MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU men's hockey team will open conference play this weekend, starting with a home-and-home series against its UP rival, Michigan Tech.
Puck drop between the Wildcats (1-5-0, 0-0-0) and the Huskies (2-2-0, 0-0-0) is set for 7:07 PM Friday from the Berry Events Center and 6:07 PM Saturday from the John Macinnes Student Ice Arena, with streaming coverage on
Midco Sports Plus and radio coverage from
100.3 The Point.
Both games will be publicly televised alongside the usual Midco Sports Plus streaming, with Friday's tilt featured on
TV6 and Saturday on
FoxUP.
Friday will also feature the first
Blue Line Luncheon of the season.
Slabz Bar and Grill will host the luncheon, with doors opening at 11:45 ahead of the 12:15 program start. Fans can interact with
Dave Shyiak and
Rick Comley ahead of puck drop for one of college hockey's best rivalries. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at
tickets.nmu.edu.
"It's always good to see Michigan Tech come down here. [Michigan Tech] is not only our biggest rivalry, but it is one of the best in college hockey," says head coach
Dave Shyiak in his mid-week media availability. "Everyone talks about Michigan vs Michigan State, Boston vs Boston College, and those are good rivalries, but this one is really unique; [we're] 90 miles away, it's bragging rights for the UP, there's great venues and great crowds, and we couldn't be more excited to start off league play against Michigan Tech."
Fans are highly encouraged to get to the Berry Events Center a little early on Friday to welcome in the players and tailgate before the game. The Wildcats will partake in a '
Green Carpet Entrance' from 4:45 to 5:00 p.m. on the east side of the building, where fans can bring memorabilia to get signed, take pictures with the players, and tailgate before the doors open.
The Wildcats faced the Huskies in Houghton for an exhibition to open the season, and now face Michigan Tech at home for the first time under Shyiak.
"We have more cohesiveness to our game [since the exhibition]. I thought we did a good job up there working hard and pressuring pucks, but we have to clean up some aspects of our game. That was a first-time outing for a lot of our guys, and they've never played in front of a crowd that big [before]. The nerves should be out of our game and we have to play with a little more puck poise up and down the sheet, and when we do that, I think we'll start generating more offense."
One of the most storied matchups in college hockey history, the Wildcats are 3-1-1 in the last five against the Huskies, with the one tie in that frame ending in a 2-1 shootout win for the Wildcats.
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 Michigan Tech at 7:07 PM
Watch on Tv6 | Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio
Saturday, October 26 - at Michigan Tech at 6:07 PM
Watch on FoxUP | Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio
Hear From Dave Shyiak - 10/29/24 Media Availability
Cat Nips
- Ryan Ouellette has been stout between the pipes, as he is T3 in the nation in saves (193), and ninth in save percentage (.941)
- His overall sv% is third best among NCAA goalies who have played in five or more games
- Tynan Ewart and Joe Schiller are first in assists (3) and Ewart is second in points (4) among CCHA defensemen
- One of the better centermen in the CCHA, Jakub Altrichter leads the conference in FO% among skaters with 65 or more faceoffs (38/65, 58.5%)
- The 'Cats lead the nation in blocked shots (129)
- The Wildcats are third in the nation in saves (223)
- The Green and Gold have been special while short-handed, going 18/20 (90%) on the season and only having allowed one in the past four games (8/9 in that frame)
- While on the penalty kill, Ryan Ouellette holds a .968 sv% with 30 saves
Looking at Michigan Tech
The Huskies come into the weekend suffering a weekend sweep to Clarkson at home, losing 4-1 on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday. The Huskies are also receiving votes in the national polls for the fifth consecutive week.
Chase Pietila is currently on a four-game point streak, leading the Huskies with four points (2-2--4) in as many games, followed by Stiven Sardarian (2-1--3) and Jack Works (0-3--3). Netminder Max Vayrenen played in the first three games of the season before giving up three goals on 16 shots for a .813 sv% in the 4-1 loss on Friday. Derek Mullahy played Saturday, where he made 31 saves and a .939 sv% in the 2-1 loss.
