MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team returns to the Berry Events Center this weekend for a pivotal CCHA matchup against the Bowling Green Falcons.
Puck drop between the Wildcats (4-21-1, 3-14-1 CCHA) and the Falcons (12-9-4, 8-6-4 CCHA) 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.
Saturday night's showdown will be
Yooper Night, featuring one-of-a-kind jerseys that pay tribute to the Upper Peninsula's hockey heritage. Fans will have the chance to take home a piece of the action as the jerseys will be silent-auctioned off to the public during the game. NMU will run the auction both in-venue and online through the NMU Facebook page.
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, January 31 - vs Bowling Green at 7:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio
Saturday, February 1 - vs Bowling Green at 6:07 PM
Tickets | Live Stats | Watch on MidcoSports | Live Audio
Dave Shyiak Mid-Week Press Availability
Hobey Baker Voting
- Netminder Ryan Ouellette has been nominated as a candidate for this year's Hobey Baker award.
- Awarded annually to college hockey's top player, fan-voting will run from Wednesday, January 22 until Sunday, March 9 at midnight.
- Fans can cast their vote by going to the Hobey Baker website here.
Last six games
- Since the turn of the calendar, the Wildcats have been locked in a back-and-forth battle, splitting their last six games with a 3-3 record
- Showing strength in the faceoff circle, the 'Cats have won 52.5% of their draws, which is second among conference teams
- The 'Cats have allowed the fourth-fewest goals against (17) and only nine goals allowed at five-on-five, which is third-fewest among conference teams
- Offensively the Wildcats have nearly doubled their scoring output, averaging 2.2 goals per game compared to averaging just 1.3 goals per game before the break.
- They've also tightened up defensively, reducing their goals against per game average from 3.5 per game in the first semester to 2.8 since returning from break.
- Since January 10 (the start of the six-game stretch)…
- Ryan Duguay is second in the conference and 11th nationally with five goals in six games played. Duguay also leads the CCHA in PPGs with three.
- Jakub Altrichter is fourth in the conference in points with eight and third in assists with five (3-5--8). Altrichter also leads the conference in plus-minus (+6).
- Jesse Tucker is fourth in the conference with 62 faceoff wins. Of CCHA centermen with 100 or more faceoffs, Tucker is sixth in FO% at 53.4%
- Goaltender Ryan Ouellette is third among conference netminders with 147 saves. Of CCHA goalies with six games played in that span, Ouellette's GAA and SV% are both second.
- Tynan Ewart is first in the conference and fifth in the nation with 17 blocks. Anthony Cliche is second in the conference and ninth in the nation with 16.
- The Wildcats lead the nation with 123 blocks
'Cats vs. Falcons
- With the regular season winding down, every point matters. Bowling Green is fighting to secure home ice for the first round of the CCHA Playoffs, while NMU looks to get crucial conference wins to advance to the playoffs.
- NMU holds 64-59-11 overall and 33-27-8 home records against the Falcons dating back to 1976.
- In the last 12 meetings between the two sides, NMU is 8-4-0 and 3-1 at home in that span.
- The 'Cats last played the Falcons right before the holiday break, losing 2-0 and 3-4 in Bowling Green.
- In those two games, Aidyn Hutchinson had a goal and an assist while seven other 'Cats recorded a point, including goals from Tucker and Cliche.
- Falcon senior forward Brody Waters (14-5--19) has been the team's primary offensive contributor, leading the CCHA with 14 goals, which ranks 11th nationally.
- Waters leads the nation in power-play goals with nine on the season.
- Ryan O'Hara (7-15--22) has been a key player for Bowling Green in the new year. In the last eight games, O'Hara has registered 10 points from six goals and four assists.
- Sophomore Ben Doran (6-8--14) has provided solid scoring with 14 points on the season. Doran is also a strong faceoff option, winning 55.7% of his draws in the last eight games.
- Christian Stoever has proved to be one of the top goalies in the nation, currently holding a .948 SV% and 1.72 GAA.
- Nationally, Stoever's SV% is second and his GAA is sixth.
- A strong team in the faceoff dot, the Falcons lead the conference in faceoff wins (856) and faceoff win percentage (53.2%).
- The Falcons and the Wildcats enter the weekend as the only two teams in the CCHA without a shorthanded goal.
