HOUGHTON, Mich. – Rivalry weekend opened in the Copper Country on Friday night, as the Northern Michigan hockey team fell 4-1 to the Michigan Tech Huskies at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Jakub Altrichter notched his first goal of the season and NMU's lone tally of the night, coming shorthanded midway through the third period off a beautiful lead pass from Mathew Ward. The Huskies were led by Stiven Sardarian, who recorded two goals and an assist to pace Tech's offense.

Michigan Tech jumped out early, scoring just 22 seconds into the game, and carried a 2-0 lead after the first period, holding a narrow 9-7 edge in shots. Northern responded with a stronger second frame, outshooting the Huskies 9-8, but trailed 3-0 heading into the third. Both sides found the net in the final 20 minutes, where MTU held a 14-11 advantage in shots on goal to close out the night. Overall, Tech led 31-27 in shots on target.

Despite a combined 13 penalties and five power-play chances for each side, the only special-teams strike came shorthanded from Altrichter. Northern blocked 20 shots to Tech's 14, led by Tynan Ewart with five. Between the pipes, William Gramme started for the Wildcats and made nine saves while allowing three goals before being relieved by Oliver Auyeung-Ashton midway through the second. The freshman was perfect in relief and in his rivalry debut, turning aside all 18 shots he faced. At the other end, MTU netminder Owen Bartoszkiewicz stopped 26 of 27 attempts and nearly added a goalie goal late in the contest.

The loss drops Northern to 0-11 overall and 0-3 in CCHA play, while the Huskies improved to 6-3 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the league.


How it Happened
The Huskies wasted no time getting on the board. Just 22 seconds in, Stiven Sardarian corralled a loose puck at the top of the crease and buried it into an open net to give Tech an instant 1-0 advantage. Assists went to Max Koskipirtti and Noah Reinhart. The early goal fueled a quick start and Tech maintained heavy pressure through the opening minutes.

Northern's first quality chance came at the six-minute mark when Michael Burchill broke through the defense for a clean breakaway look on goal, but his wrist shot was turned away by Bartoszkiewicz.

After back-to-back NMU penalties, the Wildcats' penalty kill stood tall, limiting Tech to just three shots on goal across the two opportunities. Once back at even strength, Northern pushed back, controlling the puck for several minutes. However, the Huskies doubled their lead late in the frame when Brayden Boehm sniped a shot top shelf with 2:20 to play, assisted by Carson Latimer.

Though the 'Cats trailed just 9-7 in shots, they faced a 2-0 hole after 20 minutes.

Northern opened the second period with more energy, earning a power play just 90 seconds in and another shortly after. The Wildcats generated several strong looks but couldn't capitalize. NMU recorded the first seven shots of the period and held Tech without one for nearly eight minutes.

With the period nearing its halfway point, Tech's Reid Andresen slipped a shot five-hole to make it 3-0 at 10:48, assisted by Teydon Trembecky and Sardarian.

That goal prompted a goaltending change, with Auyeung-Ashton taking over for Gramme. The freshman was immediately tested on another Tech power play but stood tall to keep it a three-goal game.

Northern earned a late man advantage with 33 seconds left in the frame, but a quick infraction of their own nullified the opportunity. Despite controlling much of the period and outshooting Tech 9-8, the Wildcats still trailed 3-0 heading into the final 20 minutes.

In the third, NMU found its breakthrough while shorthanded. With the Huskies pressing on the power play, Mathew Ward collected a loose puck in front of the bench and shuffled it through the remaining defender to Altrichter, who buried his first goal of the season through the five-hole to make it 3-1 with eight minutes to play. It marked Northern's first shorthanded tally since Jan. 12, 2024, at Lake Superior State (Mikey Colella).

As time wound down, the Wildcats pulled Auyeung-Ashton for an extra skater in search of a late push. Bartoszkiewicz nearly made history with a full-length shot that missed the empty net by mere inches before Sardarian later sealed it with an empty-net goal in the final minute to complete the 4-1 final.


Up Next
The Wildcats will look to bounce back and split the rivalry weekend when the series shifts to the Berry Events Center on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m.