MARQUETTE, Mich. - After their opening weekend of Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, the Northern Michigan University hockey program will host Upper Peninsula rival, Lake Superior State, in a pair of non-conference games. Game one between the Wildcats and Lakers is set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday, January 8, followed by a 6:07 p.m. start the following evening.

All games will be streamed live on the web (flohockey.tv) and fans can listen to Dave Danis on the call at 100.3 The Point or at rrnsports.com.

This week's release is brought to you by RRN and 100.3 The Point. 

WEEKLY NOTES

AGAINST THE LAKERS

In 131 all-time meetings between the Wildcats and Lakers, NMU owns a 74-44-13 record. Not recently, the two teams split a weekend series in Sault St. Marie, with Lake Superior State capturing the coveted Cappo Cup, winning the goal differential by one. The winner of the regular season series each year is awarded the Cappo Cup, given annually since the 1994-95 season. The first installment was awarded by the late Monsignor Louis Cappo in 1991. 

Six current Wildcats found success against LSSU last season including Joseph Nardi who posted two goals in a 5-1 victory Saturday night. Fellow senior Brandon Schultz led the team in points that weekend, picking up three assists over the two-game series. Griffin Loughran also posted a goal while Grant Loven, Vincent de Mey and Ty Readman all added assists on night two.

FOLLOW ALONG

Social Media: https://twitter.com/NMU_Wildcats and https://twitter.com/NMUHockey

Live Stats (Fri.): https://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mice/2020-21/boxscores/20201230_0ess.xml

Live Stats (Sat.): https://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mice/2020-21/boxscores/20210102_f195.xml

Radio: http://www.rrnsports.com/

Video: http://share.flosports.tv/SHI1

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats opened their 2020-21 conference schedule with a home series against then-fifth ranked Minnesota State, Jan. 2-3. NMU was swept in the series, being shutout both nights after being unable to break the Maverick netminding in either game.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• AJ Vanderbeck ranks third in the nation in goals per game, averaging 0.83 off five goals in just six games. His teammate Vincent de Mey is tied for ninth in the nation with a 0.67 goals per game average.

• Joseph Nardi's two game-winning goals is tied for 6th among Division I players.

THANK YOU, TIM MCINTOSH

On Tuesday, January 5, a voice synonymous with NMU Hockey announced his retirement. Serving as the PA announcer since 1976, Tim McIntosh spent 44 years announcing Wildcat hockey games and his legendary "WWWWILDCAT GOAL" will forever ring through the Berry Events Center. Northern Michigan University Athletics and the NMU Hockey program wish to thank Tim for his years of dedication to their program.

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.

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.

FRESH FACES

The Wildcats add 13 new faces to the team in 2020-21, including transfers David Keefer, Connor Ryckman, and Alex Frye. 

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.

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.

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.

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.