MARQUETTE, Mich. – After an opening weekend sweep, the Wildcats continue their home stand with a pair of games Oct. 15-16 against the USNTDP and University of Notre Dame. 

The Wildcats face the national team U-18 program Friday in an exhibition contest scheduled for 6:37 p.m. before hosting the Fighting Irish the following evening with puck drop set for the same time.

AGAINST THE USNTDP

This will be the 10th meeting between the Wildcats and the U-18 team, with NMU boasting a 7-1-1 record all-time against the USHL program. 

The two teams last met in 2019 when the Wildcats traveled to Plymouth, Mich. for an exhibition matchup before the start of their season. The 'Cats defeated the national team, 4-3, including a goal from current Wildcat, Andre Ghantous, his first in an NMU sweater.

The national team was founded in 1996 "to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on the U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers" as stated in their mission. Having relocated from Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2015, the team now competes as a member of the USHL with USA Hockey Arena serving as their home ice.

AGAINST NOTRE DAME

NMU and ND are 21-25-8 all-time, including the Irish holding a narrow edge in Marquette as the Wildcats trail the series 9-11-4. The two teams most recently met in 2019 when NMU traveled to Compton Family Ice Arena for a midweek contest with the Irish, ultimately dropping the contest in overtime, 2-1. 

It's been nearly a decade since the teams have met in Marquette, dating back to the final season in the original CCHA in October 2012.

Saturday's contest will mark just their second meeting as non-conference foes.  

FOLLOW ALONG

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

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LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats posted 12 goals on newcomer University of St. Thomas over the weekend in their opening series. NMU opened their season with a 4-1 victory over the Tommies before a five-goal third period Saturday night lifted them to an 8-3 win and weekend sweep. 

Seven individuals highlighted the box score in the series, lighting the lamp a combined 12 times with five netting multiple goals on the weekend. With the first goal in the new CCHA era, Mikey Colella also found the empty net Friday night for a two-goal game. Rylan Van Unen  found the back of the net in both contests, doubling his goal total from his rookie campaign in just two games played this season. David Keefer also beat the UST netminder on two occasions for a two-game goal streak.

The team's leader in goals in 2020-21, AJ Vanderbeck, net two on Saturday night, as well as his linemate Hank Crone who scored his first two as a Wildcat. 

Sophomore netminder Rico DiMatteo picked up his first two wins of the season, improving his overall record to 9-6-1 and a .908 save percentage.

'CAT FACTS

• Seven individuals found the back of the net in the Wildcats' opening series against UST, including five with multi-goal outings. 

• Rico DiMatteo backstopped the Wildcats to a 2-0-0 start, boasting a save percentage of .900 while stopping 35 of 39 shots faced.
• Three skaters made their mark on the box score in their first weekend as a Wildcat, including Hank Crone (2-2-4), Hampus Eriksson (0-4-4) and Trevor Cosgrove (1-0-1).
• Now the program's all-time leader in consecutive games played, Joseph Nardi also tallied his 100th career point with the primary assist on the first goal of the season Friday night. 

ON THE RETURNERS

With 83.25 percent of their overall scoring returning in 2021-22, including all four of their top goal-scorers in AJ Vanderbeck, Joseph Nardi, Andre Ghantous and Vincent de Mey, the Wildcats look to be in good shape heading into the new season.

The team returns 68 of last year's 79 goals this coming season for over 85 percent return rating as three double-digit goal scorers will return to the ice for the Wildcats this season. Sophomore Vanderbeck led NMU in goals scored last year, netting 14 in 29 games played, while adding 13 helpers for 27 total points. Senior Nardi and fellow sophomore Ghantous also scored double-digit goals in 2020-21, scoring 12 and 10, respectively, as the linemates prepare for another impressive season.

A captain in 2020-21, Nardi led the team in points and assists, recording a career-best 33 points during the condensed season.

A slew of veterans will take the ice for the team this season as they return 14 forwards, six defensemen and two netminders, all of whom saw the ice in 2020-21.

FRESH FACES

The Wildcats added seven new faces during the off-season, including four forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender. Four individuals have experience at the Division I level as Hank Crone and Bo Hanson come to Marquette from Denver (NCHC), Trevor Cosgrove joins the Wildcats from Colgate (ECAC) and Hampus Erikkson, having played in the Berry Events Center mulitple times in his collegiate career, joins the ranks of NMU centers after four years at rival Lake Superior State University (WCHA).

IRONMAN

Having never missed a tilt, Nardi prepares to lace up his skates in his 150th career game when he steps onto the ice for the first time in 2021-22. The NCAA faceoff leader last season, he sits at 99 career points heading into the new season, including a career-best season last year which saw him record 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 total points.

PRESEASON RANKINGS

The Wildcats, having come one win shy of the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament, were picked to finish fourth in the CCHA as announced by the conference in late September.

2021-22 CAPTAINS

Joseph Nardi and Ben Newhouse will renew their leadership roles this season as Nardi enters his second year as captain and third with a letter adorning his sweater. This will be Newhouse's second season as an alternate captain.

MASK UP

Northern requires a mask to be worn by all individuals, vaccinated and not vaccinated, whenever inside an NMU facility. This includes all areas of all university facilities, including all indoor athletic venues. The only exception is when an individual is actively eating or drinking.

The masking requirement includes all visitors and groups on campus.

YEAR FIVE UNDER COACH POTULNY

Wildcat head coach Grant Potulny enters his fifth season behind the Wildcat bench. In four previous seasons with the team, and 149 games at the helm of the Wildcats, Coach Potulny boasts a 75-54-10 record and has led the team to two 20+ win seasons in his four seasons at NMU. Last season, Potulny led his Wildcat squad to its third WCHA semifinal in four years, as well as their second appearance in the tournament championship game during his tenure. 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.