMES
• Both games at Minnesota will be streamed on Big Ten Network Plus.
• Fans in Minnesota can watch Friday's game on FOX9 with Saturday's contest airing on FOX9+.
 
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
• Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in the Preseason USCHO Poll and No. 7 in the USA Hockey Preseason Poll.
• The Gophers were picked third in Big Ten preseason coaches' poll.
• Luke Mittelstadt was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.
• Minnesota went 25-11-4 overall last season and 15-6-3 in the Big Ten, winning the regular season title in a tie with Michigan State. The Gophers made its 42nd NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Head coach Bob Motzko is in his eighth season leading the program. He has a record of 161-82-21 with the Gophers.
 
SERIES INFO
• Tech is 77-175-15 all-time against Minnesota, dating back to 1922.
• The Huskies are 29-98-3 against the Gophers on the road.
• Tech's last win over Minnesota was Oct. 19, 2012 and the last win over the Gophers in Minneapolis was Dec. 9, 2011.
 
COLLEGE HOCKEY INC NOTES
• Bill Muckalt is one of 11 new coaches across the country for the 2025-26 season.
• Michigan Tech has the largest freshman class (13).
• The Huskies have the second-most freshmen and sophomores (22). Alaska has 23.
• 24 percent of Finlanders in college hockey are on Michigan Tech's roster (6-of-25).
• Eight of the 77 players in college hockey who played in the WHL are on Michigan Tech's roster.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
• The Huskies have a weekend (Oct. 10-11) off before continuing non-conference play on the road at Alaska (Oct. 17-18).
• The home and CCHA opener is Oct. 24-25 against Ferris State.
• The month wraps up at Clarkson on Halloween followed by a meeting with St. Lawrence on Nov. 1.
 
COACH MUCKALT
• Bill Muckalt was named the 23rd head coach at Michigan Tech on May 22, 2025.
• Muckalt returned to Houghton after one season as head coach of Lindenwood.
• Muckalt was an assistant coach at Tech for four seasons from 2011-15.
• Muckalt played 256 NHL games over five seasons with Vancouver, New York Islanders, Ottawa and Minnesota. He scored 97 career points with 40 goals and 57 assists.
• He won two National Championships as a player at Michigan in 1996 and 1998 and was an All-American in 1998.
 
NON-CONFERENCE
• The Huskies have 10 non-conference games scheduled for the season.
• The season begins at No. 8 Minnesota on Oct. 3-4.
• Tech travels to Alaska on Oct. 17-18.
• The Huskies travel to Clarkson on Oct. 31.
• The trip to New York wraps up against St. Lawrence on Nov. 1.
• Tech opens the GLI against Miami with Michigan State and Ferris State playing in the second semifinal.
• Non-conference play wraps up at the Desert Hockey Class against Air Force in the semifinal and Alaska Anchorage or host Arizona State on the second day.
 
CAPTAINS
• Junior Isaac Gordon is the captain of the 2025-26 Huskies.
• Junior Max Koskipirtti and seniors Jack Anderson and Joe Prouty are also on the leadership team as alternate captains.
 
PRESEASON ALL-CCHA
• Senior forward Stiven Sardarian was named to both the coaches and media's Preseason All-CCHA Team.
• Junior forward Isaac Gordon was named to the coaches Preseason All-CCHA Team.
 
ASSISTANT COACHES
• Benton Maass begins his first season as an Assistant Coach. Maass comes to Houghton after one season as an Assistant Coach at Lindenwood. As a defenseman, he played collegiately at New Hampshire and Minnesota State and appeared in 122 professional games in the AHL and ECHL.
• L.J. Scarpace begins his first season as an Assistant Coach. Scarpace comes to Houghton after serving as a video coach in the NHL since 2017. He most recently worked with Detroit for the past six seasons. As a goaltender, he played collegiately at Western Michigan and Michigan.
• Former Michigan Tech hockey player Tyler Shelast begins his fifth season as an assistant coach. Before being named an assistant coach, Shelast spent the previous eight seasons as the strength and conditioning coach for the Huskies.
 
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
• Tech was picked in a tie for third in the Preseason CCHA Coaches' Poll with Augustana. The Huskies earned a pair of first-place votes.
• St. Thomas and Minnesota State were the top two choices with Bowling Green, Bemidji State, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, and Northern Michigan rounding out the poll.
 
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
• Tech was picked fourth in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll behind Minnesota State, St. Thomas, and Bowling Green.
• Augustana, Bemidji State, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, and Northern Michigan rounded out the poll.
 
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
• Jack Anderson – Philadelphia Flyers (2025)
• Owen Bartoszkiewicz – St. Louis Blues (2025)
• Rylan Brown – Winnipeg Jets (2025)
• Isaac Gordon – Columbus Blue Jackets (2024 & 2025)
• Max Koskipirtti – Dallas Stars (2025)
• Carson Latimer – Ottawa Senators (2021, 2022)
• Kalem Parker – Minnesota Wild (2023 & 2024)
• Stiven Sardarian – Buffalo Sabres (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Teydon Trembecky – Winnipeg Jets (2025)
• Max Vayrynen – Calgary Flames (2023)
 
NHL DRAFT PICKS
• Carson Latimer was selected by Ottawa in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 123rd pick. He is now a free agent.
• Kalem Parker was selected by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft with the 181st pick. He is now a free agent.
• Stiven Sardarian was selected by Buffalo in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 88th pick. He is now a free agent.
 
TRANSFERS
• Jack Anderson played three seasons and 90 games at Lindenwood (2022-25). He tallied 25 points with the Lions on four goals and 21 assists.
• Owen Baker played seven games in one season at Michigan State (2023-24). He notched two points with a goal and an assist.
• Owen Bartoszkiewicz played at Lindenwood in 2024-25, with a .919 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against average in 29 games. He played six games for Minnesota during the 2022-23 season with a 3.72 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.
• Joe Prouty played three seasons and 90 games at Lindenwood (2022-25). He tallied 21 points with the Lions with three goals and 18 assists.
• Stiven Sardarian played the two seasons for New Hampshire (2022-24). In 61 NCAA games for the Wildcats, he tallied nine goals and 12 assists
 
FRESHMEN
• Tech's 13-member freshman class is the largest in the country. There are nine forwards and four defensemen.
• Forwards: Ryan Abraham, Carson Birnie, Brayden Boehm, Michael Cicek, Reid Daavettila, Rylan Gould, Noah Reinhart, Teydon Trembecky, Matthew Van Blaricom
• Defensemen: Reid Andresen, Max Matthews, Kalem Parker, Braden Pietila
 
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
• Owen Bartoszkiewicz – Independent Hockey Goaltender of the Year (2024-25)
• Rylan Brown – CCHA All-Rookie Team (2024-25)
• Isaac Gordon – CCHA Rookie of the Year (2023-24), All-CCHA Second Team (2023-24) & CCHA All-Rookie Team (2023-24)
• Elias Jansson – CCHA Rookie of the Year (2024-25) & All-CCHA Rookie Team (2024-25)
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
• Tech's roster boasts players from four different countries.
• United States: 11
• Canada: 15
• Finland: 6
• Russia: 1
 
1975 CHAMPIONSHIP REUNION
• The 1975 Michigan Tech hockey team that won the NCAA Championship is having a reunion on Oct. 24-25 in Houghton.
• The members of the team will be honored on the ice during the home-opening weekend against Ferris State.
 
59TH GLI
• The 59th Great Lakes Invitational will be staged at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Dec. 28-29.
• The Huskies will open against Miami while Michigan State and Ferris State will play in the other semifinal.
• Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 3.
 
HUSKIES AT NHL TRAINING CAMPS
• Carson Bantle – Detroit Red Wings
• Pheonix Copley – LA Kings
• Brian Halonen – New Jersey Devils
• Michael Karow – Dallas Stars
• Jake Lucchini – Nashville Predators
• Ryland Mosley – Columbus Blue Jackets
• Chase Pietila – Pittsburgh Penguins
• Matt Roy – Washington Capitals
 
HUSKIES HOCKEY RADIO SHOW
• The Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey Show airs weekly throughout the season at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays with host Dirk Hembroff.
• The program features regular appearances by the coaching staff and current Huskies.
• The show can be heard live on Mix 93.5 FM and is streamed on the TuneIn Radio app and online at Pasty.net or themix93.com.
 
BLUE LINE CLUB
The Michigan Tech Blue Line Club provides additional resources to the hockey program, enabling hockey student-athletes to pursue success both in the classroom and on the ice. The annual membership drive is now open.