Stories, Photos Courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear RRN's Austin Graham interview Ast Coaches Chris Kamal and Phil Fox.
SATURDAY GAME RECAP
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan hockey team (5-7-0, 3-3-0 CCHA) took down the No. 1 CCHA-ranked Bowling Green Falcons (6-6-0, 4-2-0 CCHA) tonight at the Berry Events Center, finishing the weekend with its first home sweep of the season.
In contrast to last night's game, the 'Cats started strong, ending the first period with a commanding 2-0 lead over the Falcons. In the opening 20 minutes, NMU outshot the Falcons by nearly double, tallying 24 shots to BGSU's 13.
The Falcons would even the score at 2-2 in the second period. Mikey Burchill tacked on a goal midway through the period, helping the 'Cats regain a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes.
In the third, Brandon Piku deflected a shot in front to extend NMU's lead to 4-2 with just over four minutes to go. With the net empty and on a power play, the Falcons cut the deficit to 4-3 with 25 seconds left. In a final defensive effort from the 'Cats, Peter Cisar quickly gained control of the puck and scored an empty-netter in the final second to seal a hard-fought win for NMU.
"We played our game on our toes, we played tough, and that's a really good hockey team on the other side," said coach Dave Shyiak. "I am happy for our young group. They are starting to understand that it takes a total team effort, and they showed that tonight."
NMU recorded 28 shots on goal. The Wildcats were 2-for-3 on the power play, while the Falcons were 0-for-2.
Five Wildcats recorded multi-point nights, with Piku and Cisar each contributing a goal and an assist. Cisar and Ian Engel each recorded a +2 rating to lead NMU. Evan Depatie led the 'Cats in shots (8), while Mathew Ward led in shots on goal (5).
Guarding the goal again was sophomore goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, who recorded 22 saves for an .880 save percentage.
The sweep marks the first at home for the Wildcats since taking two games against the Falcons on March 1-2, 2024.
The 'Cats got off to a fiery start in the first period, with junior forward Medrick Bolduc tipping in a goal off a misdirected pass from the Falcons' Carson Campbell. This marked the first goal of the season for Bolduc, with assists credited to freshman defenseman Jason Davenport and sophomore defenseman Engel.
In the final minute of the first period, BGSU's Brayden Crampton drew a hooking penalty, allowing the 'Cats a power-play opportunity. After an initial attempt from freshman defenseman Depatie was blocked by the Falcons' goalie, he skated around the back of the net with determination and swatted the loose puck into the goal, marking his first collegiate goal. Depatie's goal was assisted by senior forward Branden Piku and junior forward Grayden Slipec.
After establishing a 2-0 lead going into the second period, the Falcons stormed back with an answer. Even after a five-minute major penalty put the Falcons shorthanded, Dominik Rymon rocketed the puck cleanly past Auyeung-Ashton, marking their first goal of the night. The Falcons' Peteris Bulans then scored just three minutes later to tie the game at 2-2.
With the score even, the 'Cats kept fighting to take back the lead. Burchill charged ahead to score NMU's third goal, assisted by Cisar and Engel, marking Engel's second assist of the night.
Entering the third period, Piku led the charge for the Wildcats on a power play. He fired a long-range shot from the blue line that flew past BGSU's goalie and into the net, adding another goal for NMU. Slipec was credited with the assist.
With time winding down in the third period, the Wildcats drew a high-sticking penalty with 1:26 left, giving BGSU a power-play advantage. The Falcons pulled their goalie in a last-ditch comeback attempt, creating a six-on-four situation. Brody Waters scored for the Falcons, bringing the score to 4-3.
With half a minute left in the game, the 'Cats formed a defensive blockade around goaltender Auyeung-Ashton to prevent the Falcons from getting another one past him. Cisar suddenly gained control of the puck for the 'Cats and, with just seconds remaining, shot it into the empty net for a buzzer-beater goal to finish off the game.
FRIDAY GAME RECAP
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan hockey team (4-7-0, 2-3-0 CCHA) electrified the home crowd at Berry Events Center on Friday night, rallying from a two-goal third-period deficit to earn a 4-3 comeback victory over the No. 1 CCHA-ranked Bowling Green Falcons (6-5-0, 4-1-0 CCHA).
Down 3-1 in the third, the Wildcats scored three unanswered goals, capped by Aapo Katavisto's first career goal with just 1:10 remaining in regulation to complete the comeback.
"We had really good pushback, and when we got that second goal, I thought we took it over," said head coach Dave Shyiak. "We are a four-line team, and everyone chipped in. It was a grindy type of game, and I thought our team responded well."
NMU found itself trailing 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 after two, with Girts Silkalns providing the Wildcats' lone goal through 40 minutes. After Bowling Green extended its advantage to 3-1, Coster Dunn brought NMU within one before Grayden Slipec redirected a shot into the net less than two minutes later to even the score. With momentum firmly on their side, the Wildcats completed the comeback when Katavisto beat the goaltender glove side with 70 seconds left.
NMU recorded a season-high 32 shots on goal, while the Falcons put 30 on target. Each side was 1-3 on the power play. Kasavisto and Evan Depatie lead all skaters in plus-minus, with a +2 rating. Leading all skaters in shots and shots on goal was Coster Dunn, with 10 and five, respectively.
Dunn also led in faceoffs won along with teammate Reilley Kotai, with a total of 8 each. NMU was 22-30 on the faceoff dot as a team.
Holding it down between the pipes was sophomore goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, tallying 27 saves for the 'Cats for a 0.900 SV%.
The Wildcats are now 16-15-6 overall on Friday the 13th, including 3-3 against the Falcons.
The Falcons scored the first goal of the game just over six minutes into the first period, catching the 'Cats at a defensive fault. Brody Waters picked up the score for the Falcons.
BGSU dominated the 'Cats in faceoffs throughout the opening period, winning 13 to NMU's five. The 'Cats fought back, but drew two penalties that left them shorthanded. They were unable to capitalize on any shot attempts.
After trailing the Falcons 1-0 after 20 minutes, the 'Cats bounced back with a bar-down goal from senior forward Girts Silkalns at 6:13 in the second period, recording his first point of the season. The goal was assisted by freshman defenseman Darik Olson, marking his first collegiate career assist.
About three minutes later, the Falcons answered on the power play when Ben Doran collected a loose puck in front of the goalie and ushered it to the back of the net. The Falcons led 2-1 after two.
Starting off the third period, the Falcons extended their lead to 3-1. On another loose puck in front, Ty Cheveldayoff's backhand shot went five-hole for the goal and 3-1 cushion.
The 'Cats followed up with a fake-out goal by freshman forward Coster Dunn, who missed the puck on his initial shot attempt, but then drilled the second attempt into the back of the net. The goal was assisted by freshman forward Aapo Katavisto and sophomore forward Peter Cisar.
With less than ten minutes left in the game, the 'Cats amped up their intensity on the ice for the remainder of the third period. After a holding penalty was called against Bowling Green, the 'Cats used the power play to their advantage, with junior forward Grayden Slipec lighting the lamp at 12:21 and tying up the score to 3-3. The goal was assisted by Michael Burchill, marking his fourth assist of the season so far.
With only 1:10 left in the game, sophomore forward Mathew Ward dished a clean assist across the ice to a trailing Aapo Katavisto, who shot it past the Falcons' goalie glove side, scoring his collegiate goal in heroic fashion and securing another hard-fought conference win for the Wildcats.
