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MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Wildcats are back from their time on the road and set for their last home series against the Ferris State Bulldogs to conclude regular season play. Before puck drop Saturday, NMU Athletics will be honoring the seniors of NMU Hockey. 
 
Puck drop is set for Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, is set for 6:37 p.m EST. before another 6:37 p.m. start the following evening.
 
At the conclusion of Saturday's game, we encourage fans to join the NMU Hockey team for a fourth-period party at Hudson's Classic Grill & Bar.
 
AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
Northern Michigan has gone 70-30-6 with conference foe Ferris State. NMU has taken the win on the last 16 games played against them. The last time the 'Cats played the 'Dogs was a road series in Big Rapids back in November 2021 where the team swept. The Wildcats won big Friday 6-3 and competed hard Saturday for a 7-6 OT win off just 18 shots on goal. During the series, a total of 13 goals were scored and 13 'Cats added tallies to the point column. Leading the Wildcats in points were Vincent de Mey and Hank Crone with six and four, respectively. 
 
This series was huge for two Wildcats in particular. Oscar Geschwind not only tallied his first points as a Wildcat with two assists Friday but also scored his first collegiate goal Saturday. Alongside him, Mack Byers also put up his first collegiate goal Saturday. 
 
The Wildcats also played a huge defensive game during the series. Friday they killed off all four penalties and killed off four of the five Saturday.   
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary
Radio: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/wupt
Video: https://www.flohockey.tv/
Twitter: @NMUHockey
Instagram: @nmu_hockey
Facebook: NMU Hockey
TikTok: @nmuhockey
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats are coming home off a huge sweep against Bowling Green State University in a critical conference series. The 'Cats won big Friday 6-3 and concluded Saturday with a 4-2 win. Alex Frye put the first Wildcat goal in the back of the net just 2:15 into the game. Hampus Erikkson put up a huge short-handed goal in the third and the deal was sealed with an empty-net goal by Hank Crone. Charlier Glockner also contributed to the sweep with some incredible saves. Between his 33 saves Friday and 34 Saturday he totaled 67 saves while only letting five past. 
 
The team will now go into the home series 17-13-1 overall, 11-12-1-1 in conference play, and 11-7-1 on home ice. The Wildcats still sit at sixth in the conference but hope to move up after this weekend's series.
 
'CAT FACTS

• Vanderbeck is tied for second nationally in goals with 20. His 138 shots are also nationally ranked first.
• Hank Crone owns 26 assists in 26 games played is ranked third nationally. His 37 points also stand at seventh in the world of DI collegiate hockey with 11 goals and 26 assists.
• Averaging 1.42 points per game, Crone is third in the nation in the category. 
• With 97 blocks in 31 games played, Ben Newhouse leads the nation in the category. Fellow Wildcat blue liner Michael Van Unen sits in 14 nationally with 56 blocks.
• Having skated in 169 consecutive games, Joseph Nardi became NMU's all-time leader in games played in game one at Lake Superior State University. He now sits second overall among all active collegiate skaters. Hampus Eriksson, who transferred to NMU from LSSU before this season ranks 18th in games played with 155. Trevor Cosgrove hit the 150-game milestone in game two against the Lakers.
• Vanderbeck's eight goals on the man advantage rank him tied for fifth nationally in power-play goals.
• Erikkson and Crone are tied for 16 nationally for shorthanded goals, as they are the only ones for NMU.
• Mikey Colella's 15 goals ranked 19 overall.
• Andre Ghantous' 23 assists are the 14th-best in the nation.
• The team is averaging 3.52 goals per game is sixth nationally among all DI teams and second in the CCHA.

HOBEY BAKER NOMINEES 
This year for Northern the team has two Hobey Baker Candidates, Seniors Joseph Nardi, and Hank Crone. Captain Joseph Nardi is notable for this record-breaking 170 consecutive games played. During his time at NMU, he has also led the nation in face-off wins. Hank Crone can currently be found on multiple leader boards for the nation including his total assists. 
 
Voting can be done once a day and is being held until March 6. Be sure to cast your votes for the Wildcats at hobeybaker.com/vote. 
 
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).
 
During the Colgate series, the 'Cats added another new face to the ice. Freshman Jakob Peterson made his collegiate debut on Friday after coming straight from Amarillo (NAHL). Peterson is a 6'3 defender from Marquette.
 
Days after the Bemidji road series the Wildcats signed on Braden Golisek. Golisek was signed on and dressed for the series against Michigan Tech. He is a 5'10" goaltender from Marquette. 
 
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 169 straight games, he is the NMU all-time leader in consecutive 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.
 
MASK UP
Northern requires a mask to be worn by all individuals, vaccinated and not vaccinated, whenever inside an NMU facility. This includes all areas of all university facilities, including all indoor athletic venues. The only exception is when an individual is actively eating or drinking.
The masking requirement includes all visitors and groups on campus.
 
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, its first 25-win season since 2001-02, and advanced to the WCHA Championship game.
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