As we enter the end of September, it is finally time to cover the roster changes that our Michigan Tech Huskies have experienced this offseason. This will be part one of our two part season preview so strap in Huskies fans, as we are finally back!
Those who left
The Huskies had some big turn over this season as they lost 14 players this off season. The total are as follows:
This results in a loss of 52 goals and 85 assists for a total of 137 points from last season. Only one player in Blais Richartz is exercising their 5th year option with the Huskies. Mosely has chosen to transfer to Wisconsin with fellow locker room leader Kyle Kukkonen, who fans would have thought would be Tech’s next Captain going into this season. Regardless of each player’s decision to leave, I hope nothing but the best for all former Huskies in their future endeavors.
From a transition perspective, the incoming class of players are going to have huge skates to fill as our Huskies have lost not only points, but leadership as well. The coaching staff has been working non-stop to fill these holes with talent up and down the roster, and I have to commend Coach Shawhan, as well as assistant coaches Tyler Shelast and Jordy Murray. On paper, it looks like they delivered. Not only is this year’s incoming class looking good, but what few recruits Tech has for even further in the future look just as promising as the skaters the team has lost, if not more.
Those coming in
The Huskies have a total of 13 incoming skaters, with nine of them being freshmen. The other four come in the way of the transfer portal.
As you may have noticed, a lot of the incoming players are forwards. Last season was the changing of the guard for the defense, and this season sees the same trend but with the forward group. The numbers speak for themselves but players like Brown, Jansson, and Fankl all have the ability to make a day one impact as freshmen.
The transfers of Hutig, Baker, Sardarian, and Mullahy also bring an interesting dynamic with little downside as they are known players at the college level and a much higher potential ceiling given a change in environment. The most interesting skater in my eyes is Owen Baker, as he has the chance to repeat what Tech fans saw last season with Isaac Gordon who switched his commitment to Tech after Michigan State ran out of room on their roster. Baker, like Gordon, will have a prime chance to thrive in Houghton with increased ice time.
Finally, there are the two goaltenders in transfer Derek Mullahy from Harvard and local walk-on Bryant Lee. Mullahy had a rough year last season at Harvard, but those numbers aren’t indicative of his performance. The whole Harvard program regressed dramatically from 24-8-2 in the 2022-23 season to 7-19-6 last season. Two years ago, Mullahy had lights-out numbers (5-0-0, 1.70 GAA, .929 SV%). I would expect to see a bounce back given the improved defense that will be playing in front of him at Tech. Lee is slated to be the 3rd goalie in the rotation if the need may arise. He had stellar numbers at Houghton High School, but without the USHL or NAHL experience, it is unknown how he will adjust to the college level. I would predict to see him in Tech’s Exhibition against Northern, but otherwise it should be Max and Derek’s net to fight over.
Cover photo courtesy Michigan Tech Athletics.
Jonathan graduated from Michigan Tech in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Physics and Social Science in addition to a minor in Social and Behavioral Studies. He spent his college career watching hockey with the Misfits where he became the treasurer in his last year. When not traveling to away games he resides in Hancock working for a local engineering company and keeping up with all things Tech Hockey.
