MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Green and Gold make their much-awaited return to the ice this weekend as they begin the 2022-23 season at home in CCHA action against the Falcons of Bowling Green State.
NMU will play a Saturday-Sunday weekend series against BGSU to open up the new campaign. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, and again at 6:07 p.m. on Sunday, October 2.
Tickets can be purchased
HERE.
Follow Along
Make sure to follow @NMUHockey on Twitter to get updates throughout the week leading up to the games and for live updates while the 'Cats are in game action.
Saturday, October 1 at 6:07 PM
Live Stats
Video
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Game Notes
Sunday, October 2 at 6:07 PM
Live Stats
Video
Listen
Game Notes
A Look at the Wildcats
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.
Charlie Glockner returns in net after being named to the All-CCHA Rookie Team last season.
Andre Ghantous ranked in the top-10 in the CCHA last season with 26 assists.
A Look at Bowling Green
Nathan Burke (16 goals last season) and Taylor Schneider (22 assists, 30 points) highlight the key returners for the Falcons. Christian Stoever returns between the pipes, posting a 9-15-1 record last season with a 2.88 GAA, and .898 save percentage.
The two sides have met 124 times with a nearly even track record. NMU has 56 wins, BGSU has 57 wins, and they have tied 11 times. Last season, the 'Cats went 3-0-1 vs. the Falcons, outscoring them 19-11 while they took two wins on the road.
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 take part in the leadership group.
In the Polls
The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the CCHA Coaches' Preseason Poll. NMU recevied 61 points and two first-place votes. Minnesota State sits in first with 69 points and six first-place votes.
NMU is receiving votes in the first USCHO poll and is #20 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.
Roster Breakdown
The 30-man 2022-23 roster consists of eight seniors, ten juniors, three sophomores/redshirt freshmen, and nine 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 five different countries: United States, Canada, Hungary, Russia, and Sweden.
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.
Coach Potulny Interview
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 at NMU. 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 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.
