No. 1 Michigan State, No. 6 Western Michigan and Northern Michigan will compete
58TH GLI
• Michigan Tech is hosting the 58th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Dec. 29-30.
• The Huskies open against No. 6 Western Michigan in the first semifinal at 3:37 p.m. on Sunday.
• No. 1 Michigan State and Northern Michigan will play in the second semifinal at 7:07 p.m.
• The GLI Championship will be at 7:07 p.m. on Monday.
• The GLI Third Place game starts at 3:37 p.m. on the second day.
• It is the 18th time in GLI history with four Michigan-based schools.
GLI HISTORY
• The Great Lakes Invitational was first played in 1965 after the idea for the tournament was conceived and implemented by Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes, Olympia Stadium General Manager Lincoln Cavalieri, and Detroit Red Wings Scout Jack Paterson.
• The tournament has been played at Olympia Stadium (1965-78), Joe Louis Arena (1979–2012, 2014–16), Comerica Park (2013), and Little Caesars Arena (2018-19). COVID-19 canceled the 2020 GLI and teams played a non-tournament showcase-style event in 2021. The 2022 edition was the first at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
• Michigan Tech has won the GLI 12 times in 57 tournaments and is the defending winner of the MacInnes Cup.
• Michigan State has 12 GLI titles in 49 tournaments.
• Western Michigan won the first GLI at Van Andel Arena in 2022 and will make its seventh all-time appearance. The Broncos have won the tournament four times.
• Northern Michigan will also be making its seventh appearance and first since 2015.
TICKETS
• Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and at the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, and DeVos Performance Hall Box Office.
• Pricing is based on a per-day basis and tickets will be distributed on a mobile device. On-glass tickets are $75, with lower bowl sections for $50 and $40, and student tickets at $15.50. Upper-level tickets are $30. Ticket pricing is subject to change and additional fees may apply.
• Michigan Tech’s student section is 124 and the Pep Band will be in section 225.
TV6 & FOX-UP COVERAGE
• TV6 and FOX-UP is televising all four games and streaming the games at uppermichiganssource.com. The first semifinal will be on TV6 with the rest airing on FOX-UP.
• Mark Evans and Dave Ellis will call all the action with Zak McClellan (rink side) and Kevin McNulty (intermission) also contributing.
- WLUC Marquette, MI (TV6 airs Tech-WMU, all others on FoxUP)
- WILX Lansing, MI (Day 1 10.2 MeTV, Day 2 10.1 NBC)
- KCRG Cedar Rapids, IA (all games on 9.2)
- KBJR Duluth, MN (all games on 6.3 My9)
- KTTC Rochester, MN (all games on 10.2 CW)
- KEYC Mankato, MN (all games on 7.3 Circle)
- WFSB Hartford, CT WOIO Cleveland, OH
- Palmetto Sports Network, covering the state of South Carolina.
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 23rd year behind the microphone.
WATCH THE GAMES
• Both Michigan Tech games at the GLI will be live-streamed on Midco Sports Plus 2.
• Fans can stream live and on-demand, on their home televisions, computers, tablets, and mobile devices via Midco Sports Plus.
• The app is available on mobile/tablet apps (iOS and Android), connected TV device apps (AppleTV, FireTV and Roku) and a web-based browser interface.
INTERNATIONAL STREAMING
• International viewers can stream all CCHA games through a partnership with Stretch Internet at https://stream.prestosports.com/cchahockey
• The pricing structure reflects Midco Sports Plus and is only available to viewers outside of the United States and Canada.
TECH GLI NOTES
• Tech has a 50-61-3 all-time GLI record.
• Tech has 12 titles with the most recent in 2023, 2019 and 2012.
• The Huskies have finished second 17 times, third 12 times, and fourth 16 times.
• Tech has played in the GLI Championship Game in eight of the last 10 tournaments.
LAST GLI MEETING
• Western Michigan – The Broncos defeated the Huskies 8-1 in the 2022 semifinal which was the first GLI game at Van Andel Arena. WMU went on to win the MacInnes Cup.
• Michigan State – Tech and MSU tied 3-3 in the 2023 GLI Championship Game. The Huskies won the shootout 1-0 to capture the MacInnes Cup.
• Northern Michigan – NMU defeated Tech 8-1 in the 1998 GLI Third Place Game. Ryan Riipi had two goals and an assist for the Wildcats.
SERIES INFO
• WMU – Tech is 11-5-1 against the Broncos in a series that dates back to 1977. The Huskies are 2-3-0 in neutral site games. The last win over WMU was in the 2012 GLI Championships.
• MSU – The Huskies are 86-75-5 all-time against the Spartans and 9-23-2 against MSU at the GLI. Tech is undefeated in 11 of the last 32 meetings. Tech is unbeaten in six straight GLI games against the Spartans. Tech is 1-5-1 against MSU in the GLI title game with the lone victory in 1971.
• NMU – Tech is 84-81-15 against NMU, dating back to 1979. The Huskies are 4-1-0 against the Wildcats at a neutral site and 2-1-0 at the GLI with all three games in the third-place contest.
LEPPA AT WJC
• Freshman Tom Leppa has been named to Team Finland’s roster for the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championship in Ottawa, on Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
• The native of Kauniainen, Finland, has skated all 16 games for the Huskies this season at center. He has tallied two goals and three assists with a plus-2 while ranking second on the team with 111 faceoff wins.
• Leppa played for Finland at the 2022 IIHF U-18 World Championship, appearing in five games. He also won the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal with Finland.
• Max Koskipirtti (Finland – 2023), Blake Pietila (USA – 2013), Liam Garvey (USA – 1993), Pat Mikesch (USA – 1993), Jim Storm (USA – 1991), and Damian Rhodes (USA – 1988) are the last five Huskies to play in the WJC.
POINT STREAKS
• Three Game – Logan Morrell – 5 goals, 1 assist
• Three Game – Isaac Gordon – 1 goal, 4 assists
• Two Game – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal, 5 assists
• Two Game – Chase Pietila – 2 assists
STATISTICAL NOTES
• Stiven Sardarian leads the CCHA with eight goals and is second in the with 19 points. He ranks eighth in the nation with three game-winning goals and 17th in points.
• Logan Morrell leads the CCHA in goals per game (0.58) and is sixth with his seven goals which ranks eighth amongst NCAA rookies. He is also second in the CCHA in faceoff winning percentage (.591).
• Isaac Gordon is second in the CCHA in shots on goal (58).
• Kasper Vaharautio ranks third in the nation with 42 blocked shots.
• The Huskies are third in the nation and lead the CCHA in fewest penalty minutes per game (6:22).
• Tech is second in the CCHA in shots on goal per game (31.56).
• Tech ranks 15th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 2.25 goals per game.
NEW GOALTENDER
• Ryan Manzella joined the Huskies before the GLI.
• He played 11 games this season with Sioux Falls in the USHL and held a 2.40 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
• Manzella appeared in 34 games for the St. Cloud Norsemen in the NAHL in 2023-24, holding a 2.62 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Huskies earned 4-of-6 CCHA points at Bemidji State on Dec. 13-14.
• The teams tied 2-2 Friday with the Beavers earning the extra point in the shootout.
• Tech won 9-5 Saturday with all nine goals being scored in the final two periods.
• Logan Morrell scored two goals in each game. Stiven Sardarian had a goal and four assists Saturday, Elias Jansson had two goals and an assist Saturday, while Max Koskipirtti, Isaac Gordon, Alex Nordstrom, and Jack Works also scored.
• The last time Tech scored nine goals was Feb. 20, 2016, in a 9-2 victory over Bemidji State at the Sanford Center.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
• Tech travels West for the Coachella Valley Cactus Cup next weekend (Jan. 3-4).
• The Huskies play No. 10 UMass Lowell in the early semifinal with Omaha and Holy Cross meeting in the late semfinal.
• Tech returns home to get back to CCHA action on Jan. 10-11, hosting Lake Superior State for the only meeting of the regular season.
CCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• Dec. 16 – Stiven Sardarian – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Dec. 16 – Logan Morrell – CCHA Rookie of the Week
• Dec. 2 – Derek Mullahy – CCHA Goaltender of the Week
• Nov. 11 – Stiven Sardarian – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Nov. 4 – Max Koskipirtti – CCHA Forward of the Week
• Oct. 14 – Max Vayrynen – CCHA Goaltender of the Week
• Oct. 14 – Elias Jansson – CCHA Rookie of the Week
SUPERIOR PLAYER OF THE GAME
• Superior National Bank sponsors the Superior Player of the Game.
• Oct. 5 – Elias Jansson – Two goals
• Oct. 11 – Max Koskipirtti – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Oct. 12 – Max Vayrynen – 15 saves
• Oct. 25 – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal
• Oct. 26 – Derek Mullahy – 31 saves
• Nov. 1 – Derek Mullay – Shutout, 34 saves
• Nov. 2 – Max Koskipirtti – 1 goal, 2 assists
• Nov. 8 – Stiven Sardarian – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Nov. 9 – Derek Mullay – career high 36 saves
• Nov. 22 – Rylan Brown – scored first NCAA goal
• Nov. 23 – Jack Works – scored lone goal
• Nov. 29 – Viktor Hurtig – scored first Tech goal
• Nov. 30 – Isaac Gordon – tied the game
• Dec. 6 – Rylan Brown – 1 goal, 1 assist
• Dec. 7 – Logan Morrell – 1 goal
• Dec. 13 – Logan Morrell – 2 goals
• Dec. 14 – Stiven Sardarian – 5 points
CAPTAINS
• Senior Jack Works was named the captain of the 2024-25 Huskies.
• Junior Trevor Russell and sophomores Isaac Gordon and Chase Pietila are also on the leadership team as alternate captains.
CCHA PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Sophomore Isaac Gordon was named the CCHA Preseason Player of the Year as voted on by the league’s coaches.
• He was tied with Lucas Wahlin from St. Thomas and Connor Milburn from Lake Superior State for the honor.
PRESEASON ALL-CCHA
Sophomore forward Isaac Gordon and sophomore defenseman Chase Pietila were both named to the coaches and the media’s Preseason All-CCHA Team.
COACH SHAWHAN
• Joe Shawhan is in his eighth season as Head Coach and holds a record of 147-108-28.
• He was named the 2023 CCHA Coach of the Year and is one of only two coaches to take four different Michigan Tech teams to the NCAA Tournament.
• He won his 100th career game at Bowling Green on November 5, 2022, and ranks second in wins by a Tech hockey coach.
• Shawhan’s 22 wins in his first season tied for the most ever by a first-year Michigan Tech coach. Jim Nahrgang won 22 games in 1982-83.
• Shawhan was named the 22nd head coach of the Huskies on May 30, 2017, after serving as an assistant coach for Tech over the previous three seasons.
ASSISTANT COACHES
• Former captain Raymond Brice was added as an assistant coach in the offseason.
• Brice joins Tyler Shelast (fourth season) and Jordy Murray (third season) on staff.
PRESEASON CCHA COACHES POLL
• Tech was picked in a tie for second in the Preseason CCHA Coaches’ Poll with Bemidji State. The Beavers earned one more first-place vote.
• Minnesota State, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Augustana, and Ferris State round out the top eight with Northern Michigan in the ninth slot.
PRESEASON CCHA MEDIA POLL
• Tech was picked fourth in the Preseason CCHA Media Poll behind Bemidji State, St. Thomas, and Minnesota State.
• Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Augustana, Northern Michigan, and Ferris State rounded out the poll.
NON-CONFERENCE
• Tech swept Alaska on Oct. 11-12 with a pair of 2-1 victories.
• Clarkson defeated Tech on Oct. 25-26 in Houghton.
• The 58th GLI is Dec. 29-30 with Western Michigan, Michigan State, and Northern Michigan.
• The final non-conference games are at the Coachella Valley Cactus Cup on Jan. 3-4 in Palm Springs, California. Tech opens against UMass Lowell and will meet Omaha or Holy Cross the next day.
NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
• Matthew Campbell – Philadelphia Flyers (2024)
• Isaac Gordon – Columbus Blue Jackets (2024)
• Viktor Hurtig – New Jersey (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Chase Pietila – Pittsburgh Penguins (2024)
• Trevor Russell – New Jersey (2022, 2023)
• Stiven Sardarian – Buffalo Sabres (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Max Vayrynen – Calgary Flames (2023)
NHL DRAFT PICKS
• Stiven Sardarian was selected by Buffalo in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 88th pick.
• Chase Pietila was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 111th pick.
• Viktor Hurtig was picked by New Jersey in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 164th selection.
TRANSFERS
• Owen Baker played seven games in one season at Michigan State. He notched two points with a goal and an assist.
• Viktor Hurtig skated in 43 games over two seasons at Michigan State. He tallied seven points with two goals and five assists.
• Derek Mullahy saw action in 30 career games for Harvard from 2020-24. He held a career 2.69 goals-against average and .903 save percentage, going 10-14-4.
• Stiven Sardarian played the last two seasons for New Hampshire. In 61 NCAA games, he has tallied nine goals and 12 assists
• Jack Works began his collegiate career with 15 games over two seasons with Denver. He tallied one assist with the Pioneers in his NCAA debut and was a member of the 2022 NCAA National Championship team.
FRESHMEN
• Tech has 10 freshmen on the roster with six forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders.
• Forwards: Tom Leppa, Logan Morrell, Elias Jansson, Philip Fankl, Ryder Matter, and Quinn Disher.
• Defensemen: Rylan Brown and Tyler Miller.
• Goaltenders: Bryant Lee and Ryan Manzella.
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION
• Isaac Gordon – CCHA Rookie of the Year (2023-24), All-CCHA Second Team (2023-24) & All-CCHA Rookie Team (2023-24)
2023-24 RECAP
• Tech made its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and its fourth under Shawhan after winning the program’s first CCHA Mason Cup Championship.
• The Huskies finished 19-15-6 overall and tied for second in the CCHA with a 12-10-2 record.
• The Black and Gold swept Bowling Green in the CCHA First Round. The Huskies then edged Minnesota State in the CCHA Semifinal and won the conference tournament title at Bemidji State.
• Tech won the 58th Great Lakes Invitational after defeating Alaska in overtime and earning a shootout win over Michigan State in the title game.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
• Tech’s roster boasts players from five different countries.
• United States: 12
• Canada: 7
• Finland: 6
• Sweden: 3
• Russia: 1
HUSKIES AT NHL TRAINING CAMPS
• Arvid Caderoth – LA Kings
• Pheonix Copley – LA Kings
• Brian Halonen – New Jersey Devils
• Michael Karow – Dallas Stars
• Jujhar Khaira – Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jake Lucchini – Nashville Predators
• Logan Pietila – Pittsburgh Penguins
• Matt Roy – Washington Capitals
