MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University hockey program returns to the Berry Events Center, Nov. 5-6, when they host longtime rival Boston University. In their first meeting in Wildcat country since 1988 when NMU topped the Terriers 7-3 in front of a large home crowd. 

The 2021 weekend series will serve as a celebration of 30 years since the 1991 NCAA Championship game between the Wildcats and Terriers. The team will be honored with an on-ice recognition during the first intermission of Saturday night's game.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:37 p.m. both nights.

The Landmark Inn will be hosting a fourth period party following Saturday night's game (Nov. 6).

AGAINST THE TERRIERS

The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Terriers, 7-3-2, with the last matchup between the two squads taking place back in Oct. 2019 that saw the 'Cats win by a score of 4-3.  

Two current Wildcats highlighted in the game, Joseph Nardi who had one assist and Vincent de Mey who scored twice throughout three periods. De Mey scored the Wildcats' fourth goal of the night in the third period, which cemented the victory.  

NMU goaltender Nolan Kent was a key asset to the game, recording 27 saves on 30 total shots.

Arguably their most notable meeting came at the St. Paul Civic Center in 1991 when the two teams battled to a triple overtime thriller of the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship. The Wildcats came out victorious when Darryl Plandowski found the back of the net in the third overtime period to cement the victory and lift NMU to its first ice hockey championship in program history.

FOLLOW ALONG

Live Stats: 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

NMU is returning back home after falling short to Minnesota State, the third ranked team in the country. 

Sophomore goaltender Rico DiMatteo recorded a career high night in saves on Friday, with 43 saves over three periods of play.  

Sophomore forward, Mikey Collela, had one of the Wildcats two goals Friday night with Hank Crone on the assist. The only goal was scored by senior forward Vincent de Mey with Mikey Collela and Trevor Cosgrove assisting on the play.

'CAT FACTS

• Junior forward AJ Vanderbeck and Mikey Colella are tied for third in the conference in goals with 5.
• Senior forward Hampus Eriksson is tied for fifth in the conference in assists with 7.
• The Wildcats have two of the league's top-nine scorers in Vanderbeck and Hank Crone.
• Senior forward Vincent de Mey skated in his 100th career game with the 'Cats on Friday night.
• Senior forward Eriksson's seven assists over seven games has given him a national ranking of 14th for total assists and 13th for assists per game.
• The Wildcat team leaders in goals, Colella and Vanderbeck, are tied for 14th in the nation in goals scored.
• Senior defenseman Ben Newhouse is second in the conference in blocked shots with 21.
• Rico DiMatteo had a career high saves this past Friday night with 43 over three periods of play.

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 156 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.