MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Northern Michigan University hockey program returns to the ice this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Michigan Technological University Huskies, Nov. 12-13. 

Game one of the series will take place in Houghton, Mich. on Friday, Nov. 12, with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m.

The two teams then trek back to Marquette for a 6:37 p.m. puck drop the following night inside the Berry Events Center. Very few tickets remain for the student section.

Bennett Media will be Saturday night's game sponsor.

AGAINST THE HUSKIES

All-time, the Wildcats boast one more win than their rival Huskies in 165 contests, claiming victory in 76 contests while MTU owns 75 wins. The teams have tied a total of 15 times, including most recently when the Wildcats opened their preseason with an exhibition game against the Huskies in Houghton earlier this year.

The two teams opened their competitive seasons against each other in early October, skating to a 4-4 draw in exhibition play.

Four Wildcats found the back of the net in the contest, including the team's two leading goal scorers Mikey Colella and AJ Vanderbeck. Defenemsen Tanner Vescio and Trevor Cosgrove also lit the lamp en route to the tie.

FOLLOW ALONG

Live Stats (Fri.): https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2021-22/boxscores/20211112_t6el.xml
Live Stats (Sat.): https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary
Radio: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/wupt
Video: https://www.flohockey.tv/

Twitter: @NMUHockey
Instagram: @nmu_hockey
Facebook: NMU Hockey
TikTok: @nmuhockey
 

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats are coming off a weekend sweep over Boston University in which the team celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1991 NCAA championship team.

Nine individuals highlighted the box score over the two-game series, including Andre Ghantous who led the weekend with a goal and five assists for six total points.

Mikey Colella scored his first career hat trick on Saturday night while adding an assist in the second period for a four point night, also a career high. Defenseman Trevor Cosgrove also had a career-night with three points Saturday off a goal and two assists. 

With five points in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Terriers, Ghantous became the first NMU skater to post five points in a contest since Robbie Payne in 2016. 

The Wildcats went four-for six on the power play in game two to improve to a 31.7 percent success rate.

Following their weekend success, Colella and Cosgrove were both named Central Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Week.

'CAT FACTS

• The 'Cats scoring leaders, AJ Vanderbeck and Mikey Colella each boast eight goals this season and are tied for second nationally in the category.
• With 10 assists each, Hank Crone and Andre Ghantous both sit second in division I hockey in total assists. Hampus Eriksson's eight apples is 16th overall.
• Crone and Vanderbeck are tied for team-best in total points, each registering 13 through nine games played. The linemates are tied for eighth nationally in the category. Colella and Ghantous' 12 each is ranked 17th overall.
• The leaders in points are also tied for 13th in the nation in points per game with 1.44. Colella and Ghantous each have 12 points this year for an average of 1.33 per game, good for 23rd nationally.
• Vanderbeck's four goals on the power play ranks third in the nation and first in the CCHA.
• Ben Newhouse leads the nation in shots blocked, registering 32 on the season for an average of 3.56 blocks per game. 
• The Wildcats' 31.7 percent success rate on the power play ranks third in the nation.

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).

IRON MAN
Having never missed a tilt, Nardi laced up his skates in his 150th career game when the Wildcats opened their season against St. Thomas. The senior captain picked up the primary assist on the first goal of the night for his 100th career point. Skating in 158 straight games, he is the NMU all-time leader in consecutive games played.

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.