MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU Wildcat hockey team welcomes the Arizona State Sun Devils to the Berry Events Center for the first time in program history.

Puck drop between the Wildcats (1-3-0) and Sun Devils (1-4-1) is set for 7:07 PM Friday and 6:07 PM Saturday, with streaming coverage on Midco Sports Plus and radio coverage from 100.3 The Point.

The Wildcats remain home after a weekend that saw Dave Shyiak and the Wildcats earn the first win under head coach Shyiak's tenure, a 2-1 victory on the home opener.

"[To get that first win] was nice. It was our first game at the Berry Events Center with this new group; the guys were a little nervous early, there were over 50 parents, family, and friends here, and it was a great weekend."

The Wildcats now welcome the Sun Devils, who were ranked 20th in the nation ahead of the 2024/25 year. Arizona State has now just dropped out of the top 20, and is receiving votes in the D1 hockey polls for the third consecutive week.

"This is going to be a real real challenge this weekend. They've got some really speedy forwards, there's going to be a lot of NHL scouts in the building, and they have [Cullen] Potter who is going to be an NHL first-round pick. Our job is to contain their speed, and in order to do that, we need to have the puck and have a bit more time of possession in the [offensive] zone."

The Wildcats have seen the Sun Devils three times in program history, most recently in Tempe, Arizona last season. The team's first-ever meeting was in the 2017-18 season at the Ice Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas.

Halloween Costume Party!
Wear your costume to the game on Saturday, October 26th, as we celebrate Halloween at the Berry Events Center!

There will be a costume parade across the ice during the first intermission, and trick or treating in the suites during the second intermission.

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, October 25 - vs Arizona State at 7:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio

Saturday, October 26 - vs Arizona State at 6:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio

Hear From Dave Shyiak

Cat Nips

• Tynan Ewart was recently named CCHA Defenseman of the Week after recording a goal and an assist over the weekend against Alaska Anchorage. Ewart comes into the weekend riding a two-game point streak.
• Tanner Latsch has two goals in his first four games of the season and continues his hot goal-scoring in October. Last season in Tempe, Latsch scored a goal in both games against the Sun Devils and will look to build on his success against Arizona State.
• The 'Cats have found production from all across the lineup, as 13 different skaters have recorded at least one point in the first four games of the season
• Of CCHA netminders who have skated in three or fewer games, Ryan Ouellette has made the most saves at 120. Ouellette carries a 3.02 GAA and .930 SV% heading into the weekend
• The Wildcats are 12/13 (92.3%) on the penalty kill, lead CCHA teams in blocked shots with 94, and third across CCHA teams in FO% at 51.2% through four games played

A Look at Arizona State
The Sun Devils have had a tough non-conference schedule to open the season, most recently swept on the road by no. 14 Providence, with the weekend before seeing a loss and a draw to no. 10 Michigan on home ice. 

Junior Bennett Schimek leads the Sun Devils in goals and is second in assists and points (4-4--8), but has only had two assists in the last four games. Grad student defenseman Noah Beck (1-8--9) leads the nation in points and is second in assists, and freshman and future projected NHL first-round draft pick, Cullen Potter, has four points in six games (2-2--4). Netminder Gibson Homer has started three of the last four games, and holds a 2.54 GAA and .912 SV% ahead of the weekend.

Arizona State also features Artem Shlaine, ex NMU hockey captain from last season and the year before. Artem's season last year ended prematurely as he suffered a season-ending injury after 23 games. The forward from Moskva, Russia, has yet to see game time with the Sun Devils this season.

Arizona State averages 2.8 goals per game, wins 45.7% of its faceoffs, and is 4/17 on the PP (23.5%) and 17/19 (89.5%) on the PK.