This past weekend the NMU hockey team saw two tough losses to their biggest rival, Michigan Tech. NMU drops to 0-12 early on the season as the Huskies rise to 7-3.
The first game between the two teams was held at Michigan Tech. The Wildcats were unable to come away with the win, allowing four goals but managing to score one on the game.
“Obviously they’re a good opponent. They’re a good team. Not the start we wanted..I thought we missed three maybe four breakaways and we’ve had this conversation just last week. We have difficulty scoring and you need to score at the right times too, especially on the road and at home. We’ve been unable to do that,” Head Coach Dave Shyiak said.
The one goal on the night for the Wildcats was scored by sophomore forward Jakub Altrichter. The first goaltender that started out in the game for the ‘Cats was junior William Gramme, who allowed all four goals but saved nine. Gramme was later pulled from the game and replaced by freshman Oliver Auyeung-Ashton who allowed zero goals while saving 18. At the final whistle the ‘Cats fell 4-1 as they returned home, awaiting the Huskies’ arrival to the Berry the next day.
“They got to just play better the next shift. We’re a team still learning how to win. Again, we’ve said this through and through. The older upperclassmen that we have on our team, they’ve never won. So, there’s a way to win and there’s a process to do it and we’re still going through that and it’s been an obviously tough stretch, and we’re going through some growing pains, but we are getting better,” Shyiak said.
In the second night of the series on Saturday, the Huskies made their way to the Berry. The ‘Cats again were unable to come away with the win in front of the home crowd, falling again to the rival 2-4.
In this game the ‘Cats fought hard, starting off the game with the first goal and ending the period 1-1. From there the ‘Cats gave up two goals in the second period, while unable to find the net themselves. In the third period the Wildcats gave up one final goal, but were able to score their second of the night, closing out the game 4-2. In the net for the ‘Cats was again Auyeung-Ashton. The two Wildcat goals on the night were score by Altrichter and sophomore defenseman Joe Schiller.
“You know, we’re not getting the points. We’re not getting the results we want…. That’s frustrating that obviously with some of the losses um but you know what, we’ve got lots of hockey ahead of us…reset and you know feel good about ourselves going into next week,” coach Shyiak said.
This weekend the ‘Cats will be on a bye.
The next time the ‘Cats take the ice will be at Bemidji State on Nov. 21 then again on Saturday the 22nd, hoping to put some numbers in the win column.
“That the only way you can learn it, is through experience, game experience, and we’ve addressed it,” Coach Shyiak said.
