Northern Michigan Season Preview

By Susannah Nichols/ Northern Michigan Beat Writer

NORTHERN MICHIGAN WILDCATS

Head Coach: Walt Kyle (9th season)

Home Arena: Berry Events Center (3,800 + 400 standing room)

Last Season: 20-13-8, 13-9-6-3 CCHA. Finished 4th in CCHA standings, runner-up in the tournament. Eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in first round in a 2OT loss to St. Cloud State.

Returning for the ‘Cats:
Goaltenders: Reid Ellingson, Devan Hartigan
Defense: Erik Spady, Andrew Fernandez, Kyle Follmer, Scott Macaulay
Forwards: Jared Brown, Andrew Cherniwchan, Justin Florek, Phil Fox, Tyler Gron, Greger Hanson, Kory Kaunisto, Nicholas Kosinski, Mike Maltese, Brian Nugent, Chad Pietila

Gone from Marquette:
Goaltenders: Brian Stewart
Defense: Erik Gustafsson, TJ Miller, Alan Dorich
Forwards: Ray Kaunisto, Mark Olver, Matt Butcher

New Kids in Town:
Goaltenders: Jared Coreau
Defense: Ryan Kesti, CJ Ludwig,
Forwards: Erik Higby, Jake Johnson, Sam Muchalla, Reed Seckel, Stephan Vigier

Outlook: Most Northern Michigan fans probably weren’t surprised when Mark Olver and Erik Gustafsson, the two most valuable players on last year’s squad, opted to forego their senior season to turn pro. Olver was a Hobey Baker finalist and the leading scorer in the CCHA. Gustafsson was arguably the one of the best offensive defenseman in the country. And even though last season’s successful season was by no means a two-man show, their departure begs the question: who will step up?

The ‘Cats’ first test of the season—an 11-0 drubbing of Nipissing University—suggests an answer: anyone who can. Seven different players scored in the exhibition game, but the season is young, and the stars are yet to be determined.

“We are going to be looking for, and trying to find, who’s going to fill those holes offensively,” reflects head coach Walt Kyle. Certain names come to mind: Greger Hanson, whose “dynamic offense” skills Kyle praises; Andrew Cherniwchan, a tough junior who can light the lamp when it counts; and Justin Florek, who Kyle says “came into his own last year. He started to make himself dangerous. He’s only getting better.”

In addition to the returning Wildcats, some of the most powerful contributions might come from the team’s newest members. Erik Higby, formerly of the NAHL Topeka RoadRunners, is expected to make a splash. Higby set a franchise record for total points in a season (80). His point total, as well assists in a single season (53) led the NAHL. Reed Seckel, coming from the USHL, and Stephan Vigier

Senior Phil Fox, who was injured for much of last season, returns to the ice not just as a possible scorer, but as team captain. “Phil Fox was as easy guy for us to name captain,” said Kyle. “He has been a real good honest soldier in his entire career. Phil is well respected in the room.”

On the blue line, Kyle Follmer spent much of last year playing alongside Gustafsson—and hopefully, that tutelage will pay off this year. Coach Kyle says that Follmer “really grew and developed and became a very good player throughout last year.” Follmer, along with Cherniwchan and Florek, will serve as an assistant captain this season.

But perhaps the biggest skates to fill are graduated goalie Brian Stewart’s: the ‘Cats have a long history of winning despite being outshot by their opponents, and Stewart was incredibly stalwart in net. The natural replacement is junior Reid Ellingson.

Says Kyle: “Reid is certainly a guy who’s paid his dues, has really matured as a kid. I’m really pleased with his development, his mentality… he’s a very capable goaltender. I’m really excited he’s going to get a chance to come in and prove what he can do.” But don’t count out junior Devan Hartigan, as well as Jared Coreau, a 6-5 freshman, both of who will look to make their own marks. Each goalie played a period against Nipissing, and not one of the three allowed a goal.

The Wildcats host face Michigan Tech and Minnesota-Duluth in the Superior Cup this weekend. They’ll face Michigan Tech again next Tuesday night, and then face Miami on the road before their home-opener against Ohio State.

Mercyhurst roars back to tie Michigan

By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat Writer

The perfect scenario for Michigan's 2010-2011 opener was set in place.

The Wolverines had methodically built a four-goal lead over the first half of the game at Yost Ice Arena against Mercyhurst on goals from Louie Caporusso, Scooter Vaughan, Greg Pateryn and a short-handed effort from Matt Rust.

Head coach Red Berenson was about to record his 700th career coaching victory.

Netminder Shawn Hunwick had blanked Mercyhurst, continuing his run of goaltending success stretching back to the Wolverines successful playoff effort from 2009-2010.

Mercyhurst managed to score their first goal late in the second period to inch a little closer, but the outcome didn't seem to be in doubt as the middle stanza came to a close.

Methodically, though, Mercyhurst added three more third period goals, increasing their momentum with each tally to tie the opener for both teams, 4-4. Five minutes of overtime couldn't decide a winner.

The two teams played an exhibition shootout which Mercyhurst won with their fifth shooter, but each team will be officially credited with tie.

“You shouldn't lose or tie a game when you have a 4-1 lead in the third period at home,” said Berenson of the disappointing result. “We couldn't bury it and then once they got a goal, they got some life and they took advantage. They were very opportunistic and it cost us the win.”

“Especially early on in the season, I think we got too content with where we were,” said senior alternate captain Rust. “The sign of a good team is not to let the waterfall effect happen.”

Michigan did allow the comeback, though, and the squad will have a full week of practice to think about just that and prepare to try to win number 700 for Berenson at a two-game series they have scheduled against Bowling Green next Friday and Saturday.

Bulldogs downed in exhibition by OIT

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State lost a 3-2 exhibition to the Ontario Institute of Technology on Saturday night, despite outshooting their opponent, 53-24.

Sophomore forward Travis Oullette put the Bulldogs ahead at 5:40 in the first period by banging in a rebound while on the man-advantage. Seniors Nate Hennig and Zach Redmond both earned helpers on the play.

The Ridgebacks evened-up the score with 2:34 left in the second period, as Josh Vatri snuck the puck past junior goaltender Taylor Nelson.

In the third period, momentum would quickly swing back and forth between the two teams. Ontario Tech took control of the game with a marker by Tony Rizzi just four minutes into the third, but the Bulldogs would answer back shortly thereafter with a lamplighter by freshman Garrett Thompson.

28 seconds later, the Ridgebacks would regain the lead on a game-winning goal by Brendan Wise.

Ferris State netminders Pat Nagle and Nelson combined for 21 saves, while Tech's Jeff Dawson finished with 51 stops.

The Bulldogs officially begin the 2010-2011 season on Oct. 7-8, when they travel to Alabama-Huntsville for a weekend series.

Warriors split opener with Bemidji State

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat Writer

The Wayne State Warriors (1-1-0) had a short bench and were heavily outgunned all weekend, but fought hard to split their two-game season opening set with the Bemidji State Beavers.

"We won the game, but we may have stolen one here too," said Wayne State Head Coach Jim Fetter after Saturday’s game. "I think Delyane played well and won the game for us. You’re not going to get a lot of opportunities too, so you have to take advantage. We did it and shot the puck with a purpose today."

Skating with 11 forwards and 5 defensemen, the Warriors were peppered in a 3-0 loss in Friday’s opener.

BSU’s second line of Erin Cody, Sadie Lundquist, and Emily Erickson registered all three goals for the Beavers.

Slovakian Olympian Zuzana Tomcikova totaled 27 saves between the Bemidji State pipes for her ninth career shutout.

The Warriors did get a few bright spots in the action as junior goaltender Delayne Brian (pictured) made 30 saves and the penalty kill unit allowed just one goal in seven BSU chances.

Wayne State was outshot by a large margin on Saturday, but took advantage of their opportunities in a 4-2 victory.

Julie Ingratta led the Warriors with a pair of power-play markers.

Her first came on a deflection of a Cari Coen shot from the blueline, just over three minutes into the game.

Goal number two came near the middle way point of the second period after the BSU defense coughed up the puck deep in the Beaver zone. Ingratta calmly took the puck, skated into the slot and buried her second of the game to make it a 3-1 game.

"We started off really fast and got those two goals on the power-play," said Brian. "That gave us a lot of momentum throughout the game and we just kept going from there. This gives us some confidence for the long trips ahead."

In between Ingratta’s goals, Veronique Laramee-Paquette added another extra strength marker and Alyssa Baldin also notched an even strength goal on a 2-1 rush at 9:52 of the second to close out the WSU scoring.

Erin Johnson and Emily Erickson scored for BSU who will move on to face the #5 Badgers in Wisconsin next weekend.

Brian stopped an additional 31 shots in net for WSU giving her 61 saves for the weekend.

Alana McElhinney stopped just 9 shots for BSU.

Wayne State will play their next eight games on the road starting on Friday night at St. Cloud State and then Saturday the Warriors will face #4 Minnesota.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks / WSU Athletics.