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Northern Michigan University\u2019s Tobias Pitka, left, readies to take a shot while closely defended by Michigan Tech’s Jack Andresen during their CCHA hockey game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)<\/p>\n
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MARQUETTE \u2014 It\u2019s already getting to be nitty-gritty time for the hockey team at Northern Michigan University.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats play their second-to-last home series of the season this weekend when they host Bemidji State at the Berry Events Center. Friday\u2019s opening faceoff is at 7:07 p.m. with Saturday\u2019s at 6:07 p.m.<\/p>\n
The only other home series NMU has left is against Lake Superior State on Feb. 20-21, with a hoped-for CCHA first-round quarterfinal series set, almost guaranteed on the road, from March 6-8.<\/p>\n
Northern picked up its long-awaited second win last weekend, a 3-2 victory in Houghton against Michigan Tech, just a night after the Huskies hounded NMU 8-2 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats (2-24, 2-16 CCHA) had lost eight in a row, including Friday\u2019s worst setback of the season, since their other win, also 3-2 and also on the road at Bowling Green State on Dec. 5. That first win followed 16 straight losses to begin the season back in early October.<\/p>\n
Bemidji State, despite being sixth in the CCHA at 7-8-3, 9-14-3 overall, are in a big tailspin that NMU would love to continue.<\/p>\n
The Beavers have lost six in a row in regulation, and if counting a pair of shootout wins before that as official ties, have not won in their last 11 games, their last victory 6-2 over Northern on Nov. 22.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats will auction off a set of game-worn \u2018Cat Head\u2019 jerseys at Friday\u2019s game, with on-site bidding only before the game through the end of the second period. NMU also will hold its Skate With the Cats from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Berry.<\/p>\n
Last weekend didn\u2019t go as planned for Northern in the opener in Marquette, but a strong third period seemed to carry over for the hundred-mile trip to Houghton the next day.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Michigan) Tech was by far the better team for the first two periods,\u201d NMU head coach Dave Shyiak said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing this weekend\u2019s series. \u201cAnything that (could\u2019ve) gone wrong, went wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
It started with the Huskies putting three of their first four shots on goal into the net, chasing freshman sensation goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton in favor of veteran William Gramme, a transfer from the University of Wisconsin in the off-season.<\/p>\n
Though the latter lasted a period and a half, he allowed four more goals, making it 7-0 at the time, prompting Shyiak to bring in one of his newest players, Max Weilandt, who joined the team at the beginning of this month.<\/p>\n
Shyiak alluded to Saturday night\u2019s success stemming from the third period Friday. <\/p>\n
Between the second and third periods, his message to his Wildcats was \u201cLet\u2019s win the third period,\u201d which they would do as Peter Cisar and Matthew Argentina dinged the Huskies net as Weilandt only gave up one goal himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do it for ourselves, for our goaltender, and for our fans,\u201d Shyiak said he told the team. \u201cWe were able to win the third period \u2026 and I thought that was important to get some positivity and try to reach a goal on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he saw a change in mindset on Saturday, starting with a good team meeting in the morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur response and resiliency on Saturday (night) was awesome, especially playing in that venue against your rival,\u201d the second-year Northern coach said about Tech\u2019s John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. \u201cWe thought we played really well; we dictated the pace at 5-on-5, played on our toes, played downhill and threatened the net.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were way more connected, competed hard and did a lot of the good things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Auyeung-Ashton was credited for his resiliency, getting the Saturday start after his rough outing Friday.<\/p>\n
Already a Hobey Baker nominee and Mike Richter \u201cWatch List\u201d netminder, he made 42 saves, including 18 in the third period. The game total was his third most this season, the most since he made 43 vs. Colorado College on Oct. 17.<\/p>\n
\u201c(As a goalie), you have to be able to flush (being pulled like that),\u201d Shyiak said. \u201cHe\u2019s only had one or two off games this year, and he\u2019s giving us a chance to win every single night. <\/p>\n
\u201c(As a coach), you have to show belief and trust while tasking him to be better, and he responded. He came up with key saves at the right time, and we were finally able to get him some \u2018run\u2019 support.\u201d <\/p>\n
Amid the joyous bus ride back from Houghton, the coach emphasized to \u201cremember this feeling and what it took to get there\u201d and that \u201cwhat we did that night needs to be repeatable\u201d as the Wildcats now look to face off against a Bemidji State team that Shyiak describes as \u201cone of the fastest teams in the league.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c(The Beavers) were off to a good start; they\u2019ve been up and down recently, but they\u2019re a very good hockey team,\u201d Shyiak said. \u201cWe have to continue to get better, and I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve reached our ceiling yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cFriday night is going to be a great matchup and a good game.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if this is a good time to be facing the Beavers, his response was to not take them lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a wounded dog, and wounded dogs can be dangerous,\u201d he said about their losing streak. \u201cThey\u2019re itching to get back on track, as they had a really good start, and they\u2019re a good hockey team \u2026 I\u2019m not sure what their injury report is, they\u2019ve played some tough teams and lost some close games, but they\u2019re a very good hockey team. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur approach is we need to play our best game and continue to get better and consistent in how we play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bemidji senior forward Reilly Funk will make his return to the Berry, coming back to Marquette after spending three seasons with the Wildcats from 2021-24. Funk says that he \u201cknows nobody on the team\u201d since his departure two seasons ago, but will have family and friends in the stands.<\/p>\n
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee\u2019s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today<\/p>\n High school wrestling<\/p>\n Westwood, Menominee at Marquette triangular, 3:30 p.m. (auxiliary …<\/p>\n