MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team is back on the road this weekend, heading to Ohio for a clash against the Bowling Green Falcons.
Puck drop between the Wildcats (1-14-1, 0-9-1 CCHA) and the Falcons (5-7-2, 2-4-2 CCHA) from the
Slater Family Ice Arena is set for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday, with streaming on
MidcoSports Plus and radio coverage from
100.3 The Point. Fans traveling to Bowling Green can purchase tickets ahead of the weekend
here.
In the first meeting between these two clubs in the
Dave Shyiak era, the 'Cats enter the weekend 11-3-1 in the last 15 matchups against the Falcons, including an 8-2 record in Bowling Green in that frame.
Dave Shyiak Weekly Press Conference
Cat Nips
- Grayden Slipec (2-4--6) and Jakub Altrichter (0-5--5) are sixth and ninth in points among CCHA freshmen, respectively. Altrichter and Slipec's 37 and 36 shots are second and third in those same parameters
- Altrichter (121, 55.0%) and Billy Renfrew (109, 52.2%) lead CCHA freshmen in faceoff wins and are one and two in faceoff win% among CCHA freshmen with 148 or more face-offs.
- Altrichter and Renfrew's faceoff wins among freshmen nationwide are sixth and ninth, respectively.
- The Wildcats are second in the CCHA in faceoff win% at 52.2%, led by the trio of Altrichter (55.0%), Danny Ciccarello (54.4%), and Jesse Tucker (54.3%). Tucker's 140 wins are sixth in the conference
- Rasmus Larsson leads all CCHA freshmen and is second among all freshmen nationally in blocks with 30
- The 'Cats are first in the conference and third nationally in blocked shots with 271
- Ryan Ouellette enters the weekend with a 2.92 GAA and a .916 SV% in 15 games played. Among CCHA netminders with 15 or more games played, Ouellette's save percentage is second only to reigning National and CCHA goaltender of the month Alex Tracy. Ouellette's 445 saves are second among CCHA goaltenders and sixth nationally.
A Look at the Falcons
The Falcons are 0-4-2 in its past six games, with both of the ties coming as two shootout wins.
The Falcons are led by senior forward Ryan O'Hara (0-10--10) and sophomore forward Brody Waters (6-3--9). A threat on the powerplay, Waters leads all CCHA skaters in PPGs with five, but only has one assist in his last five games.
Cole Moore has started in all but one game for the Falcons, and in the game he didn't start he was called into action to relieve Christian Stoever. Moore carries a .906 SV% and 2.90 GAA on the season, and has allowed three or more goals in five of his last six starts.
The 'Cats will have the opportunity to score on the man advantage, as the Falcons have allowed a powerplay goal in all but four games this year and netminder Cole Moore holds a .857 SV% while short handed compared to a .927 SV% mark at even strength.
