This story was written by NMU Sports Information

Northern Michigan University Men's Ice Hockey (5-7-0, 4-2-0-0 WCHA) picked up their first series sweep of 2018-19 with a 2-1 defeat of the University of Alaska Anchorage (1-8-1, 0-7-1-0 WCHA) Saturday evening on "Munising Night". The victory also gave the Wildcats their seventh-consecutive win over the Seawolves.

It did not take long for the Wildcats to get on the scoreboard during the second game of the series. Senior forward Adam Rockwood (Coquitlam, British Columbia) scored his second goal of the season 3:52 into the opening period with assists coming from junior forward Darien Craighead(Surrey, British Columbia) and senior defenseman Tony Bretzman (Mendota Heights, Minnesota).

NMU went on to outshoot the Seawolves, 11-3, in the first period with a pair of Wildcats attempting two shots each in freshman forward Vincent de Mey (Los Angeles, California) and freshman forward Grant Loven (East Grand Forks, North Dakota). 

In the second period, the UAA offense came alive taking a series high 13 shots. Their effort was enough to tie the game at one goal each nearly five minutes into the period. Despite the offensive outburst by the Seawolves, the Wildcats still managed to outshoot their opponents in the period, 16-13.

The game remained tied for much of the third period, but the Wildcats were getting plenty of chances, outshooting UAA, 13-6, in the period. With just shy of a minute remaining, Craighead ended the tie after he sent the game winning goal into the back of the net for his fifth of the season.
 

A Seawolf defender tried to clear the puck but it was intercepted near the UAA blue line by junior defender Philip Beaulieu (Duluth, Minnesota). He sent the puck over to Craighead who connected on the game-winner. After earning an assist in the first period, Craighead now has seven games in his career with multiple points.

Senior goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland) moved to 5-7-0 on the season with his second win in as many nights. He made 21 shots in the fame including a series-high 12 in the second period. For the season, Tolvanen now owns a .917 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.42.

A pair of Wildcats have continued their climb up the Wildcat record book this season in Beaulieu and Tolvanen. Beaulieu is now 17th for career points by a defenseman and 16th for career assists by a defenseman with 70 and 55. Tolvanen is ranked in the top-five in five of six career goaltender categories. He needs just four wins to also enter the career top-five in that category.

The Wildcats will take their win streak on the road next weekend when they travel to Lake Superior State University. The two teams compete each year for the Cappo Cup with NMU winning the season series each of the past two seasons.  

FRIDAY GAME RECAP

MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan University Men's Ice Hockey (4-7-0, 3-2-0-0 WCHA) opened up a series with the University of Alaska Anchorage (1-7-1, 0-6-1-0 WCHA) by getting a 3-0 victory. The win marked the third shutout of the season for the Wildcats who will look for their first series sweep of the season on Saturday.

The Wildcat offense was the story of the first period with NMU outshooting the Seawolves, 14-4. Senior forward Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) had three shots in the period while junior defenseman Philip Beaulieu (Duluth, Minnesota) and freshman forward Vincent de Mey(Los Angeles, California) each had a pair.
 

As the period was winding down, senior defenseman Tony Bretzman (Mendota Heights, Minnesota) found the first goal of the game when the puck ricocheted over the UAA goaltender. Sophomore defenseman Caleb Schroer (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) and freshman forward Garret Klee (Morrison, Colorado) each picked up assists on the score as the Wildcats took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

NMU went up a pair of goals near the midway point of the second period when de Mey connected for his first goal in a Wildcat sweater. Both of his line mates, sophomore forward Joseph Nardi (Edmonton, Alberta) and Loggins, were credited with assists on the score. For Nardi it was his third assist this season while Loggins added his fifth. 
 

With an on-ice advantage later in the period, Loggins netted his first goal of the weekend and fourth of the season. His power play goal came at 16:29 and was assisted by senior forward Adam Rockwood (Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Beaulieu. For Loggins, the goal marked the 16thmultipoint game of his career and second on as many games.

The third period was much of the same with the Wildcats outshooting UAA, 8-6, and finishing the contests with a 30-18 shot advantage. NMU did not allow a Seawolf goal in the final period, taking a 3-0 victory in their return to Western Collegiate Hockey Association action. The Wildcats earned a 3-0 shutout making it the third time this season they have blanked their opponent.

Senior goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland) continued his climb up the NMU record book with his third shutout of the season. He now has 11 for his career, good enough for second-most in program history. Tolvanen recorded the shutout after stopping 18 shots to give him 2,809 for his career. That total moves the senior past volunteer assistant coach Dieter Kochan for fifth-most in NMU history. 
 

For the season, Tolvanen has 276 saves which is currently tied for fourth-most in the NCAA and the most in the WCHA. His save percentage and goals against average both improved to .914 and 2.38 after Friday's win.