Hockey 11/2/2022 9:12:00 AM

NMU Hockey Visits LSSU as Cappo Cup Season Series Begins

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team travels to Sault Ste. Marie for a weekend series against the Lakers. This series starts a stretch that sees only CCHA opponents until the end of the regular season.

The games will have implications aaon top of the CCHA standings, as the Cappo Cup is awarded each year to the season series winner between LSSU and NMU, given annually since the 1994-95 season.

The Wildcats (5-5, 1-1) and the Lakers (1-4-1, 0-0) are set to play Friday, November 4 at 7:07 p.m. and will close out the series on Saturday, November 5 at 6:07 p.m. from the Taffy Abel Arena. Friday's contest will be broadcast on FoxUP, with Dave Ellis and Jeremy Sampson on the call.

Follow Along

The 'Cats hosted the University of Alaska Fairbanks, splitting the weekend series with a 2-1 loss on Friday and a 3-2 win on Saturday. Josh Zinger recorded an assist on Friday and his first career goal on Saturday, AJ Vanderbeck notched two assists in Saturday's win, and goalie Beni Halasz posted a .913 SV% and a 2.02 GAA over the weekend, earning him CCHA Rookie of the Week.

Atop the Nation

After five weeks, NMU is 1st in the country in power-play goals (14), sixth in total goals scored (34), and 4th in faceoff win percentage (.565). Individually, AJ Vanderbeck is T3 for points (13) and game-winning goals (2), and T6 for goals (6). Andre Ghantous is T4 for assists (8) and Artem Shlaine is T7 in faceoffs won (99), clicking at 63%.

A Look at Lake State

The Lakers are 1-4-1 on the season, with their sole win coming from last weekend's split against Clarkston. They were swept by Michigan the weekend before and went 0-1-1 against Omaha earlier in the season.

Louis Boudon leads the Lakers in Goals (4) and points (7), and Jacob Bengtsson leads the team in assists (5).
Preseason Poll The Wildcats were picked to finish 2nd in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Coaches' Preseason Poll. NMU received 61 points and two first-place votes. Minnesota State was picked to win the CCHA.

Associate Head Coach Byron Pool Interview

Etched in History

With his start in net on October 8, 2022 at Colgate, Beni Halasz became the first Hungarian-born goaltender to play in an NCAA Division I game. Halasz shined with the opportunity, smothering 27 of 28 shots he faced for his first career win. He also helped kill 6 of 7 penalties in the contest.

Preseason Recognition

AJ Vanderbeck has been selected to the All-CCHA Preseason Team after earning Second Team honors last season. Vanderbeck had 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points. His 24 goals led the CCHA a season ago.

Freshman forward Joey Larson has been named the CCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year. Larson received Michigan's Mr. Hockey Award in 2019.

2022-23 Captains

AJ Vanderbeck and Tanner Vescio will represent the Wildcats with the Captain patch this season. Alternate captains David Keefer and Andre Ghantous will also participate in the leadership group.

Roster Breakdown

The 30-man 2022-23 roster consists of eight seniors, ten juniors, two sophomores, one redshirt freshman, and nine true freshmen. Four transfers join the 'Cats this season (Simon Kjellberg - RPI, Aiden Gallacher - Michigan State, Kristof Papp - Michigan State, and Artem Shlaine - Uconn).

The Wildcats represent the United States, Canada, Hungary, Russia, and Sweden.

Year Six for Coach Grant Potulny

Wildcat head coach Grant Potulny enters his sixth season behind the Wildcat bench. In five previous seasons with the team, Coach Potulny boasts a 95-80-11 record and has led the team to three 20+ win seasons in his five seasons. Last season, Potulny led his Wildcat squad to a 20-16-1 record, besting Lake Superior State in the CCHA Quarterfinals before falling in the Semifinals. In his first season at the helm, Potulny's team recorded a 25-15-3 season, its first 25-win season since 2001-02 when they advanced to the WCHA Championship game.

A Season Ago

NMU finished last season with a 20-16-1 record. Northern fell at Minnesota State in the CCHA Semifinals to end their season. The Wildcats went on the road in the Quarterfinals to take a best-of-three series from Lake Superior State.

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