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Northern Michigan University

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Michael Burchill
Mikey Burchill lines up against Cullen Potter
1
Northern Michigan NMU 1-3-0
5
Winner Michigan St. MSU 2-0-0
Northern Michigan NMU
1-3-0
1
Final
5
Michigan St. MSU
2-0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Northern Michigan NMU 0 1 0 1
Michigan St. MSU 1 3 1 5

Game Recap: Hockey | | Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Wildcats Close Out Weekend against #3 Michigan State

Three-goal second period propels the Spartans over the Wildcats

LANSING, Mich. -- The NMU hockey team rounded out the weekend in East Lansing, falling to the #3 Michigan State Spartans 5-1.

The Wildcats (1-3-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) trailed MSU (2-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) 1-0 after the first period, and an early second-period goal from Mikey Burchill evened the score at 1-1. The Spartans added three tallies in the middle stanza, including power-play and short-handed goals, and would carry a 4-1 lead through 40 minutes. 

Burchill notched his first goal of the season and sixth tally of his collegiate career, and Mathew Ward picked up his second assist of the campaign. Goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 28 saves in the contest.

A late power-play goal would end the weekend scoring in a weekend where special teams were a focus. The Spartans held NMU scoreless on its three chances, went 2/3 on its own chances, and scored a shorthanded goal. On the weekend, the 'Cats were 0/8 on the man advantage and 6/13 on the penalty kill.

After being outshot 42-18 on Friday night, the Wildcats were able to generate more offense on Sunday afternoon, with MSU holding a slim 30-33 advantage and matching MSU in shots on goal at 19-19 in the final two periods.

The Wildcats return home for its final of three non-conference matchups to open the 2026/27 campaign, hosting the Stonehill Skyhawks to the Berry Events Center. Puck-drop is 7:07 p.m. ET on Friday, October 16, and 6:07 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 17.

After going down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes of the opening period on Friday, this time it was the 'Cats turn to jump out of the gate, as NMU produced some good looks, had the period's only power-play opportunity, and the defense held the Spartans to just two shots on target in the first 10 minutes of play. A counterattack after a tough bounce at the Spartan blueline led to Jimmy Clark scoring his first as a Spartan from a bang-bang passing play on a three-on-two. Goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made big saves when he needed to, including a full-extension split save on 2024 1st-rounder Cayden Lindstrom. 
 
NMU drew even early in the middle frame, as a save from Auyeung-Ashton sprung Mathew Ward on a breakout. Ward found a streaking Burchill in behind the Spartan defense, and he fired home his first of the season on the far side over the pad and under the blocker of goaltender Quentin Sigurdson.
 
With all the momentum and an ensuing power play opportunity, Aapo Katavisto just sent a shot over the net and narrowly missed giving NMU a one-goal lead. Auyeung-Ashton made a breakaway save on one end, but the Spartans were awarded a power play; a blast from the point going wide hit the midsection of Ethan Belchetz on the far post, and the shot redirected into the back of the net.

Girts Silkalns eluded a defender and sent a back-door tap-in to Katavisto that sailed just over the freshman's stick. MSU took advantage of some NMU mishaps to end the period; a failed clear attempt led to Ryker Lee doubling the lead, and Anthony Romani used a burst of speed to beat a Wildcat defender before making a nifty toe drag and sliding it past Auyeung-Ashton.

Jack Hextall smashed home a one-timer on the power play in the third period to close out the scoring, and the game came to a close at 5-1. 




 
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