CAPPO CUP STAYS PUT: Wildcats Sweep Lakers

These stories were written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan University Hockey kept the Cappo Cup after defeating rival #18 Lake Superior State University 5-3 to sweep the series.

Lake State scored the first goal 3:24 into the game to take a lead but NMU answered with two power play goals. 16:16 into the period, the Wildcats made the game even with their first goal. With just 32 seconds left, NMU added a second goal to take a 2-1 lead after the first period. The Wildcats outshot the Lakers 7-6 as well.

Senior Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, Calif.) tied the game at the 16:16 mark with his first goal of the game and his 16th of the season, scoring from senior Adam Rockwood (Coquitlam, B.C.), who collected his 18thassist.

Three minutes later, Loggins scored again to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Junior Philip Beaulieu (Duluth, Minn.) tallied his 24th assist of the season while Rockwood notched his second assist of the night and 19th this year.

In the second period, NMU scored first just 2:12 in to take a 3-1 advantage. Despite outshooting the Lakers again, this time 15-10, LSSU was able to find the net twice and tied the score after the second period.

Freshman Garrett Klee (Morrison, Colo.) tallied his second career goal 2:12 into the second period, scoring off a pass from junior Darien Craighead (Surrey, B.C.). Craighead recorded his seventh assist of the year on the goal.

The Wildcats finished the game on a high note, scoring two goals to seal the win. One of the goals came on the power play and NMU finished 3-5 on the power play while Lake State finished the contest 0-4.

Senior Denver Pierce (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) scored the game-winning goal just 2:05 into the third period. Rockwood aided the goal with his third assist of the night and 20th of the year.

Six minutes later, Pierce sealed the win and put NMU on top 5-3, giving the Wildcats their third power play goal of the night. The senior's second goal of the game and ninth of the season came off passes from Rockwood and Craighead. Rockwood notched his fourth of the night, tying his career-high, and 21st this year while Craighead had his eighth.

Senior goaltender Atte Tolvanen (Vihti, Finland) made his 131st appearance and finished with 26 saves. He now has 3,345 saves in his career to stay in fourth place in the NMU record book. He is just 17 saves shy of reaching third place.

Tolvanen will continue to make his climb up the record book for the remainder of the season as he looks to break the career number of shutouts (13), career goaltender games played (133), career goal against average (2.24), and save percentage marks (.924).

The Wildcats improve to 17-15-2 on the season and are 16-9-2-0 in the WCHA while #18 LSSU fell to 20-11-2 overall and 15-10-2-0 in the league.

NMU returns to action on Friday night as they travel to rival Michigan Technological University. On Saturday, the teams face each other in the Berry Events Center. Prior to Saturday's matchup, the team will honor the seniors as part of Senior Night.

FRIDAY'S GAME SUMMARY

MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan University Men's Hockey scored three goals in the second period on their way to a 4-2 victory over Lake Superior State University Friday night in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play. The victory also moved the team into a three-way tie for second place.

The two teams were nearly even in the first period with NMU holding a slight 8-7 advantage on shots. The Wildcats struck first, scoring on their first power play 14:55 into the game but the 1-0 lead didn't last long. Just over two mintues later, the Lakers answered with a goal at 17:07 to send the game into a tie after the first period.

Junior Philip Beaulieu (Duluth, Minn.) put the Wildcats on the board when he scored a power play goal for his sixth goal of the season. The goal was assisted by senior Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, Calif.), for his 13th assist this year, and senior Adam Rockwood (Coquitlam, B.C.) on his 17th assist.

Northern Michigan controlled the second period as they outshot the Lakers 17-7 and put three goals in the net while Lake State only managed one to give NMU a lead after 40 minutes. 5:25 into the period, the Wildcats put one in, then followed it with another goal at 8:34 when NMU was able to score on the penalty kill for a short handed goal.

With the game 3-1, the Lakers answered at 9:32, but the Wildcats scored with just 17 seconds left in the period to take a 4-2 lead.

Rockwood scored his sixth goal of the season and the first of the quarter for NMU. Senior Denver Pierce (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) picked up his seventh assist, with Loggins getting his second assist of the night and 14th of the season.

The Wildcats scored their fifth short handed goal of the year when sophomore Joseph Nardi (Edmonton, Alta.) raced in for goal on the NMU penalty kill. Freshman Griffin Loughran (West Seneca, N.Y.) contributed his eighth assist this year. Senior Tony Bretzman (Mendota Heights, Minn.) notched his sixth assist as well.

With just 17 seconds to go in the period, freshman Ty Readman (Edmonton, Alta.) found the net for the fourth time this year, while Loughran tallied his ninth of the season and second of the game and Nardi picked up his ninth. The Wildcat defense finished off the game by not allowing LSSU goal as NMU captured the 4-2 victory.