Michigan Tech goalie Blake Pietila stops a shot during the Huskies’ game against Boston College on Friday during the NCAA Tournament regional played in Providence, R.I. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Michigan Tech’s 2023-24 hockey season came to an end Friday afternoon in the NCAA Providence regional semifinal as the No. 20-ranked Huskies fell 6-1 to No. 1 Boston College. The Eagles scored four goals in the third period to break the game open.

“I’m extremely proud of our group. There’s some heartbreak in our locker room,” Tech head coach Joe Shawhan said. “We play for more than just the people in our locker room. We have a huge community behind us and generations of fans who travel to see us play.

“Congratulations to BC. They are a tremendous team. You can see that if you lose your focus a little, it doesn’t take them much to pounce on you.”

The Huskies got behind only 36 seconds into the game when the nation’s leading goal scorer, Cutter Gauthier, got loose on a breakaway for his 36th tally of the season. It was the fourth straight game the opposing team scored first — but like the previous three, Tech maintained its composure.

Tech was called for a penalty 12:02 in and the Huskies’ Max Koskipirtti stole the puck in the neutral zone and went in on a shorthanded breakaway, sniping past the glove of BC goaltender Jacob Fowler to tie the game. The unassisted tally was Koskipirtti’s fourth of the season and the second shorthanded goal of the season by the Huskies.

“We knew we could play with them,” MTU alternate captain Kyle Kukkonen said. “Shots were relatively even after that first. There was a lot of belief in our locker room and that was the theme for the day.

“I think we showed that we can compete with those skilled players with our style of hockey.”

Ryan Leonard gave BC the lead back with a rebound goal from Jack Malone and Aidan Hreschuk 6:57 into the second.

The Huskies controlled possession in the second period, looking for the equalizer. Tyrone Bronte was hit in front of the BC bench, drawing a penalty that was upgraded to five-minute major. The Eagles were able to kill it off as Fowler made 13 saves in the middle frame.

The Eagles’ Connor Joyce made it a two-goal game 4:47 into the third when he finished off a backdoor pass from Jack Malone and Eamon Powell.

BC found the back of the net moments later but the officials reversed their call after a shot deflected directly off a referee and into the net.

Oskar Jellvik scored on a breakaway at 6:24 for a three-goal lead.

BC (32-5-1) added a pair of power-play tallies to round out the scoring. Ryan Leonard found the back of the net at 7:58 and Cutter Gauthier at 11:25.

The Eagles held a 38-24 advantage in shots on goal for the game, including a 17-3 margin in the third period.

Tech goaltender Blake Pietila made 32 saves in his final game. He now ranks second in school history with 3,365 career saves while holding school records with 142 games played, 76 wins and 24 shutouts.

Logan Pietila skated in his 180th career game Friday for the Huskies to tie the school record with Justin Misiak, who played at MTU from 2017-22.

Tech finished the season 19-15-6 overall. The Huskies won the 57th annual Great Lakes Invitational and the Mason Cup as CCHA playoff champions.