Wildcat Hockey Team Ties Ferris; Fall In Shootout

This story was written by NMU Sports Informantion. (NMU Photo)

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The NMU hockey team concluded its final regular-season road trip in Big Rapids, ending in a 1-1 tie and ultimately falling 1-0 in a shootout.

A very even first period saw the 'Cats down a goal heading into the locker room, but the 'Cats responded exactly how they wanted to. The 'Cats scored two minutes into the second period, and dominated from then on out. From period two onwards, the 'Cats outshot the 'Dogs 17-5 and won 21 faceoffs to 13.

Both of the netminders played spectacular, but on senior night in Big Rapids, it was the goaltending of senior Noah Geisbrecht that kept the Bulldogs alive, making multiple ten-bell saves on 'Cats from grade-A positions in regulation, on the PK, and in the overtime and shootout frames that was the difference maker.

The Bulldogs scored in the first round of the shootout, and the trio of Grant Slukynsky, Matvei Kabanov, and Michael Colella were unable to solve Geisbrecht one-on-one, and the 'Cats skated away with one of three possible points on the evening.

The Wildcat power play, which was on a five-game streak coming into tonight with recording at least one goal (8/18, 44.4% in that span), went 0/4 on the evening, being shutout for the first time sine 1/27/24 when they were 0/1 against Minnesota State.

The Wildcats now move to 10-14-6 overall and 8-10-4 with 30 points in CCHA play, and the Bulldogs move to 10-21-2 overall and 6-16-1 with 19 points in CCHA play.

Rylan Van Unen opened the scoring for the 'Cats, registering his third goal of the season (3-6--9)
Kevin Marx Noren recorded an assist, giving him his 13th of the season and eighth point in six games
Tyrell Boucher recorded his first point of the season with a primary assist on the Van Unen goal
Beni Halasz stopped 17 of 18 shots, posting a .944 SV%
The 'Cats went 0/4 on the PP and 2/3 on the PK
The Wildcats are 2-4 in shootouts this season, being out scored 5-7 in the skills competition

The Bulldogs struck first on the power play, as the initial shot got blocked in front and the rebound landed on the stick of Zach Faremouth in the left circle who beat Halasz as he was trying to track the blocked shot.

Van Unen tied the game for the 'Cats three minutes into the period. Boucher walked the left blue line and fired a wrist shot towards the goal where Van Unen was setting a screen. Van Unen evaded the Bulldog defenseman and got his stick on the shot, changing its direction to beat the FSU netminder who was moving east-to-west.

Despite outshooting and out chancing the Bulldogs, neither team was able to score and this game went to overtime.

The goalies stood tall in overtime, both making crucial saves in the five minute span, and this game was determined in the shootout.

Stepan Pokorny scored in the first round of the shootout, and the skaters of Slukyksky, Kabanov, and Colella failed to beat Geisbrecht, as the Bulldogs earned the extra CCHA point.

The 'Cats return home for the regular season finale against the Bowling Green Falcons on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Saturday will serve as 'senior night' for the Wildcats.