Last weekend was the first away conference series for the NMU men’s club hockey team in St. Paul, Minn., against the University of St. Thomas Tommies. The first game ended in a tie but was followed by a win for the ’Cats, leaving them with three of the four possible points for the weekend.
Early on in the first period, the team scored its only goal and kept the 1-0 lead throughout a majority of the first game on Friday.
Head coach Carl Trosien said the team played well on Friday, especially considering the game was after an eight-hour bus ride.
“The first game was one of those games where there were lots of shots but nothing went into the back of the net,” Trosien said. “The guys outworked them; they just got a lucky shot in the last 12 seconds of regulation.”
During overtime, the ’Cats took a penalty that left them one man short for the final five minutes. Trosien said he gives freshman goalie Jeff Ryan credit for keeping the team in the game during regulation and overtime.
“Ryan was great, especially late in the game when he had two great saves,” Trosien said.
Ryan said his saves in regulation really boosted his confidence and he was able to stay focused in overtime.

“I stopped a break away and a two-on-one shot and was able to keep it 1-0 until the end of the third period,” Ryan said.

Freshman right wing Chris Adam, responsible for the only goal in the first game, said that during the second game it was the last two lines that really stood out and helped the team to an 8-2 victory.
“We bounced back in the second game. It was the third and fourth line that stepped up and showed what they could do,” Adam said.

Kellen Michalak, a junior right wing, accounted the team winning not only to the last two lines, but also to the team’s ability to stay out of the penalty box, as opposed to the first game.

“There was a big difference with no penalties in the second game; we did what we needed to win,” Michalak said. “Our third and fourth lines played their best game of the season. Guys that don’t normally score picked it up, and that helped us break away.”

Scoring the first goal of his career in the second game was freshman defenseman John Peterson.
“I was the eighth goal. There was a screen, and I put it low on the far right side,” Peterson said. “It felt amazing, and I was exhilarated after that.”

Peterson said the team is hyped after the big win on Saturday and is going to carry over the momentum to the tournament next weekend.

“It’s the first tournament, it’s at our home rink and it’s family weekend; we are all excited,” Peterson said. “We want to show the teams coming and our family and friends what we are made of.”

Trosien said he feels magic in this group that he has not had at previous colleges or seen here at NMU.
“There’s something about this group that hasn’t been here in the past,” Trosien said. “There’s potential to do some great things this season.”

The Wildcats play at 10:45 p.m. Thursday against Rhode Island College, at 7 p.m. Friday against Ferris State University and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday against Lake Superior State University, at the Berry Events Center.