MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team welcomes the #19 Minnesota State Mavericks to the Berry Event Center for a weekend series to kick off the 2023 slate of games. Puck drops are set for Friday, January 6, at 7:07 PM and Saturday, January 7, at 6:07 PM. 

NMU is currently sixth in the CCHA standings with an 11-9-0 overall record and a 7-5-0 conference record, giving them 18 points. Mankato sits third in the CCHA with a 10-9-1 overall record and a 7-6-1 conference record, giving them 24 points.

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 on the ice. 

Friday, January 6 - vs Minnesota State at 7:07 PM
Tickets  |  Live Stats  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes (PDF)

Saturday, January 7 - vs Minnesota State at 6:07 PM
Tickets  |  Live Stats  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes (PDF)


Last Time Out
The Wildcats last took the ice on December 9 and 10 of 2022 when they visited the Ferris State Bulldogs and split the weekend series, dropping game one 5-2 and then winning game two 5-2. 

The Bulldogs started game one hot, chased Beni Halasz in under seven minutes in the first, and kept their foot on the gas for the rest of the game. Penalties plagued both teams in game one with each team committing seven, but the Wildcats did not convert on any of their opportunities. Kristof Papp posted two points, and David Keefer was dominant in the faceoff circle, going 13-16. 

Game two was a big turnaround on the scoresheet for the Wildcats as four 'Cats had multi-point nights, led by Andre Ghantous with two goals and an assist. Kristof Papp scored twice, Artem Shlaine assisted twice, and AJ Vanderbeck recorded one of each. In net, Beni Halasz bounced back and rejected 26 of 28 shots sent his way for the win. The 'Cats found a rhythm on the man advantage, converting on three of their six powerplay opportunities.


National Ranks
AJ Vanderbeck is T1 in short-handed goals (3), Vanderbeck and David Keefer are T5 in game-winning goals (3), Andre Ghantous is T9 in assists (16), Vanderbeck is T12 in points (24), Vanderbeck and Keefer are T16 in goals (11).

As a team, the Wildcats are third in faceoff win percentage (.559), fourth in faceoffs won (664), T5 in powerplay goals (22), and 11 in powerplay percentage (.247).


A Look at Minnesota State
The #19 Mavericks are currently on a skid going 2-5-1 in their last eight games, including getting swept at home against CCHA opponent Bemidji State in their last series before the holiday break. In the series earlier in the season, the Wildcats split in Mankato with an overtime winner from AJ Vanderbeck in game one. The Wildcats are 8-23-3 against Minnesota State all-time, and 3-7 in their last 10 matchups.

David Silye leads the team in scoring and nationally is T5 in goals with 13 on the season, and T3 in powerplay goals with six. The Mavericks lead D1 hockey in faceoff win percentage (.595).


CCHA Honors
October 1-2 
Aiden Gallacher received Defenseman of the Week after blocking eight shots in two games.
Joey Larson received Rookie of the Week, posting a rookie-best three points (1g, 2a) in two games.

October 20-22
AJ Vanderbeck received Forward of the Week after recording four points (2g, 2a) in two games. 

October 28-29
Beni Halasz received Rookie of the Week after going 1-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. 

Player of the Month: October
Vanderbeck received Forward of the month after leading all CCHA skaters in goals (6), points (13), points per game (1.44), multi-point games (4), game-winning goals (2), shorthanded goals (1), shots (52) and shots per game (5.78) in 10 games in October.

Halasz received Rookie of the Month after posting a 3-4-0 record with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in seven October games (6 starts) for the Wildcats. He was second among all NCAA Division I rookies in goals-against average, save percentage, and total saves (173).

November 11-12
Larson received Rookie of the Week after he paced all CCHA rookies with two points on a goal and an assist in the Wildcats' weekend split with Bemidji State.

Player of the Month: November
Halasz earned his second straight Rookie of the Month honor after going 4-2-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage as the starter in all six games for Northern Michigan in November. He led all CCHA rookie netminders in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage while ranking second in total saves (135) and saves per game (22.5). His month was highlighted by recording his first collegiate shutout on November 11 against Bemidji State, where he made 25 stops. He also made a career-high 32 saves against Lake Superior State on November 5. 

December 9-10
Kristof Papp led all CCHA skaters in goals (3) and points (4) while collecting one assist, nine shots, one block and four face-off wins in a series split at Ferris State last week.


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.