MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team is set to host a home playoff series against the Bemidji State Beavers after a clutch series sweep in Bowling Green over the past weekend. This is the first playoff series the Wildcats have hosted since the 2019-2020 season (Michigan Tech). 

The Wildcats finished the regular season with an 18-16-0 overall record and a 14-12-0 conference record with 39 points. The Beavers ended their season with a 14-15-5 overall record and a 12-11-3 conference record with 39 points. The two teams finished the regular season with the same amount of points, but the Wildcats will host due to the 'Cats holding the tie-breaker over the Beavers. 

Puckdrop's are set for 7:07 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, and 6:07 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, if needed.

Purchasing Tickets
Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday (March 2), in-person tickets will be available for the NMU hockey team's best-of-three Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series against Bemidji State, scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if needed.  Ticket prices are $5 for NMU students, $10 for students (18 & under), $14 for seniors, military and NMU faculty and staff, and $18 for adults.  NMU students need to purchase tickets for CCHA playoff games per league requirements.

Hockey season ticket holder seats were included in season ticket packages. Any tickets already purchased for the series will be honored by the attendee providing a printout of the electronic ticket purchase confirmation email. Fans will have the option of selecting seats for ticket purchase until the point of the arena doors opening on game day, at which time any additional ticket purchasers will be sold tickets via random seating. 

NMU Ticket Office hours at the Berry Event Center are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. until game time Friday and Saturday. If a Sunday hockey game is needed, the Berry Events Center ticket office will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and one hour prior to the game start.


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, March 3 - vs. Bemidji State at 7:07 PM 
Live Stats  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes

Saturday, March 4 - vs. Bemidji State at 6:07 PM 
Live Stats |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes

Sunday, March 5 (If Necessary) - vs. Bemidji State at 6:07 PM 
Live Stats  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes


Last Time Out
The Wildcats had two must-win games in Bowling Green, Ohio against the Falcons and took care of business, winning both contests by three-goal comebacks with final scores of 4-2. 

Eight different 'Cats recorded a point on Friday, highlighted by Kristof Papp's multi-point night with a goal and an assist. Tanner Vescio recorded the game-winning goal in the third period, and Beni Halasz picked up his third-straight win on the back of a strong 22-save performance. 

Both Andre Ghantous and David Keefer scored twice, along with the game winner, on Saturday, giving Ghantous his team-leading 33 points, and Keefer his team-leading 14 goals. Ghantous is currently on a four-game point streak, recording eight points in that frame (5G, 3A), and Beni Halasz made 24 saves on 26 shots for a .923 SV% and extended his win streak to four games. 


National Ranks
Aiden Gallacher leads the nation in blocks (96), AJ Vanderbeck is T2 in short-handed goals (3), and T3 in the nation in shots on goal (135), Michael Van Unen is T3 in blocks (72), David Keefer is T6 in game-winning goals (4), Artem Shlaine is T19 in faceoff wins (340), Andre Ghantous is T27 in assists (22) and T29 in points (33). David Keefer is T40 in goals (14), and Artem Shlaine is T44 in points with 29. 

As a team, the Wildcats are 2nd in shorthanded goals (8), 3rd in faceoff win percentage (54.9%), T6 in power-play goals (33), T7 in penalty kill percentage (84.9%) 12th in shooting percentage (11.3), 13th in powerplay percentage (23.7%), T14 in goals per game (3.2), and T15 in goals-for (108). 


Cat Nips

• All time, the Wildcats are 11-17-5 against the Beavers, and are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings. 
• Andre Ghantous was the hottest player in the CCHA for the month of February, as he led the CCHA with 11 points in eight games. His seven goals and 11 points were both first, and his three PPG's were T1.
• Artem Shlaine was second in the CCHA for points in the month of February, posting two goals and seven assists for nine points in eight games. His seven assists was first among CCHA skaters. 
• Joey Larson was one of the best freshman in February, recording five goals and three assists for eight points (one point behind Lleyton Roed, Bemidji). Kristof Papp also recorded eight points in February (3G, 5A).
• In that same time frame, Simon Kjellberg (2G, 5A) led all CCHA defensemen in points with seven and tied for first in PPG (1) and GWG (1).
• Josh Zinger leads all CCHA freshmen defensemen with 15 points this season. He is T1 in goals (3), 1st in assists (12), 2nd in shots (43), PPG (1), and has 21 blocks. 
• Andre Ghantous (5G, 3A) and Simon Kjellberg (2G, 3A) are on four game point streaks.
• Amongst CCHA goalies who have played eight games in February, Beni Halasz is 1st in Wins (6), 1st in GAA (2.14), 1st in goals allowed (17), first in shutouts (1), 2nd in SV% (.915), and 2nd in total minutes played.
• In the Month of February, the 'Cats are first amongst CCHA teams in wins (6), goals (35), shots (232), goals per game (4.4), blocks (130), faceoff wins (257), PPG (9), PK% (96.8%), and short-handed goals (3). 
• The 'Cats have an 8-0-0 record when leading after one period and a 9-0-0 record when leading after two, along with a record of 5-2 in one-goal games and a perfect 3-0 in overtime.
• When scoring first, the 'Cats are 12-5-0, as opposed to 6-11-0 when the opponent scores first. The Wildcats are 17-3-0 when scoring 3+ goals, and 1-13-0 when scoring 2 or fewer. 

Coach Potulny Interview



A Look at Bemidji State
Bemidji comes into the weekend coming off a split against St. Thomas that saw the Beavers post a season-high seven goals on Saturday to win 7-2. Freshman Lleyton Roed leads the Beavers in points with 29 (13G, 16A), and is coming off a four-point weekend against St. Thomas (2G, 2A). Senior defenseman Elias Rosen is second with 28 points (4G, 24A), also having a four-point outing last weekend (1G, 3A). 

Last Time vs. The Beavers
The 'Cats traveled to Bemidji on January 20 and 21, where they split by scores of 0-4 and 5-2. 

The Bemidji State Beavers scored three goals in a 0:54 second span in the first period on Friday and didn't look back, shutting out the Wildcats 4-0 on Friday, January 20. It was the fastest sequence of three goals for the Beavers since 2006. 

Saturday was a little different as the 'Cats bounced back in Bemidji, securing the weekend split by a final score of 5-2. Three 'Cats had multi-point nights, including Aiden Gallachers' first two goals in a Wildcat sweater along with both AJ Vanderbeck and Artem Shlaine each posting a goal and an assist. Connor Eddy scored to get the Wildcats started, and Andre Ghantous, David Keefer, Joey Larson, Alex Frye, and Josh Zinger all recorded an assist. Goalie Beni Halasz bounced back nicely after getting replaced last night, backstopping the 'Cats to a win by stopping 35/37 and posting a .946 sv%. 


Hobey Baker Watch
Northern Michigan University hockey players AJ Vanderbeck and Andre Ghantous have been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. 

Fan balloting for the 2023 Hobey Baker Award is open through Sunday, Mar. 5 at midnight ET. This year's nominees include 82 skaters representing 43 NCAA Division I schools, including ten from the CCHA. 

College hockey fans can vote in the fan-voting campaign by clicking here.


CCHA Honors
October 1-2 
Aiden Gallacher - CCHA Defenseman of the Week 
Joey Larson - CCHA Rookie of the Week

October 20-22
AJ Vanderbeck - CCHA Forward of the Week 

October 28-29
Beni Halasz - CCHA Rookie of the Week 

Player of the Month: October
AJ Vanderbeck - CCHA Forward of the Month 
Beni Halasz - CCHA Rookie of the Month 

November 11-12
Joey Larson - CCHA Rookie of the Week 

Player of the Month: November
Beni Halasz - CCHA Rookie of the Month 

December 9-10
Kristof Papp - CCHA Forward of the Week 

February 3-4
Joey Larson - CCHA Rookie of the Week. 

February 10-11
Beni Halasz - CCHA Goalie of the Week 

February 17-18
Andre Ghantous - CCHA Forward of the Week 
Simon Kjellberg - CCHA Defenseman of the Week
Joey Larson - CCHA Rookie of the Week 

Players of the Month: February
Andre Ghantous - CCHA Forward of the Month
Simon Kjellberg - CCHA Defenseman of the Month 


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.