MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team returns to the road with a weekend trip to Bemidji, Minnesota where they look to avenge last year's losses to the Beavers of Bemidji State University, Feb. 12-13.

Game one of the conference series begins at 8:07 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, before concluding their regular season series at 7:07 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13.

WEEKLY NOTES

AGAINST THE BEAVERS

All-time, the Beavers hold the edge over the Wildcats, as NMU has a 6-14-5 record over their WCHA foe, BSU. On the road the Wildcats are 4-8-4 against the Beavers.

Last season the Wildcats were swept in their two-game series with their conference rival. Former NMU star Darien Craighead scored the lone Wildcat goal while current skaters Griffin Loughran and Ty Readman picked up assists.

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/20210212_cmnw.xml

Live Stats (Sat.): https://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mice/2020-21/boxscores/20210213_3iyw.xml

Radio: http://www.rrnsports.com/

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

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats are coming off a weekend split at Lake Superior State University in which the teams each took an overtime victory.

After leading by two goals in the second period, the Wildcats were sent to overtime where the Lakers won game one, finding the back of the net with 3.2 seconds to play in the extra session.

History looked to repeat itself as the Wildcats succumbed another two-goal lead late in Sunday's contest, but AJ Vanderbeck highlighted the night, picking up his first-career hat-trick and scoring the game-winner in OT to earn the split. 

Nine Wildcats found their way onto the box score, including five individuals with multi-point weekends. Andre Ghantous' five-point weekend (1-4-5) off a four-assist night in game one led all NMU skaters while Vanderbeck's three goals was a team-high. He also recorded an assist in the first game to finish the weekend with four points (3-1-4). Joseph Nardi had two goals on Saturday, finishing the weekend with four points (2-2-4). Griffin Loughran and Alex Frye each picked up a goal and an assist at LSSU for the multi-point performances.

With the lone assist on Vanderbeck's second goal of Sunday's contest, Connor Marritt tallied his first collegiate point.

The Wildcat newcomer, Rico DiMatteo made his collegiate debut between the pipes on Sunday, recording his first collegiate win in the process.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 15th -- With 19 points in 16 games played (7-12-19), the Wildcats leading scorer, Nardi ranks 15th nationally in points per game, averaging 1.19.
• 17th -- His team-leading nine goals this season puts Vanderbeck 17th in the nation in goals per game (0.56).
• 19th -- Two Wildcats sit tied for 19th nationally in assists per game as both Nardi and Ghantous are averaging 0.75 apples per game. Nardi leads the team with 12 while Ghantous boasts nine through his 12 games played.
• 20th -- Picking up the game-winning goal Sunday, Vanderbeck is now tied with teammate Nardi for 20th among all Division I skaters with two apiece.

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.

2020-21 AWARD WINNERS

Following their performance against FSU in late January, both Griffin Loughran and Tim Erkkila were named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Players of the Week. Loughran registered five points on the weekend, leading the league in the category, while Erkkila recorded his first career point in game one before a two-assist night on Saturday for the first multi-point game of his career.

ON THE RETURNERS

NMU brings back 17 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 14 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 five 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.

2020-21 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.