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MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University hockey team will head to Minnesota State for a Saturday (March 12) CCHA semifinals matchup with the nation's top-ranked team. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. CT (7:07 p.m. ET) from the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minn. 

The winner will advance to the CCHA Championship next Saturday (March 19) and will take on the winner of Bemidji State/Michigan Tech for the 2022 Mason Cup and the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. 

Minnesota State enters the game winners of 13 straight, with their last defeat coming at the hands of the Wildcats on Jan. 14 in Marquette. The Mavericks are the top-ranked team in the country in the USCHO.com poll, boasting a 33-5-0 overall mark this season. The Wildcats enter at 20-15-1 and have received votes in the most recent rankings. 
 
AGAINST THE MAVERICKS
The Wildcats are 7-21-3 all-time against Minnesota State, dating back to 2013. NMU met MSU in the postseason a year ago, as the 'Cats pulled out a 5-1 victory in Mankato in the semifinals. Andre Ghantous (2 goals), Alex Frye (1 goal, 1 assist), and AJ Vanderbeck (1 goal, 1 assist) each had two points for the Green and Gold. 
 
This season, Northern is 1-3 against Minnesota State. NMU lost 4-2 and 7-0 in Mankato this season. The teams split in Marquette, with the 'Cats taking a 4-2 win on Friday and the Mavericks bouncing back on Saturday with a 4-1 victory. Mikey Colella has recorded a goal and two assists against MSU on the 21-22 campaign. 
 
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 went to Lake Superior State in the first round of the CCHA playoffs, taking 2-of-3 to advance to the semifinals. NMU claimed victory in Game No. 1 with a 5-1 win. Alex Frye, AJ Vanderbeck, and Hampus Eriksson each registered a goal and an assist. NMU lost 3-2 on Saturday. Frye and Vanderbeck scored again for the 'Cats. 
 
In the winner-take-all game on Sunday, NMU scored four 2nd period goals to hold on for a 5-4 win. Alex Frye scored for the third straight night and AJ Vanderbeck added three assists. 
The team will now head into the semifinals with an overall record of 20-15-1.
 
'CAT FACTS

• AJ Vanderbeck is second in the nation/first in the CCHA with 24 goals and .69 goals per game.
• Hank Crone owns 31 assists in 31 games played, where his assists per game are good enough for second in the nation and tops in the CCHA. 
• Averaging 1.42 points per game, Crone is third in the nation and second in the CCHA in the category. Teammate AJ Vanderbeck follows in 9th in the nation and 5th in the CCHA  with 1.23.
• With 106 blocks in 36 games played, Ben Newhouse leads the nation in the category. Fellow blue liner Mike Van Unen sits in T-10th with 64 blocks.
• Having skated in 170 consecutive games, Joseph Nardi became NMU's all-time leader in games played in game one at Lake Superior State University. He now sits T-17th overall among all active collegiate skaters. Hampus Eriksson, who transferred to NMU from LSSU before this season ranks T-13th in games played with 171. 
• Vanderbeck's eight goals on the man advantage rank him T-8th nationally and first in the CCHA in power-play goals.
• Crone's 44 points off of 13 goals and 31 assists have him ranked T-5th in the nation.
• Vanderbeck's 43 points off 24 goals and 18 assists rank T-8th in the country.
• Andre Ghantous' 25 assists are the 13th-best in the nation.
• The team is averaging 3.61 goals per game, good for the seventh-best mark in the country.
• With 348 points and 218 assists this season, the Green and Gold rank 5th in the country in each category. 

 
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 leaderboards for the nation including his total assists. 

Voting is currently closed for the award, with the top ten finalists being announced on March 16. The voting will open back up on March 17. 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 Eriksson, 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 170 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.
 
YEAR FIVE UNDER COACH POTULNY
The 2021-22 season is the fifth for head coach Grant Potulny behind the Wildcat bench. In four previous seasons with the team and 149 games at the helm of the Wildcats, Coach Potulny boasts a 76-55-10 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.