MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team is set to embark on its final road trip before returning to the Berry Events Center, with a matchup against the No. 18/19 Arizona State Sun Devils.
The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 0-1-1 record and are receiving votes in both the USCHO and USA Hockey college hockey polls. The Sun Devils come into the weekend with a 2-0-0 record and are nationally ranked for the first time since 2020. The USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live polls can be found
here
Follow Along
Make sure to follow @NMUHockey on X, formerly known as Twitter, to get updates throughout the week leading up to the games and for live updates while the 'Cats are on the ice.
Friday, October 13 - at 10 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Watch on Pac12 | Live Audio | Game Notes
Saturday, October 14 - at 10 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Watch on Pac12 | Live Audio | Game Notes
Hear From Head Coach Grant Potulny
"The thing I told [the guys] yesterday is this is a business trip, not a vacation. That being said, there is a lot of excitement about this trip."
A Look at the Arizona State Sun Devils
ASU comes into the weekend earning a home sweep against the no. 15/13 Merrimack Warriors, by scores of 1-0 in overtime and 4-2. The Sun Devils' production over the weekend largely came from its senior group, including graduate student Brian Chambers (0g, 3a), and seniors Matthew Kopperud (2g, 1a), Lukas Sillinger (1g, 1a), and Tim Lovell (0g, 2a). Sophomore goaltender TJ Semptimphelter played both games over the weekend, posting a solid 0.98 GAA and a 0.968 SV% with one shutout and 61 saves.
The trend for the Sun Devils through two games is scoring late, as through the opening weekend they have scored one goal in both the first and second periods combined, with four goals coming in the third period or overtime. The Wildcats penalty kill was suspect through its first two games, but the 'Cats have a good chance to get back on track as the Sun Devils were an abysmal 2-14 (14.3%) on the power-play this past weekend.
The Wildcats have played Arizona State once in its history, and it came during the 2017-18 season when the 'Cats took a trip to the "Ice Vegas Invitational" on 1/5/2018, dropping the contest 7-3.
National Ranks
- Tanner Latsch leads the nation in goals (5) and PPGs (4) heading into the weekend. His six points also rank T5
- Andre Ghantous started the season right where he left off, recording six points in two games. His six points are also T5, and his four assists are T3 across the college landscape
- Among defensemen, Josh Zinger's four points (0g, 4a) are T9 across the collegiate landscape and T2 among defensemen who have only played two games
- Michael Van Unen continues to show he isn't afraid to get in front of pucks, as his nine blocks through two games are the most among players who have only played two games, and five back of the leader (14 blocks in four games)
- The Wildcats have scored 10 goals through two contests, and its five goals/game average ranks T5
- The Wildcats were effective in the faceoff circle, owning a 54.9% faceoff percentage, good for 11th nationally
- The 'Cats have scored six PPGs and own a PP% of 33.3%. The six goals rank third, and the PP% ranks T6
Cat Nips
- Tanner Latsch became only the second Wildcat in program history to score a hat-trick in his collegiate debut, joining Jeff Pyle who accomplished the feat against Manitoba on October 27, 1978. Latsch received CCHA Forward and Rookie of the Week honors
- Josh Zinger paced all CCHA skaters with four assists last week and led all conference defensemen with four assists, highlighted by a three-helper game against Minnesota Duluth on Friday, matching a single-game point high. Zinger recieved CCHA Defenseman of the Week honors
- Andre Ghantous posted a six-point weekend at UMD (2g, 4a). Ghantous has played 25 games in the month of October over his collegiate career, posting six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in those games, second most points and assists in the month of October among active skaters. Ghantous currently leads all active skaters in career points (130), assists (84), and is second in goals (46)
- Ghantous (2g, 4a), Latsch (5g, 1a), Zinger (0g, 4a), Kristof Papp (1g, 2a), Artem Shlaine (0g, 2a), and Rylan Van Unen (0g, 2a) are all riding two-game point streaks heading into the weekend
2023-24 CCHA Honors
Pre-Season:
Week Two (10/13-10/14):
