MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Undefeated in their last six contests, the Wildcats head to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with a vengeance against Lake Superior State University and a talented depth to back it up. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association foes are set for a two-game series in the Eastern U.P., Dec. 10-11.

Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday night, before a 6:07 p.m. start Saturday.

AGAINST THE LAKERS
The Wildcats travel to LSSU, looking to avenge their WCHA Championship loss last season, their most recent meeting. Last season, the Lakers had NMU's numbers, as the Wildcats went 1-3-0 against their U.P. foe in the regular season, including two tight overtime battles.
 
The last time NMU traveled to Sault Ste. Marie, the Wildcats walked away with a 4-3 overtime victory to earn the weekend split. Wildcat netminder Rico DiMatteo made his debut in net that night, stopping 34 shots en route to his first career win.

AJ Vanderbeck net his first career hat trick in the victory, including the overtime game-winner. After a previous Vanderbeck goal was overturned during the extra session, he came out firing on his next shift and sent one home for the game-clinching tally. Andre Ghantous also had a goal in the contest.

Five current Wildcats had an assist in the game, including NMU forward Hampus Eriksson who recorded a primary assist against his current team as a member of the Lakers' squad.

Multiple Wildcats have found success against the Lakers in their early careers. David Keefer net the first goal of his career against LSSU while Joseph Nardi, Alex Frye, and Connor Marritt all picked up their first career points (assists) against the Lakers as well.

All-time, the Wildcats own a 75-48-13 record over the Lakers but are 28-31-8 in road contests.


FOLLOW ALONG
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LAST TIME OUT
NMU is coming off a recent sweep of then-top ranked Minnesota Duluth on home ice, Dec. 3-4. The Wildcats put up 10 goals on the nation's best defense on paper, a team that was averaging just 1.25 goals against all season. NMU now sits second nationally in goals scored (71) and have the third-best scoring offense, averaging 4.18 goals per game in 2021-22. 

Eleven Wildcats highlighted the box score over the two-game stretch, including Bo Hanson who scored his first goal as a Wildcat in Saturday's contest. 

Hank Crone led the team in points over the weekend series, recording a goal and five assists for six points. Boasting 27 total points now on the season, the junior forward currently leads the nation.

Trevor Cosgrove also had a career-night in Friday's game, picking up a goal and two assists for a career-best three point night. The senior was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week following the series.

Rico DiMatteo, who tallied an assist on the game-winner Friday night, finished the weekend with 57 saves, improving his season record to 10-5-1.


'CAT FACTS

• Following their weekend sweep over then top-ranked UMD, the Wildcats cracked the USCHO top-20, coming in at 19th overall. It is their first appearance in the national poll since February 2020.
• The Wildcats' 4.18 goals per game ranks third in the nation while their 71 total goals is second nationally behind Michigan with 75.
• With 183 total points among the student-athletes, NMU ranks third in the category as well as third in power play goals with 20.
• The Wildcats are fifth in team assists with 1120 helpers and their strong power play unit operates at a nation's fifth-best 27.4 percent.
• In scoring, Hank Crone leads the nation with 27 total points. AJ Vanderbeck (22) and Andre Ghantous (19) sit eighth and 20th, respectively.
• Vanderbeck's 14 goals is second among all Division I players while Colella's 11 ranks sixth in the country.
• Crone's 20 assists is second best on the national scale and Ghantous, who is second on the team with 13, ranks 12th overall.
• Averaging 1.59 points per game, Hank Crone currently sits third in the nation in the category. His linemate Vanderbeck's 1.29 pts./gm is good for 19th overall.
• Firing 66 shots on goal thus far, Vanderbeck sits second nationally in the category and is 25th in game-winners with two.
• His six power play goals is fourth overall and Colella's three ranks him among the top-25 at 25th nationally. 
• With a historically strong defensive duo, the Wildcats have two blueliners currently in the top-five of blocked shots. Ben Newhouse leads the nation with 57 total while Mike Van Unen's 37 blocked shots is fifth best.
• Joseph Nardi owns 185 faceoff wins this season for 10th most in the country.
• Nardi, having never missed a contest, currently leads all active collegiate skaters with 166 games played and tied the NMU record for career games as a Wildcat.

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 multiple 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 166 straight games, he is the NMU all-time leader in consecutive games played. Last Saturday, he tied Darryl Plandowski's record of all-time games played at NMU. He also leads all active NCAA Division I skaters in career 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.

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.