Photo courtesy of Isaiah Vazquez

MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey program is set for a WCHA semifinal matchup with MacNaughton Cup winners Minnesota State University - Mankato Friday, March 19 at 2:07 p.m. CT. The host Mavericks swept their WCHA quarterfinals with Ferris State University while the Wildcats took the 2-1 series win on the road at 13th-ranked Bowling Green State University to advance to the semifinals.

The winner will then face the winner of Friday night's semifinal contest between Lake Superior State University and Bemidji State University on Saturday, March 20 at 7:07 p.m. CT.

All games can be streamed live with a flohockey.tv subscription or on heard on the radio via rrnsports.com and 100.3 The Point.

WEEKLY NOTES

AGAINST THE MAVERICKS

The Wildcats and Mavericks previously met to open their WCHA schedules with a home series in Marquette. It was MSU coming out on top, taking the series 2-0.

All-time, the Wildcats are 4-17-3 against the Mavericks, including 2-10 in Mankato. 

This will be the two teams' second meeting in the WCHA Tournament, having previously met in a first round matchup in March 2014.

AGAINST THE LAKERS

The Wildcats and Lakers have met four times this season, having most recently split their WCHA series with a pair of overtime games. 

After allowing a goal with 3.2 seconds remaining in overtime of game one, the Wildcats bounced back for an extra session victory of their own Saturday night.

AJ Vanderbeck tallied the game-winner at 3:54 of the overtime frame to pick up his first collegiate hat trick. He finished the weekend with four points off three goals and an assist, second only to Andre Ghantous who had five with a goal and four assists.

Joseph Nardi also had four points on the weekend, accounting for two goals and two assists.

All-time the Wildcats own a 75-47-13 record over the Lakers.

AGAINST THE BEAVERS

All-time, the Wildcats and Beavers have met on 25 occasions with BSU holding the edge as NMU trails the series 8-15-6.

Most recently, the Wildcats swept their conference series with the Beavers, including a 5-1 win Friday night before a 3-2 overtime victory the following evening.

Andre Ghantous, who was named WCHA Forward of the Week following the series at BSU, led the team in points with a goal and four assists while his linemate Joseph Nardi picked up four points off two goals and two assists.

The Wildcats two shorthanded goals thus far in 2020-21 came in game one at BSU, with Ghantous and Garrett Klee both scoring on the same penalty partway through the third period.

Ben Newhouse was the hero in Saturday's contest, netting the game-winning goal in overtime to earn the weekend sweep.

Rico DiMatteo played his first full collegiate series starting both games for the Wildcats in Bemidji. With 47 saves in two games, the rookie posted a .940 save percentage and earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.

FOLLOW ALONG

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

Radio: http://www.rrnsports.com/

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

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats are coming off a road series win at No. 13 Bowling Green State University where the team advanced to the WCHA Semifinals following a 5-1 victory in game three of the WCHA Quarterfinals to take the 2-1 series win.

In three games, 12 Wildcats highlighted the box score, including six with multiple points. Mikey Colella net three goals in the best-of-three series, including the game-winner on Sunday evening to send his team on to the semifinal round. He also scored on the powerplay in the third period for the first multi-goal game of his career. 

AJ Vanderbeck led the team in total points in the weekend series, tallying four assists.

Rico DiMatteo went 2-1 on the weekend, stopping 107 shots faced while owning a .930 save percentage.

CAT FACTS

• Ben Newhouse leads the NCAA in blocked shots, having stopped 85 this season before getting to the net. The senior boasted 14 blocked shots in the Wildcats' WCHA Quarterfinals series at BGSU last weekend.

• A centreman from Edmonton, Alberta, Joseph Nardi leads the nation in faceoffs won. The captain owns a 2020-21 faceoff record of 380-289.

• Following their best-of-three series win at BGSU, the Wildcats have now advanced to the WCHA Semifinals in three of Coach Potulny's four years.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 8th -- Joseph Nardi scored a goal and an assist at Bowling Green, moving him to eighth overall with 30 total points this year (11-19-30).

• 8th -- Andre Ghantous' 0.78 assists per game ranks eighth in the nation.

• 9th -- Nardi's 19 assists is 9th in the NCAA.

• 11th -- With 18 assists this season, Ghantous ranks 11th nationally.

• 14th -- With their pair of shorthanded goals at BSU, Ghantous and Garrett Klee are tied for 14th nationally in the category.

• 15th -- AJ Vanderbeck's three game-winning goals ranks 15th best in the nation.

• 18th -- Nardi's 1.11 points per game off 30 points in 27 games played ranks 18th in the nation.

• 18th -- Vanderbeck's 12 goals is 18th best in the NCAA.

• 21st -- Nardi is averaging 0.70 assists per game, for 21st in the nation.

• 22nd -- In 23 games played, Ghantous' 1.09 points per game (7-18-25) is 22nd-best in the NCAA.

• 22nd -- Ghantous' 25 points in 2020-21 ranks 22nd nationally.

• 22nd -- Rico DiMatteo recorded his first career shutout in game one against BGSU, ranking 22nd in the nation among all netminders.

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

Last week the WCHA announced its all-league teams, featuring three Wildcats among the conference's best. Joseph Nardi was awarded second-team honors, ranking second in the league in scoring with 28 points and 18 assists. Andre Ghantous was named to the third-team All-WCHA as the league's leading scorer with 20 conference points (6-14-20) and earning multiple player of the week/month honors. The final Wildcat honoree was Rico DiMatteo who joined the team at the halfway point of the season. The goaltender from Brasher Falls, New York had previously been named rookie of the week following his performance at Bemidji State.

Ghantous was named WCHA Forward of the Month (February) following his improbable success on the Wildcats' top line. The sophomore forward tallied 16 points in 10 games played last month, including five goals and 11 assists, en route to the honors. His 11 assists was a league best along with his 16 points while ranking second in the nation for points and first in assists.

Andre Ghantous (forward) and Rico DiMatteo (rookie) were named players of the week following the team's weekend sweep of then-17th ranked Bemidji State in mid-February. Ghantous led both the team and league in points (5) and assists (4) over the weekend and was second nationally in both categories as well. DiMatteo continued his impressive start to his collegiate career between the pipes, remaining undefeated in his first three games with a pair of wins over the Beavers. He made 47 saves on 50 shots faced in the two-game stretch while boasting a 1.46 goals against average and .940 save percentage.

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.