#FinalFive Feature: Auk, Roy Take Huge Step in Sophomore Season

Two seasons ago, the No. 12/13 Michigan Tech Huskies added a trio of defensemen to their mix, and due to injuries, all three played nearly every game as freshmen. Last season, the Huskies brought in two more defensemen who quickly became regulars in the line up in Mark Auk and Matt Roy.

Now sophomores themselves, Auk and Roy have quietly become leaders in their own right, sitting first and third in scoring among Huskies defenders.

Auk has learned a lot this season about when to attempt to affect the game.

"I think it has been pretty good this year with the team's success," said Auk. "I think that way we are playing depends on the game situation. If we are down by a goal, come late in the game, I think [we can] take more chances. If we are up by a couple of goals, you want to stay back."

His classmate believes strongly in the Huskies' game plan.

"You come to Michigan Tech because you want to win hockey games," said Roy. "It's good that we are stepping in the right direction here. There is [still] a lot of work to do. It feels good so far."

Roy, a 6-foot-1 draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, scored just nine points, all assists, as a freshman in 36 games played. Often times he appeared close to breaking through offensively, but it never quite worked out that way.

This season, it appeared that Roy scored a goal early in the season at home against Northern Michigan, only to find out that one of his teammates, freshman Mason Blacklock, had tipped it in. While he did not score on the play, the goal was significant for another reason, he located his shot where a teammate could get to it.

Roy had worked on his shot in the off-season. He wanted to make sure of two things, first that it was on-goal, and second that it was located either where it would go in itself, or a teammate could knock it in.

The next game Roy was rewarded with a goal against Ferris State. He has since added six more for seven, more than twice his closest teammate, making him the highest goal-scoring defenseman this season..

"It feels good," said Roy. "I worked on my shot this summer back [at] home. Right now they just seem to be going in for some reason. I am just trying to get the pucks to the net. I try to make sure I don't get the shot blocked."

Head coach Mel Pearson has been very happy with Roy's development.

"He has a tremendous shot," said Pearson. "He can really shoot the puck. Things have gone in for him. I think he's shooting the puck a lot smarter. He's learned how to change his angle to open up a shooting lane. He's really grown as a player."

Standing 6-foot-0, Auk does not possess the shot his classmate does, but he has a penchant for attacking opponents' defenses on the fly.

He took a different path to becoming a key component of the blue line. After playing against Lake Superior State during the Huskies' season-opening series as a freshman, Auk had to work his way back into the lineup, not getting in for over two months.

It took him three more games before he finally picked up a point. He went on to score three goals and 13 points.

He credits his experiences from the press box as really helping him understand the college game.

"When you are sitting out, you see things on the ice that players don't normally see," said Auk. "That helped out in a way. When I got into a game, I thought to myself that I saw this before here and there. [I learned] when to stay back and when to just play defense."

Auk is a puck-carrying defenseman in the ilk of a Paul Coffey. As a sophomore, he is still learning to pick his spots, but his skill set is something the Huskies need most nights.

"He wants the puck on his stick," said Pearson. "He wants to make a difference. He's trying to make something happen every time he is out there."

Auk has four goals and 17 points this season, both career highs.

Both defensemen have learned how to use their skills to contribute to the Huskies outstanding regular season in their own way.

"Both of them continue to play well defensively," said Pearson. "The way the game is going, you need players who can help create offense from the blue line and they both can do that."

Daver Karnosky of the Daily Mining Gazette is featuring key stories for MichiganTechHuskies.com leading into the 2016 WCHA Final Five. Read more stories by the Tech beat writer at MiningGazette.com.