MARQUETTE, Mich. - The field is set and the Northern Michigan University hockey program will face Bowling Green State University on the road for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Postseason Quarterfinals.

The first two games of the best-of-three series are set for 7:07 p.m. puck drops on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13. A third game, if necessary, will take place at 5:07 p.m. on Sunday, March 14.

All games can be streamed live with a flohockey.tv subscription or catch Dave Danis on the call via rrnsports.com and 100.3 The Point.

WEEKLY NOTES

AGAINST THE FALCONS

The two teams most recently met in Marquette, Michigan where the Wildcats went 0-1-1 against the Falcons. With a shootout victory in Friday night's contest, NMU picked up two league points in the weekend series.

Rico DiMatteo registered a career-high 36 saves in his game one shutout, the first of his career, while stopping all six attempts by the opposition in the shootout to grab the extra point.

FOLLOW ALONG

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

Live Stats: https://bgsufalcons.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary

Radio: http://www.rrnsports.com/

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

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats concluded their regular season with a home-and-home tilt against Michigan Technological University in which the team fell to the Huskies in overtime to wrap up the 2020-21 regular season.

After the Huskies struck twice on the power play Saturday night, the Wildcats fought back, forcing the overtime session with a pair of goals late in the third. Ultimately, MTU took the victory and moved into a tie with NMU in the WCHA standings. 

Rylan Van Unen scored his first collegiate goal in the overtime game, scoring the first Wildcat goal of the night with an assist to his twin brother Mike. 

NMU now awaits their fate in the WCHA postseason tournament as the final week of the regular season plays out.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• 8th -- Joseph Nardi posted an assist in the Wildcats' weekend series against MTU, moving him to eighth overall with 28 total points this year (10-18-28).

• 9th -- Nardi's 18 assists is 9th in the NCAA.

• 10th -- Andre Ghantous' 0.80 assists per game ranks 10th in the nation.

• 11th -- Vanderbeck's three game-winning goals ranks 11th best in the nation.

• 13th -- With their pair of shorthanded goals at BSU, Ghantous and Garrett Klee are tied for 13th nationally in the category.

• 13th -- Nardi is averaging 0.75 assists per game, for 13th-best in the nation.

• 14th -- AJ Vanderbeck's 12 goals is 14th best in the NCAA.

• 14th -- Nardi's 1.17 points per game off 28 points in 24 games played ranks 14th in the nation.

• 15th -- With 16 assists, Ghantous currently sits 15th nationally in total assists.

• 16th -- In 18 games played, Ghantous' 1.15 points per game (7-16-23) is 16th-best in the NCAA.

• 20th -- Rico DiMatteo recorded his first career shutout in game one against BGSU, ranking 20th in the nation among all netminders.

• 23rd -- Vanderbeck's 12 goals in 24 goals played is 23rd nationally in goals per game (0.50).

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

The most recent Wildcat award winners include Andre Ghantous (forward) and Rico DiMatteo (rookie) as 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.