MARQUETTE, Mich. - A delay to the start of their season is no match for the Northern Michigan University hockey program as they look to take on a pair of in-state rivals this week. The Wildcats will open their season at home against the Bulldogs of Ferris State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, before a home-and-home battle with Michigan Tech, Dec. 18 in Houghton and Dec. 19 at home.
Wednesday's game agianst Ferris State marks 284 days since their last outting and the current team is out to avenge their heartbreaking triple-overtime end to their 2019-20 season.
WEEKLY NOTES
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AGAINST THE BULLDOGS |
All-time, the Wildcats lead the Bulldogs, 64-30-6, including a 37-16-2 record at home. Last season, NMU hosted FSU to close out the season series between the two, completing the 2019-20 campaign sweep with a pair of 5-2 victories. Two Wildcats caused hats to fly against the Bulldogs last season, when current junior Griffin Loughran registered three goals on the road and former Wildcat Darien Craighead posted a three-goal night in January en route to Player of the Month honors.
Twelve current team members highlighted the box score last season, including five goals in four games for Loughran. Junior goaltender Nolan Kent also picked up an assist against Ferris State, the second of his career while the leagues' leading rookie scorer in 2019-20, Andre Ghantous, tallied his first career goal and point.
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AGAINST THE HUSKIES |
Rivals NMU and MTU have met on 159 occasions, with the Wildcats holding the narrow edge in a 76-69-14 all-time record.
The Wildcats' final four games last season came against the Huskies, including a meeting in the 2019-20 WCHA Playoffs in which NMU hosted.
Last season, eight current Wildcats highlighted the box score against MTU including five with multiple points.
Griffin Loughran and Vincent de Mey both led the charge in points against the Huskies with four points over six games. Loughran found the back of the net three times while adding an assist and de Mey had a goal and three assists in 2019-20 against the foe. Nardi (1-2-3) and Brandon Schultz (0–3-3) both had three points apiece.
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FOLLOW ALONG |
Social Media: https://twitter.com/NMU_Wildcats and https://twitter.com/NMUHockey
Live Stats (vs. FSU): https://bit.ly/2JUDwBK
Live Stats (at MTU): https://bit.ly/3ac1jYC
Live State (vs. MTU): https://bit.ly/3a56dXc
Radio: http://www.rrnsports.com/
Video: http://share.flosports.tv/SHI1
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LAST TIME OUT |
The Wildcats' 2019-20 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion, falling in triple overtime to storied rival Michigan Tech. NMU hosted the Huskies for the WCHA Quarterfinals, battling it out to the bitter end for a chance to extend their season.
In the longest game in program history, and 17th longest all-time in the NCAA, then-sophomore goaltender stopped 32 shots, including 15 through the first two overtime periods while two Wildcat defensemen blocked six shots a piece.
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NATIONAL RANKINGS |
Despite not having played a game yet, the Wildcats have received votes each week of the 2020-21 USCHO polls.
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2019-20 AWARD WINNERS |
The Wildcats saw eight individuals honored with weekly league recognition on 12 occasions in 2019-20. Of those honorees, seven are back on the line chart for the coming season, for a total of 11 weekly honors as well as three WCHA Player of the Month recipients.
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ON THE RETURNERS |
NMU brings back 18 individuals who saw ice-time in the 2019-20 season, including all three goaltenders and three of its top-four scorers. The team returns 79 goals from the 2019-20 season as well as 219 points, including league-leading scorer Griffin Loughran who posted 39 points (23-16-39) as a sophomore.
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FRESH FACES |
The Wildcats add 13 new faces to the team in 2020-21, including transfers David Keefer and Connor Ryckman.
After sitting out the 2019-20 season due to transfer requirements, Keefer looks poised to make an impact on the offensive side of the puck while Ryckman will likely battle returning Wildcat goaltender Nolan Kent for the starting position.
Jett Jungels returns to the lineup having sat out last season due to injury. He will provide a veteran look to the rookie class.
Joining him at forward are seven others who all dominated at the junior level and look to contribute to the Wildcat offensive efforts early.
At the blue line, the Wildcats look to replace former All-American captain Phil Beaulieu as they welcome four fresh faces who hope to make an immediate impact to the defensive efforts.
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PRESEASON RANKINGS |
The Wildcats were pegged to finish fourth in the WCHA this season as voted on by the league's coaches in the 2020-21 WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll. The media picked Northern Michigan to finish fourth as well through the regular season, behind only unanimous favorite Minnesota State, Bemidji State and Bowling Green.
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2019-20 CAPTAINS |
A pair of seniors will lead the Wildcats in 2020-21 as Joseph Nardi was chosen as team captain after serving as an assistant last year, while Ben Newhouse will be the lone team alternate captain.
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YEAR FOUR UNDER COACH POTULNY |
Wildcat head coach Grant Potulny enters his fourth season behind the Wildcat bench. In three previous seasons with the team, Coach Potulny boasts a 64-47-9 record and has led the team to two 20+ win seasons in his three seasons at the helm. Last season the team ranked as high as 15th in the nation, their highest ranking under the current head coach. In his first season at the helm of the Wildcats, Potulny's team recorded a 25-15-3 season, it's first 25-win season since 2001-02 and advanced to the WCHA Championship game. the helm of the Wildcats, Potulny's team recorded a 25-15-3 season, it's first 25-win season since 2001-02 and advanced to the WCHA Championship game.
