MARQUETTE, Mich. - After opening the season on the road for three of the first four weeks, the 'Cats now return home for two straight home series, starting with games one and two of the Cappo Cup with the Lake Superior State Lakers.
A historic rivalry between these two teams, the Cappo Cup is awarded each year to the season series winner between NMU and LSSU, given annually since the 1994-95 season. Last season, the Wildcats won the Cappo Cup on home ice after going 3-1 against the Lakers in the four-game season series.
The Wildcats (1-6-1 overall, 1-3-0 CCHA, 4 pts) are coming off a challenging road trip against the St. Thomas Tommies and return home determined to earn crucial points in the CCHA standings and the Cappo Cup series. The Lakers (5-3-0 overall, 2-0-0 CCHA, 5 pts) are coming from a successful home series, sweeping the Bemidji State Beavers. The Wildcats sit fourth in the CCHA standings, one point back of the Lakers, making this a critical home series for the green and gold.
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, November 10 - at 7:07 p.m.
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on Flo | Live Audio | Game Notes
Saturday, November 11 - at 6:07 p.m.
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on Flo | Live Audio | Game Notes
Hear From Byron Pool
"This group is completely 100% all in. They're dedicated, and we're going to find a way out of this… When things have gotten tough, it's brought us closer together."
A Look at the Lake State Lakers
The Lakers are 5-3-0 to start the season, are currently on a five-game win streak (starting with a 6-4 exhibition win), and are coming off a home sweep against Bemidji State that saw the Lakers down the Beavers 4-3 in overtime and 5-1 to finish the series.
The Lakers are led by Jared Westcott, the CCHA Forward of the Month for October. Two of the hottest players in the CCHA will be meeting this weekend, as Westcott (5-6--11) and Ghantous (3-8--11) both lead the CCHA in points with 11. Both Westcott and Connor Milburn (5-2--7) have five goals, two back of the CCHA lead (
Tanner Latsch, NMU, and Lleyton Roed, BSU, both have seven), along with leading the CCHA in +/- at eight and seven, respectively.
Reigning CCHA goalie of the week Ethan Langenegger has started and finished all eight games for the Lakers and holds a .923 SV% and 2.66 GAA. Last weekend against the Beavers, Langenegger stopped 57 of 61 shots faced, highlighted by stopping 30 of 31 shots faced in the 5-1 victory on Saturday.
The Lakers lead the CCHA in wins (5), goals (29), GA/G (2.7), and SV% (.920). The Lakers' penalty kill is second in the CCHA at 85.2% having conceded four power-play goals, and their PP is third at 20.0%, having scored five.
National Ranks
- Andre Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in career points (135), assists (88), and is second in goals (47)
- Michael Van Unen leads all active NCAA skaters in career blocks with 277
- Jack Perbix is third among active NCAA skaters in games played with 149
- Despite being injured the previous three games, Tanner Latsch sits two goals back of the national lead with seven and still leads the nation in PPGs with six. Both of his scoring numbers are first nationally among NCAA freshman
- Josh Zinger's nine assists are T6 nationally and third most among NCAA defensemen
- Aiden Gallacher is currently fourth in the nation in blocks with 22
- Artem Shlaine has won 100 faceoffs and holds a 59.5% faceoff%, fourth-best among centers with a minimum of 100 wins
- The Wildcats are third in power-play goals (12), fifth in PP% (30.0), seventh in blocks (123)
Cat Nips
- Tanner Latsch is T1 across the CCHA in goals (7-1--8), and first in PPG
- Andre Ghantous is T1 across the CCHA in points (3-8--11), and his eight assists are second
- Josh Zinger leads the CCHA in assists (1-9--10), and his 10 points are second
- Aiden Gallacher leads the CCHA in blocks with 22
- Artem Shlaine's 59.5% FO% leads the CCHA among skaters who have taken seven or more draws
- The special teams had a great weekend against the Tommies, going a perfect 9/9 on the PK and 2/7 on the PP.
- The Wildcats lead the CCHA in PPGs (12), PP% (30.0%)
- Andre Ghantous leads the Wildcats in active points against the Lakers, with three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 16 games. Artem Shlaine holds two goals and one assist in four matchups against the Lakers
- Beni Halasz has seen the Lakers four times in his career and holds a 3-1-0 record with a .902 SV% and 2.26 GAA
- The 'Cats are 6-2-0 against the Lakers in their previous eight matchups, out-scoring the Lakers 28-18 in that span. Over the last two seasons, the 'Cats hold a 22.5 PP% and a 74.2 PK%. Last season, the 'Cats were a perfect 12/12 on the PK when facing the Lakers
2023-24 CCHA Honors
Pre-Season:
Week Two (10/13-10/14):
Week Three (10/20-10/21):
Week Four (10/27-10/28):
