MARQUETTE, Mich. - After a successful home sweep of the Bemidji State Beavers in the opening round of the Mason Cup Playoffs, the Northern Michigan University hockey team has its sights set on the Michigan Tech Huskies in a semifinal, single-game elimination matchup. The game will take place on Saturday, March 11, at 6:07 p.m. from the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, Michigan. 

The Wildcats have won six straight and are currently 20-16-0 overall. NMU  ended the regular season with a 14-12-0 CCHA record and is the No. 4 seed in the CCHA playoffs, while the Huskies are 24-9-4 overall and are the No. 2 seed after a 15-7-4 conference record.

The game will be broadcast locally on TV6, with Mark Evans and Dave Ellis on the call. 

The other semifinal matchup will see No. 6 Ferris State visiting No. 1 Minnesota State. The winners of the two games will meet in the CCHA Championship next Saturday, March 18. 


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 11 - at Michigan Tech at 6:07 PM 
Live Stats  |  TV6  |  Watch on FloHockey  |  Live Audio  |  Game Notes


Last Time Out
The Wildcats hosted the Bemidji State Beavers for the opening round of the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs, sweeping the Beavers with a 7-3 win on Friday and a 2-1 edging of BSU in OT on Saturday. 

In game one, 15 different 'Cats recorded at least a point, highlighted by Andre Ghantous' three-point night (1G, 2A) along with Joey Larson and Michael Colella scoring two goals each to help fuel the 'Cats four-goal third period. Beni Halasz stopped 28/31 shots faced for a .903 SV%, NMU went 1/3 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK, won 36 faceoffs to BSU's 18, and blocked 18 shots to Bemidji's 10.

On Saturday, David Keefer scored in overtime to complete the series sweep, giving the senior his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Alex Frye also found the back of the net for the 'Cats, giving him his fourth goal and 16th point. Beni Halasz stood on his head between the pipes, stopping 35 of 36 shots against for a stellar .972 SV%. The Wildcats were outshot 36-22, went 4/5 on the PK and 0/2 on the PP, won 31 faceoffs to BSU's 25, and blocked a substantial 31 shots. 


National Ranks
Aiden Gallacher leads the nation in blocks (100), AJ Vanderbeck is T2 in short-handed goals (3), and 3rd in the nation in shots on goal (140), Michael Van Unen is 3rd in blocks (81), David Keefer is T3 in game-winning goals (5), Artem Shlaine is T21 in faceoff wins (364), Andre Ghantous is T25 in assists (24) and T25 in points (36). David Keefer is T36 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 (85.1%), 8th in power-play goals (34), T8 in shooting percentage (11.7%), T11 in goals-for (117), and T12 in powerplay percentage (23.6%) and goals per game (3.3).


Cat Nips

• Since January 20, the Wildcats have had the best penalty kill in the nation, posting a 93.5% succes rate, killing 46/49 attempts, along with scoring four short-handed goals to boot.
• Andre Ghantous was the hottest player in the CCHA for the month of February and has continued his dominance as he leads the CCHA with 14 points in 10 games since February 1. 
• Artem Shlaine was second in the CCHA for points in the month of February and is also continuing his tear into the postseason, posting two goals and nine assists for 11 points in ten games. His seven assists are first among CCHA skaters in that span. 
• Joey Larson was one of the best freshmen in February, recording five goals and three assists for eight points (one point behind Lleyton Roed, Bemidji State). 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 blueliners with 15 points this season. He is 2nd in goals (3), 1st in assists (12), 2nd in shots (43), PPG (1), and has 22 blocks. 
• Amongst CCHA goalies who played eight games in February, Beni Halasz was 1st in wins (6), 1st in GAA (2.14), 1st in goals allowed (17), 1st in shutouts (1), 2nd in SV% (.915), and 2nd in total minutes played.
• In the month of February, the 'Cats were 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). 
• David Keefer (3G, 1A) and Alex Frye (1G, 2A) are both currently on three-game point streaks. 
• 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 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 13-5-0, as opposed to 7-11-0 when the opponent scores first. The Wildcats are 18-3-0 when scoring 3+ goals, and 2-13-0 when scoring 2 or fewer. 

Coach Potulny Interview



A Look at Michigan Tech
The Huskies currently sit 10th in the USCHO and USA Hockey polls, and have one of the best goalies in the nation in Blake Pietila. Pietila currently leads the nation in shutouts (10), T2 in SV% (.932%), 2nd in wins (23), and 4th in GAA (1.96). Ryland Mosley leads the Huskies in points with 31, and Kyle Kukkonen leads all CCHA freshmen in goals with 18.

As a team nationally, the Huskies are 2nd in SV% (.927%), T3 in GA/G (2.1), 3rd in PK% (86.7%), T4 in SHG (7), and 7th in goals allowed (76). The Huskies have fell short on the power play much of this season, as their 13.6% success rate is 7th worst in the nation, along with allowing five SHG to opponents penalty kills.

 The Huskies are 21-4-3 when scoring first and 3-5-1 when the opponent scores first, and are 14-2-2 when leading after one period and 18-1-3 when leading after two periods as opposed to 1-3-1 when trailing after one and 1-6-1 when trailing after two.


Last Time vs. The Huskies
The 'Cats and Huskies had themselves a home-and-home series on January 27 and 28, that saw the 'Cats lose 3-0 in Houghton and 4-1 in Marquette.

On Friday's series opener, the 'Cats were blanked for the second time this season, dropping the contest 3-0. NMU was outshot 20-36 and went 23/55 in the faceoff circle. Both teams' penalty kills were perfect, with NMU killing 3/3 and MTU going 4/4. The 'Cats blocked 17 shots to the Huskies' eight blocks, and Beni Halasz made 33 saves and posted a .943 save%. Michigan Tech netminder Blake Pietila stopped all 20 shots he faced.

NMU fell to MTU on Saturday at the Berry Events Center by a 4-1 score, as the Huskies earned the sweep. MTU scored in each period including two goals in the middle frame for separation. 


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.