Skip To Main Content

Northern Michigan University

The Official Website of the Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Wildcats
final
0
Northern Mich. UNM 3-29-2, 3-21-2
3
Winner Minnesota St. MSU 18-9-7, 14-7-5
Northern Mich. UNM
3-29-2, 3-21-2
0
Final
3
Minnesota St. MSU
18-9-7, 14-7-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Northern Mich. UNM 0 0 0 0
Minnesota St. MSU 1 0 2 3

Game Recap: Hockey |

Hockey Falls in Season Finale against #18 Minnesota State

With a little help in other games, the Minnesota State Mavericks were crowned MacNaughton Cup Champions

MANKATO, Minn. -- The NMU hockey season came to a close with a 3-0 loss to #18 Minnesota State.

The Wildcats (3-29-2, 3-21-2 CCHA) got great goaltending from Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, who made 32 saves for a .942 SV%. Caiden Gault led the team with eight shot attempts, and Joe Schiller led the 'Cats with three blocks. 

With the win tonight and a lot of results in other CCHA contests going their way, the Mavericks (18-9-7, 14-7-5 CCHA) won the MacNaughton Cup Championship as the regular season champions for the CCHA. Heading into the final day of conference play, 17 different combinations of outcomes were possible for crowning regular-season champions. 

Evan Murr opened the scoring, capping off a solo effort as the teams skated at four on four. Freshman netminder Auyeung-Ashton had to be sharp, making 12saves in the opening frame, including a handful of saves on three separate Wildcat penalties.

The Mavericks added a pair of goals in the third period, one while Auyeung-Ashton was halfway to the bench, followed by an empty net goal, and the game would end 3-0.

'Cat Nips
  • NMU has been shutout 4 times in final games of a season (2025/26, 3-0 vs Minnesota State; 2017/18, 2-0 vs MTU in the WCHA Championship; 2003/04, 4-0 vs Miami (OH) in the CCHA third-place game; 1988/89, 2-0 vs Providence in the first round of the NCAA Tournament).



How It Happened
The Maverick defenseman was given time and space during the four-on-four, where he walked around the top of the right circle before charging down the slot. Murr, one-on-one with Auyeung-Ashton, made a move to the backhand and beat the outstretched netminder.

Dave Shyiak called Auyeung-Ashton to the bench with two minutes to go, and while halfway to the bench, the Mavericks corralled the puck and broke out of the zone. Somoza found the loose puck at center ice and fired one into the yawning cage before Auyeung-Ashton could fully recover.

The Mavericks added its third into the empty net shortly after.



 
Print Friendly Version