MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team is at home for its second weekend of conference play, hosting the Lake Superior State Lakers on Friday, November 8 and 9 from the Berry Events Center, and opening the 2024/25 Cappo Cup series.

A historic rivalry between these two teams, the Cappo Cup is awarded each year to the season series winner between NMU and LSSU, given annually since the 1994-95 season.

Puck drop between the Wildcats (1-7-0, 0-2-0) and the Lakers (1-5-0, 0-0-0) is set for 7:07 PM Friday and 6:07 PM Saturday from the Berry Events Center, with streaming coverage on Midco Sports Plus and radio coverage from 100.3 The Point.

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, November 8 - vs Lake Superior State at 7:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio

Saturday, November 9 - vs Lake Superior State at 6:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio

4th Period Party
Please join us after the game on Saturday for a 4th-period party, hosted and sponsored by Slabz Bar and Grill. Located within the Ramada at 412 West Washington Street, Slabz Bar & Grill is a relaxed bar and restaurant offering Big Local Food in a bold new way. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cat Nips

• The Wildcats are 8-4-0, have out-scored the Lakers 41-35, and hold a 4-2 home record in the last 12 games against LSSU
• Grayden Slipec was named CCHA Rookie of the Week after potting two goals and an assist in Saturday's contest against the Huskies. Slipec leads all CCHA freshmen in points (5) and PPGs (2)
• Tynan Ewart is first among CCHA defensemen in assists (4) and points (5), and is fourth in blocks with 20
• Ryan Ouellette has proven to be one of the better netminders through the early goings of the season, as he is second in total saves (268) and third in SV% (.934)
• NMU currently leads the nation in blocks with 160, is third in the CCHA in FOW (249), and is fourth in FO% (51.2%), PP% (15.8%), and PK% (86.2%)

Hear From Dave Shyiak

NMU looks to continue to build against Lake Superior State this weekend, playing UP rivals back-to-back after last weekend's clashes against Michigan Tech.

"[Lake State] is in the UP, it's bragging rights, and we should have good crowds again. They're league conference games and we've got to find a way to continue to get better, as we have been, but at the same time, you want to be able to fit some wins in [the schedule]. This is an opportunity for us to build on some of our mistakes last weekend, but still be able to create the offense like we did."

Not only is this series for UP bragging rights, but this marks the beginning of the battle for the Cappo Cup. A historic rivalry between these two teams, the Cappo Cup is awarded each year to the season series winner between NMU and LSSU, given annually since the 1994-95 season. Despite splitting the season series last year, the 'Cats lost the Cappo Cup 17-13 on goal differential, and now look to regain the trophy.

The Wildcats are coming off a home-and-home series with Michigan Tech to open the conference play. Though the 'Cats didn't find wins, head coach Shyiak saw more positives from his group over the weekend.

"I gotta give Tech credit, they found in their building to come back and win it," commented Dave Shyiak in his mid-week press availability, after he saw the Huskies come back from 3-1 down after the first period on Saturday. "We had chances I thought to make it a three-goal lead and we didn't convert, nonetheless, I thought it was a great game on Saturday night. The positives were we got three goals, won the special teams battle, and won the faceoff battle."

Despite not finding the score sheet from the Berry Events Center on Friday night, Shyiak gave his players props for the offense his group generated.

"I think that was the most chances we've generated this year. I think the chances were 18 to 18, I think we had 12 in the third [period] with a chance to convert, and they had two power-play goals and only one five-on-five goal."

Grayden Slipec scored two goals and an assist on Saturday against the Huskies to earn him CCHA Rookie of the Week. His linemates also found success, as Jakub Altrichter recorded three assists, and Medrick Bolduc picked up a tally.

"When you have a young group, you're always tinkering to find chemistry, and that [line] was probably one of the best lines on the ice that night. They all bring a different element, and it was nice to see them rewarded… you gotta be able to finish plays off, and all three of them did."

Looking at the Lakers
The Lakers open its conference slate in Marquette this weekend, as the team is 1-5-0 to begin the regular season. Its only win came as a 3-0 victory over Stonehill, the Lakers most recently were swept by Ohio State, losses of 3-9 and 2-6. 

Reagan Milburn leads the Lakers in points through the first six contests, scoring two goals and three assists for five points. Milburn is currently riding a four-game point streak, where he has recorded all of his points in that frame.

Rorke Applebee has been the man between the pipes for the Lakers so far, starting in all four of the Lakers' previous contests and a starter in five of the last six. Applebee holds a 3.78 GAA and .891 SV% on 165 saves with a shutout through his five games played. 

The Lakers average a conference-worst 4.3 GA/G while only averaging 1.8 G/G, but carry the conference-best PK, as Lake State is 26/26 while a man short with a short-handed goal to boot. A big part of that is Applebee's 43 saves while short-handed, a perfect 1.00 SV%.