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Noah Houle
Noah Houle takes a shot on goal vs Stonehill

Hockey Jack Nelson - Athletics Communications Assistant

PREVIEW: Wildcat hockey opens conference play at #11 Augustana

The Vikings are just one of two teams who remain undefeated and have played 6+ games

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The NMU hockey team opens play in the CCHA this weekend on the road against the #11 Augustana Vikings.

Puck drop between the Wildcats (2-4-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) and Vikings (5-0-1, 0-0-0 CCHA) is set for 8:07 ET on Friday, October 30, and 7:07 ET on Saturday, October 31. 

Fans can live stream both games through MidcoSports Plus or tune in to 100.3 The Point of the Radio Results Network. Fans can also follow along with live stats and post-game coverage provided through nmuwildcats.com, and subscribe to the official NMU hockey social media accounts for coverage all throughout the weekend.

NMU's hockey squad is coming off a bye week and has not played since October 16 & 17, when it split a weekend series at home against (RV) Stonehill. The 'Cats took game one of that series by a tally of 5-1, before falling in OT the following night by a score of 1-2. 

After the Stonehill series, Northern's freshman center Owen Pitters was named the CCHA Rookie of the Week, thanks to his four-point showing over the two games. The Michigan native led the CCHA in numerous statistical categories that weekend, including assists (3), points (4), and shots (9), while also marking a +4 rating. 

After a week of rest, Pitters and the rest of the 'Cats should be entering the weekend hungry to get back on the ice.

"[W]e don't control the bye weeks," said head coach Dave Shyiak in his weekly media availability. "What we do control is maintaining our conditioning level [and] our timing… So, how we prepared this week was a lot of five-on-five. We want to keep it simulated to five-on-five action, which is what they're going to see this week, and then see some other guys be given some more opportunities to see where they may fit in. Because right now, I don't think anybody is solidified in our lineup. It's still early in the season, and when we're playing well, we're a four-line-deep team. We just need to see that on a more consistent basis. 

"So, the bye week, I thought we did a good job with it. It was more of a mental refresher, and then it gives us a chance to continue to get better with our habits and our systems. Tightening up some things to help us better prepare for Friday."

Individually, Michael Burchill and Owen Pitters are pacing the squad with 4 points apiece. Darik Olson, Mathew Ward, and Joe Schiler have all contributed 3 points as well. Sophomore netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton has recorded 172 saves thus far, good for a .915 SV%, while also posting a shutout in the season opener against Miami OH back on October 2.

Augustana enters the series off a road series, sweeping the Ohio State Buckeyes last weekend. The Vikings escaped game one on October 23 in OT by a score of 3-2, before adding another mark to the victory column on October 24, winning 4-3.

The Vikings are just one of two teams who have played six or more contests and remain undefeated: the team is 5-0-1 through six contests, joining #1 Michigan (7-0-0) as the only other team.

"I think Augustana is the best team in the league. And the reason why they're the best team: they play as a team. They're fundamentally sound, they skate, and it's hard to create offense. They wait for other teams to make mistakes, and they capitalize on it. We can't give them easy offense, and that's been the message all along. They're good. 

"I think for us, heading into conference play, going on the road, I think our guys are excited for it. I think to open up league play against the best in the league right now might be an indicator [of] where we're at with our team this early in the season."




 
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Players Mentioned

Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

#30 Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

G
5' 10"
Sophomore
Michael Burchill

#18 Michael Burchill

F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Mathew Ward

#10 Mathew Ward

F
5' 9"
Sophomore
Darik Olson

#22 Darik Olson

D
6' 2"
Freshman
Owen Pitters

#28 Owen Pitters

F
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

#30 Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

5' 10"
Sophomore
G
Michael Burchill

#18 Michael Burchill

5' 10"
Sophomore
F
Mathew Ward

#10 Mathew Ward

5' 9"
Sophomore
F
Darik Olson

#22 Darik Olson

6' 2"
Freshman
D
Owen Pitters

#28 Owen Pitters

6' 1"
Freshman
F