The Northern Michigan men’s hockey team endured a difficult weekend against in-state rival LSSU, falling twice as the Lakers secured the season series and retained the Cappo Cup for a third consecutive year.
Friday night at the Berry Events Center turned into an offensive showcase, but it was Lake Superior State that ultimately glided away with a 7-5 W. The loss pushed the Lakers to a 3-0 advantage in the in-season Cappo Cup series, ensuring the trophy will remain in Sault Ste. Marie for another year.
The Wildcats opened the scoring on the power play, as Michael Burchill wired home a wrister after crisp puck movement from the first unit. Tynan Ewart added his first goal of the season later in the frame, giving NMU a 2-0 lead after one. However, momentum shifted quickly in the second period. A fortunate bounce led to a Hunter Ramos goal just 24 seconds in, and the Lakers capitalized on special teams throughout the night, finishing 3-for-8 on the power play.
Despite being outshot 34-28, the Wildcats controlled the faceoff circle (37-24) and blocked 17 shots. Five different NMU skaters recorded multi-point performances — Burchill, Ewart, Mathew Ward, Joe Schiller and Peter Cisar each tallied a goal and an assist. Ward’s short-handed schnipe after an errant Laker clearance just 19 seconds into the third period tied the game at 3-3 and briefly reignited the Berry crowd.
But LSSU responded with three consecutive goals, including two just 18 seconds apart, to seize control. NMU pushed late, with Schiller scoring on the man advantage and Cisar adding a goal with the net empty to cut the deficit to one. An empty-netter in the final half-minute sealed the 7-5 decision.
Notably, the Wildcats set season highs in goals (5), assists (8), points (13) and power-play goals (2). Historically dominant when scoring five or more, NMU’s loss marked a rare defeat in such circumstances.
Saturday’s senior night contest proved equally frustrating. After honoring seniors Nicolas Ardanaz, Ewart, Zane Demsey, Caiden Gault, Kyle Bettens, Danny Ciccarello, and Matthew Argentina in a pregame ceremony, the Wildcats once again struck first. Cisar blasted a one-timer from the left circle on the power play to give NMU an early lead.
The Wildcats controlled the majority of the first period, outshooting the Lakers 15-4, but special teams and puck luck favored the Lakers again. The Lakers capitalized during extended man-advantage situations and benefited from key deflections to continue mounting their lead. Argentina and Gault connected on a two-on-one rush to briefly tie the game, but late tallies — including an empty-net goal — sent NMU to a 5-2 defeat.
Max Weilandt made his first collegiate start, stopping 23 shots in the effort, while the Wildcats generated 70 shot attempts but struggled to convert.
With the regular season winding down, NMU will look to regroup and finish strong next weekend on the road, as the lessons from a high-scoring yet heartbreaking rivalry series linger.
