MARQUETTE, Mich. - After shutting out the Michigan Tech Huskies in a CCHA Semifinals matchup, the Wildcats have earned a dance with the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks to determine who gets to hoist the Mason Cup, the trophy awarded to the champion of the CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The two sides will meet in Mankato, Minnesota on Saturday, March 18 with puck-drop at 7:07 p.m. ET. 

The Wildcats come into the game with a 21-16-0 overall record, while the Mavericks lay claim to a 24-12-1 overall record. The 'Cats are 8-25-3 all-time against the Mavericks, including going 1-3 in the four games played this year. The 'Cats have seen the Mavericks in the postseason tournament twice in history and both in Mankato, beating the Mavericks 5-1 in the WCHA Semifinals in 2021, and losing 8-1 in the CCHA Semifinals in 2022. 


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. 


Saturday, March 18 - vs. Minnesota State at 7:07 PM 

Live Stats  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes
 

Last Time Out
The Northern Michigan University hockey team showed up and shut out the Michigan Tech Huskies in a decisive 4-0 win to advance to the CCHA Mason Cup Finals.

Beni Halasz stopped all 44 shots he faced including 10 saves on the penalty kill for his third shutout of the season to help his team defeat the Huskies on the road. The Wildcats scored three goals in the first 12 minutes of the first period then scored an empty netter, as seven different Wildcats recorded at least a point. Rylan Van Unen recorded the eventual game-winner on his opening tally, Andre Ghantous scored from in tight on the power play, Michael Van Unen scored a highlight reel goal on an end-to-end rush, and Simon Kjellberg potted the empty net goal to seal the deal for the 'Cats. 


National Ranks
Aiden Gallacher leads the nation in blocks (100), AJ Vanderbeck is T2 in short-handed goals (3), and 5th in the nation in shots on goal (144), Michael Van Unen is 3rd in blocks (84), David Keefer is T4 in game-winning goals (5), Artem Shlaine is 20th in faceoff wins (378), Andre Ghantous is T22 in assists (25) and T23 in points (38), and David Keefer is T42 in goals (15).

As a team, the Wildcats are T2 in shorthanded goals (8), 3rd in faceoff win percentage (55.2%), 5th in penalty kill percentage (85.5%), 7th in power-play goals (35), 8th in shooting percentage (11.8%), T10 in goals per game (3.3), 12th in powerplay percentage (23.6%), and T13 in goals-for (121).


Cat Nips

• Since January 20, the Wildcats have had the best penalty kill in the nation, posting a 94.4% success rate, killing 54 of 57 attempts, along with scoring four short-handed goals to boot.
• The Wildcats are currently riding a seven-game winning streak dating back to February 17, 2023. In that timeframe nationally…
• Andre Ghantous is T1 in PPG (4), T3 for points (13), and T6 in goals (7).
• Aiden Gallacher is T2 in blocked shots (20) and Michael Van Unen is T4 (19).
• David Keefer is T2 in GWG (2).
• Artem Shlaine is T11 in faceoff wins (84).
• Of goalies who have played seven or more games in that span, Beni Halasz is first in wins (7), T1 in assists (1), second in SV% (.938%), T3 in shutouts (1), third in goals allowed (13), fourth in GAA (1.86), sixth in saves (197), and T7 in shots faced (210).
• Nationally as a team, the Wildcats are first in goals/game (5.4), T1 in wins (7), goals scored (38), and SHG (2), second in faceoff percentage (58.7%) and PK% (93.1%), T2 in blocks (139), T5 in PPG (9) and PP% (33.3%), sixth in SV% (.938%), and 11th in goals allowed/game (1.9).
• Both AJ Vanderbeck (3A) and Michael Van Unen (2G, 1A) are on three-game point streaks.
• The 'Cats have a 9-0-0 record when leading after one period and n 11-0-0 record when leading after two, along with a record of 6-2 in one-goal games and a perfect 3-0 in 3x3 overtime and 1-0 in 5x5 overtime.
• When scoring first, the 'Cats are 14-5-0, as opposed to 7-11-0 when the opponent scores first. The Wildcats are 19-3-0 when scoring 3+ goals, and 2-13-0 when scoring 2 or fewer. 

Coach Potulny Interview



A Look at Minnesota State
Minnesota State comes into the heavyweight matchup on their own four-game winning streak, capped off by a 7-2 victory against the Ferris State Bulldogs in a CCHA Semifinals matchup on home ice, highlighted by Jake Livingstone potting four points (1G, 3A). 

David Silye leads the Mavericks in goals (23) and points (39) in 37 games played, and Jake Livingstone paces the Mavericks in assists with 26. On the season, Keenan Rancier is 18-9-1 and holds a 1.80 GAA and .916 SV%. 

Nationally, the Mavericks have the best powerplay percentage (28.9%) and faceoff percentage (59.6%), T2 in goals allowed per game (2.0), T3 in fewest penalty minutes per game (7.7), have given up the sixth-fewest goals (75), is tenth in goals scored (123) and goals per game (3.3). They have also given up the second most short-handed goals (7). David Silye is second in PPG (12) and third in goals (23), and Keenan Rancier is third in GAA (1.80). 


Last Time vs. The Mavericks
The 'Cats hosted the Mavericks back on January 7 and 8 of 2023, the first weekend series after the holiday break, which resulted in a Mankato sweep.

After being tied at both the first and second intermissions on Friday, the No. 19 Minnesota State Mavericks netted three goals in the final period to defeat the Wildcats 5-2 at the Berry Events Center. Connor Eddy opened up the scoring in the contest and David Keefer scored his 12th goal in the closing seconds of the second period, but two power-play goals from MSU's David Silye led the Mavericks along with an empty net strike from Jake Livingstone sealing the deal. Ryan Sandelin and Adam Eisele also scored for Mankato.

 The 'Cats scored the first goal again on Saturday but were unable to hold onto a lead as they dropped the second game by a score of 5-3. Michael Colella opened the scoring a minute and 12 seconds in to give the 'Cats an early tally, but the Mavericks scored three unanswered to take a 3-1 lead. Kristof Papp scored a power-play goal to cut the deficit to one, then MSU scored 40 seconds later to reclaim a two-goal lead. Alex Frye scored in the dying minutes of the second frame to get them back within striking distance, but despite their best efforts, NMU failed to find the back of the net in the third period.


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 

March 11
Beni Halasz - CCHA Goalie of the Week

CCHA All-Rookie Team
Joey Larson
Josh Zinger
Beni Halasz

CCHA Second Team
Andre Ghantous


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.