MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team returns home this weekend for the second non-conference matchup in three weeks, hosting the Augustana University Vikings for the first time in program history. Augustana will become full members of the CCHA in the 2025-26 season.
The 'Cats are coming off a weekend split with the Bowling Green Falcons, earning three points in the CCHA standings, and have won five of their last six games. The Vikings are currently on a three-game skid with one win in their last six games.
Beni Halasz was recognized by the league as the CCHA Goaltender of the Week, marking the second consecutive week an NMU netminder has received the honor. Halasz stopped all 30 shots he faced in a 2-0 road shutout win at Bowling Green on Saturday night. He made 12 saves in the first period, 10 in the second, and eight in the third. Halasz turned away the only two shots he saw while Northern Michigan was shorthanded, aiding a perfect 3-for-3 penalty kill on the night. The shutout was his first of the year and fourth of his career.
The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 6-7-1 overall record, and the Vikings enter with a 5-6-1 overall record.
Make sure you bring your socks to Saturday's game, as the 'Cats are participating in the 'Rock The Socks' event. Wildcat fans can throw socks onto the ice during an intermission, with each pair tossed going to homeless shelters, local schools, and charity organizations.
Hear From Byron Pool
"They're a work-based team, they generate a lot [of offense] off the fore-check, and they're a good group. We're going to have to keep building off of what we've been doing well lately."
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, December 1 - at 7:07 p.m.
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on Flo | Live Audio
Saturday, December 2 - at 6:07 p.m. - 'Toss Your Socks'
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on Flo | Live Audio
A Look at the Augustana University Vikings
In the inaugural season as a program, the Vikings started off strong, but are on a skid of late. They opened the season shutting out Wisconsin then sweeping BGSU at home. They tied the then no. 2 Denver 5-5 before winning in a shootout. Since then, they are 2-5 and are on a three-game losing streak. Only having played three games at home, the Vikings are 2-6-1 on the road this season.
Luke Mobley, a transfer from Clarkson University, leads the Vikings in goals (5), points (9), and GWGs (2) through 12 games. Mobley has started to heat up as of late, as he has five points in his last four games (4-1--5). Defenseman Uula Ruikka leads the team in assists (6), is second on the team in points (8) and has one PPG. Ruikka was just on a four-game point streak (0-4-4), but failed to register a point in the Vikings most recent appearance. Fifth year student Zack Rose is the projected starter for the Vikings, where he is 3-3-1 with a .905 SV% and a 3.31 GAA. CCHA fans may recognize Rose, as he spent the first four years of his collegiate career as a netminder for the Bowling Green Falcons before transferring to Augustana.
As a team, the Vikings are 10/49 (20.4%) on the PP and 37/44 (84.1%) on the PK. Same as last week against the Falcons, scoring first in this series will be key; the Vikings are 4-1-0 when scoring first, and 0-6-1 when the opponent scores first. Similarly, they are 4-1-0 when leading after the first and second periods, 0-5-1 when trailing after the first, and 0-6-1 when trailing after the second. Their first periods seem to be their strongest frame as they have scored 16 goals in the first period this season, the same amount of goals they have scored in the second and third periods combined (6-10--16).
NMU National Ranks
- Andre Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in career points (141), assists (93), and is third in goals (48)
- Michael Van Unen leads all active NCAA skaters in career blocks with 299
- Jack Perbix is third among active NCAA skaters in games played with 155, and Ghantous is ninth with 150
- Ghatnous is T8 nationally in points with 17 (4-13--17), and his 13 assists are T6
- Despite being injured, Tanner Latsch leads the nation in PPGs with six
- Aiden Gallacher leads the nation in blocks with 39. Michael Van Unen isn't far behind, T6 with 31
- The Wildcats are second in the nation in blocked shots (228), third in power-play goals (16), T8 in PP% (25.0%), and their 51.3 faceoff% is only 4.2% away from the leader (Michigan, 55.5%).
Cat Nips
- Artem Shlaine has six points in his last four games (4-2--6), Kristof Papp has eight in his previous six games (2-6--8), and Andre Ghantous has 10 points in his last 10 games (2-8--10)
- Both Michael Colella (2-0--2) and Papp (0-2--2) are riding two game point streaks
- Since November 10, the 'Cats are 5-1-0, the second best record across the nation in that frame.
- Andre Ghantous is currently 20th in career points at NMU, two points behind Greg Hadden (1991-95), and his 93 assists are 19th all-time, one behind Eric Ponath (1979-83).
- The 'Cats are 5-1-0 at home this season and hold a 6-1-0 record when leading after two periods
- The 'Cats have found success in the second and third periods, scoring 37 of their 41 goals in the final two frames (one goal in overtime - 38 of 41 in the 2nd, the 3rd, and OT)
2023-24 CCHA Honors
Pre-Season:
Week Two (10/13-10/14):
Week Three (10/20-10/21):
Week Four (10/27-10/28):
Week Six (11/10-11/11):
Week Seven (11/17-11/18):
Week Eight (11/24-11/25):
