NMU Hockey Wins Tune-Up Game Over U-Victoria
MARQUETTE---Eight different players had multi-point outings as the Northern Michigan hockey team dismantled the University of Victoria, 10-1, in its season-opening exhibition game Sunday night at the Berry Events Center.
The Wildcats got on the board just 3:06 into the game when Casey Purpur won a battle behind the net and sent the puck to Sami Salminen on the left edge of the slot for the score.
Purpur found the back of the net himself at 15:37, taking a cross-ice pass from Philip Beaulieu at the blue line and skating in a few steps before rifling a shot past Zach Wear.
Northern Michigan's offensive onslaught began just 54 seconds into the second frame when Robbie Payne fed Beaulieu at the edge of the slot, and Beaulieu laced a shot into the right corner of the net, popping the water bottle in the process.
After that, the flood gates opened. The Wildcats scored three goals, including two on the man advantage, in a seven-minute window to build a 6-0 advantage. First, Salminen netted his second of the game at 2:04, potting a rebound off a Wear kick save.
Then, at 4:33, Darien Craighead won a battle along the boards to start a 3-on-1. Craighead fed the puck over toJordan Klimek on the left wing, and Klimek found the space between Wear's blocker and the post.
Zach Diamantoni capped the outburst at 8:17 after forcing a turnover in front of the net. Payne came up with the puck and fired a shot on net, and Diamantoni flipped home the big rebound.
Collin Peters tacked on a goal with just under five minutes remaining in the middle stanza when Salminen disrupted a breakout behind the net and sent the puck to him in the slot for the bang-bang goal and a 7-0 advantage.
The University of Victoria got on the board just 1:05 into the final frame, but Northern Michigan responded immediately. At 3:12, Payne scored the Wildcats' third power play marker of the game; after Brock Maschmeyerfaked a shot at the right point to draw the defenders, he dished it over to Payne for the one-timer tally.
Diamantoni netted his second of the game at 7:21 after Mathias Israelsson came up with a big save on an odd-man rush. Craighead came up with the puck and sent it ahead to Diamantoni, who laid it over to Payne on the left wing. Payne gave it right back to him on the right edge of the crease for the tap-in goal.
Filip Starzynski got Northern Michigan into the double digits with just 18 seconds remaining, tipping a Beaulieu point shot past Wear.
Payne (1g-4a) led the charge offensively while Salminen (2g-1a), Diamantoni (2g-1a), Beaulieu (1g-2a), Purpur (1g-2a) Craighead (3a), Klimek (1g-1a) and Maschmeyer (2a) also had multi-point outings.
The Wildcats held a 42-18 advantage in shots on goal. Israelsson finished with 13 saves while Atte Tolvanenmade four.
Northern Michigan begins regular season play next weekend, facing Wisconsin at the Resch Center Oct. 7-8. Each game starts at 8 p.m.
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