MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU men's hockey team will play its final series before its season's bye week, as they square off against the Bemidji State Beavers.

This is the only time the 'Cats will face the Beavers this regular season, with games coming from the Berry Events Center on Friday, February 9, and Saturday, February 10.

These are critical league games this weekend, as the Wildcats (9-13-4 overall, 7-9-2 CCHA, 25 pts, .444 CCHA pts%) sit two points behind the Beavers (10-15-1 overall, 8-7-1 CCHA, 27 points, .562 CCHA pts%), who currently occupy the final home playoff spot.

Grant Potulny Weekly Press Conference - 2/6/24

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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, February 9 - vs Bemidji State at 7:07 PM
Tickets | Watch on Flo | Live Stats | Live Audio

Saturday, February 10 - vs Bemidji State at 6:07 PM 
Tickets | Watch on Flo | Live Stats | Live Audio

Last Time vs the Beavers
The Wildcats last played the Beavers in the quarterfinals of the 2022/2023 CCHA Playoffs in Marquette, where the 'Cats took the series 2-0 with wins of 7-3 and 2-1 in overtime. 

Of returners, Ghantous led the 'Cats in points on the weekend (1-2--3), followed by a multidude with multi-point weekends: Colella (2-0--2), Michael Van Unen (1-1--2), Shlaine (0-2--2), and Papp (0-2--2). Halasz played both games for the 'Cats, making 63 saves on 67 shots for a 1.98 GAA and a .940 SV%.

As a team over the weekend, the 'Cats went 1/5 (20%) on the PP, 7/8 (87.5%) on the PK, and won 60.9% of faceoffs.

Looking at the Wildcats
The 'Cats are coming off a weekend where they put up CCHA-top marks in goals (7), goals against (4), SV% (.933), FO% (56.9), and PPGs (3) in a crucial weekend against Michigan Tech, where the Green and Gold earned a crucial five of six possible points in the standings.

Freshman Kevin Marx Noren earned CCHA Rookie of the Week for his weekend, where he led the CCHA in points and assists over the weekend. Marx Noren is now fifth on the Wildcats in points and assists, along with sixth in assists and eighth in points among all CCHA freshmen. Since the turn of the calendar, Marx Noren leads all Wildcats in points and assists (1-5--6 pts, 8 games).

Both Michael Colella (3-2--5) and Artem Shlaine (2-3--5) are next behind Marx Noren in points since the turn of the calendar, and all of Marx Noren (0-4--4), Kristof Papp (1-1--2), Michael Mesic (1-1--2), and Josh Zinger (0-2--2) carry two-game point streaks into the weekend.

Goalie Beni Halasz posted solid numbers over the weekend with a 1.92 GAA and .933 SV% in 125 minutes of action. Of goalies that played two games over the weekend, Halasz was first in minutes (125), goals against (4), goals against average (1.92), and SV% (.933) with 56 saves.

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous has been nominated for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award. You can vote for Ghantous here
• Andre Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in points (51-97--148) in 162 games played. Ghantous currently sits T15 in career points, T-35 in career goals, 12th in career assists, and T5 in career games played in NMU program history
• Although he's been quiet recently, Ghantous leads the 'Cats in career points against the Beavers (3-14--17) in 14 games played. Colella leads all active skaters in goals with four (4-4--8) in 12 games, Shlaine is over a point per game (2-5--7) and Papp is right at a point per game (1-5--6) in six games played
• At home this season, Shlaine leads the 'Cats in points (6-8--14 pts in 10 games), followed by Ghantous (5-8--13 pts in 12 games) and Marx Noren (2-8--10 pts in 12 games)
• At even strength this year, Halasz has a .922 SV%, and Ghantous, Connor Eddy, and Michael Mesic all lead the team with four goals
• In six games played against the Beavers, Halasz is 4-2-0 with a .917 SV% and a 2.56 GAA with one shutout
• The 'Cats went 4-2-0 against Bemidji last season, including a 3-1-0 record at home. In all contests last year, the 'Cats averaged 2.8 G?G, 2.3 GA/G, a .923 SV%, 58.1% FO%, and 17/20 on the PK (85.0%)
• The 'Cats are dominant on home ice this season, as they are first in wins (8), losses (3), blocks (242), FO% (56.2%), second in GA/G (2.2), and third in GA (26), SV% (.917), PP% (22.7%) among CCHA schools
• The 'Cats are 8-3-1 at home, 6-6-1 when scoring first, and 8-1-1 when leading after the first period
• The 'Cats have scored at least one PPG in three consecutive home games (4/15, 26.7%), and have allowed 25 or fewer shots against in four of the past five home contests
• The race to three goals will be crucial this weekend; when scoring three or more goals this season, the 'Cats are 8-2-2 and the Beavers are 9-4-0.

Looking at the Beavers
The Beavers enter the weekend coming off a weekend split with soon-to-be CCHA opponent Augustana, controlling game one 5-0 before dropping game two 2-5. The Beavers were right up there with the 'Cats in total goals scored (7) and were a perfect 6/6 on the PK over the weekend.

Lleyton Roed has been far and away the best Beaver this season, as he leads the team in almost every offensive category (13-12--25), including five PPGs and three GWGs. Both Eric Martin (2-4--6 pts in 5 games)  and Jackson Jutting (3-2--5 pts in 4 games) are riding point streaks. Roed leads the Beavers in goals, assists, and points on the road this year (5-4--9 pts in 12 games), followed by Kyle Looft (0-6--6 pts in 8 games). Mattias Sholl has started 10 straight games for the Beavers, and holds season totals of 2.99 GAA and .901 SV%. On the road, Sholl holds a 1-4-1 record with a 3.34 GAA and .906 SV% this season.

The Beavers are near the bottom in the CCHA in almost every team statistical category, as they are 2-9-1 and hold the worst G/G average (2.1), SV% (.868), PP% (4.8%), the fewest saves (316), FO wins (315), PPGs (2), and second-worst GA/G (4.0) and PK% (68.5%).