MARQUETTE, Mich. - After a bye this past weekend, the Wildcats return to action, traveling to Big Rapids, Michigan to take on the Ferris State Bulldogs.

As the 'Cats had the weekend off, the CCHA landscape shifted. With two weekends of CCHA play left, the Bemidji State Beavers sit atop the standings with 37 points, followed by a three-way tie for second between Minnesota State, St. Thomas, and Bowling Green, all with 35 points. The 'Cats currently sit 7th with 26 points, ahead of only the Bulldogs, making this a crucial weekend to gather points in the CCHA standings. 

The 'Cats are 4-1-0 in the last five meetings against the 'Dogs, outscoring the opposition 27-10 in that frame. NMU hosted the Bulldogs to open CCHA play at the beginning of the season, falling 1-2 in overtime before winning 4-1 on October 27th and 28th.

Grant Potulny Weekly Press Conference - 2/20/24

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Friday, February 23 - at Ferris State at 7:07 PM
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Saturday, February 24 - at Ferris State at 5:07 PM 
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Looking at the Wildcats
After a weekend off from play, the 'Cats enter the weekend needing CCHA points to climb the standings in efforts to gain a home playoff spot for the opening round of the playoffs.

The 'Cats are lead by fifth-year senior Andre Ghantous (8-18--26), who leads the CCHA in assists and is fifth in points, and senior Artem Shlaine (9-13--22), who leads the Wildcats in goals, PPGs, and GWGs. Sophomore defenseman Josh Zinger (3-15--18) has brought production from the back end, as he is fourth in points among CCHA defenders. Beni Halasz, who's numbers are slightly down from last season, has had good numbers against the Bulldogs over his career; holding a 4-1-0 record with a 2.32 GAA and .918 SV% in six games played.

The 'Cats are 1-1-2 in the last four games, with a shootout win and loss in the mix, earning six of 12 possible CCHA points. In that frame, freshman Kevin Marx Noren has earned a four-game point streak with one goal and six assists for seven points to lead all CCHA freshman in points in that frame. The next behind him? Fellow freshman Michael Mesic, who amassed a goal and three assists for four points in his last four games.

The 'Cats lead the CCHA in PPGs (25),  second in PP% by .1% (22.7%), and are second in SHGs with 3. The 'Cats power play has been especially effective of late, on a four-game streak with at least one PPG, going 6/15 (a whopping 40%) the previous four games. 

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous has been nominated for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award. You can vote for Ghantous here
• Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in career points (52-98--150) in 164 games played. Ghantous currently sits 14th in career points, T34 in career goals, 12th in career assists, and 4th in career games played in NMU program history
• Ghantous leads the 'Cats in career points against the Bulldogs with 27 points in 18 games (12-15--27). Michael Van Unen is next with 10 points in 16 games (3-7--10), followed by both Artem Shlaine (4-5--9) and Kristof Papp (2-7--9) with nine points in six games.
• Ghantous is riding a six-game point streak against the Bulldogs (6-5--11), and Shlaine has seven points his last five games against the 'Dogs (2-5--7)
• Kevin Marx Noren is currently on a four-game point streak (1-6--7), followed by Ghantous (1-2--3) and Michael Colella (1-2--3) with three-game point streaks.
• The 'Cats power play is currently red hot, scoring six goals in four games and clicking at an impressive 40.0% (6/15). The 'Cats have scored eight PPGs in the past eight games (8/27, 29.6%)

Looking at the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are currently eighth in the CCHA, holding a 10-20-1 overall record and a 6-15-0 conference record with 17 points. 

The Bulldogs are currently on a four-game skid, dropping games to the Bowling Green Falcons and the Bemidji State Beavers, being outscored 14-7 in that span. Zach Faremouth has been the hottest Bulldog, posting five points in those four games (3-2--5).

The Bulldogs are led by a trio of seniors, those being Antonio Venuto (12-14--26), Jason Brancheau (9-16--15), and Stepan Pokorny (8-8--16). The Bulldogs also boast freshman Luigi Benincasa (5-15--20), who is third in points among CCHA freshmen, and sophomore defenseman Travis Shoudy (4-16--20), who is T2 among CCHA defensemen in points. Goalies Noah Giesbrecht (4.02 GAA, .879 SV%) and Logan Stein (2.84 GAA, .913 SV%) have split time this year, playing in 16 and 20 games, respectively.

The Bulldogs powerplay (13/98, 13.3% overall, 5/49, 10.2% at home) is dead last in the CCHA in both percentage and goals scored, both overall and at home. The 'Dogs hold a 76.7% PK% and have allowed the league's most power-play goals on home ice (15). Despite the low numbers, the 'Dogs have not allowed a power-play goal in four games (7/7), and only one power-play goal allowed in the past seven (14/15, 93.3%). 

Last Time vs the Bulldogs
After road trips to Minnesota-Duluth and Arizona State, the 'Cats opened the CCHA conference schedule with a home tilt against the Bulldogs, dropping game one 1-2 in overtime before winning 4-1 on Saturday.

Five different 'Cats recorded goals and eight different skaters recorded points, highlighted by multi-point weekends from Andre Ghantous, Artem Shlaine, Aiden Gallacher, Josh Zinger, and Kevin Marx Noren. Goalie Beni Halasz played both games, making 63 saves on 66 shots and posting a 1.44 GAA and a .955 SV%.

Josh Zinger (1-1--2) and Halasz earned CCHA Defenseman of the Week and CCHA Goaltender of the Week for their efforts against the Bulldogs.