The Northern Michigan University hockey team dropped two games in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-2 on Friday and 3-1 on Saturday.
These stories and photo are courtesy of NMU Sports Information.
SATURDAY GAME RECAP
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Northern Michigan University hockey team rounded out its road non-conference schedule, falling 3-1 on an empty net goal to the No. 16 Ohio State Buckeyes.
It was all NMU in the opening five minutes, but two consecutive NMU penalties occurred soon after, giving OSU early opportunities. The 'Cats blanked both chances, as freshman goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made seven saves in the two combined short-handed situations to keep the game scoreless. A pair of goals in quick succession near the end of the frame would give the Buckeyes a two-goal lead after 20 minutes.
The second period went in favor of the Wildcats, as the team generated scoring chances while keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. Freshman Landon MacDonald opened his account in his collegiate debut, cutting the Buckeye lead in half with the first goal of his career. Minutes later, freshman Evan Johnson scored to tie the game, but a coach's challenge for goalie interference was successful, and the Buckeyes got a lucky bounce.
Auyeung-Ashton kept the 'Cats within one to start the third period, and NMU would end up getting chances to tie the game late in the final frame. The Wildcats had a few good looks on a power play and then with the goalie pulled before Felix Caron's clearance from the full length of the ice that bounced its way into the cage.
Girts Silkalns got the first point of his Wildcat career thanks to the primary assist on the MacDonald goal, and Joe Schiller got his second point in four games with the secondary helper.
NMU was outshot 48-24, OSU edged NMU in the faceoff dot 34-30, and both teams were unsuccessful on all of their power-play attempts. Michael Burchill had an exceptional day in the faceoff dot, pacing all centermen with 13 wins. Silkalns and Grayden Daul were both +1.
FRIDAY GAME RECAP
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Wildcats dropped its opening game in the weekend series against No. 16 Ohio State by a score of 5-2.
The Wildcats (0-3-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) got multi-point games from Peter Cisar (1-1--2) and Michael Burchill (1-1--2), both of them earning their first career collegiate goals and points. Tynan Ewart and Anthony Cliche also picked up assists.
William Gramme played the first 40 minutes and change before being replaced by Oliver Auyeung-Ashton 29 seconds into the third period. Gramme made 29 saves on 34 shots faced, and Auyeung-Ashton stopped all eight sent his way.
Caiden Gault and Kyle Bettens both recorded three shots on target, Tobias Pitka and Danny Ciccarello both led the team with seven faceoff wins, and Ewart, Bettens, and Burchill were all +1.
The Wildcats were unsuccessful on any of their three man-advantage opportunities, while the Buckeyes converted on a 5-on-3 before scoring as the second penalty expired on the ensuing 5-on-4, going 1/3 on the night, with an asterisk.
The Buckeyes (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) were led by Felix Caron, who potted a four-point night on two goals and two assists. Davis Burnside (1-1--2) and Broten Sabo (0-2--2) also recorded multi-point nights. Kristoffer Eberly made 13 saves from 15 on target, a .867 SV%.
