Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan University men's hockey team is set to begin its conference play with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan Tech this weekend. The Wildcats, holding a 1-5-0 record, will face the Huskies, who are currently at 2-2-0.

Friday's game will take place at the Berry Events Center in Marquette at 7:07 PM and will be broadcast on TV6 and streamed on Midco Sports Plus. Saturday's match is scheduled for 6:07 PM at the John Macinnes Student Ice Arena and will be shown on FoxUP.

Ahead of Friday's game, fans can attend the Blue Line Luncheon hosted by Slabz Bar and Grill. Doors open at 11:45 AM with the program starting at 12:15 PM. Attendees will have an opportunity to interact with head coach Dave Shyiak and Rick Comley.

Coach Shyiak expressed enthusiasm about facing Michigan Tech, stating, "It's always good to see Michigan Tech come down here. [Michigan Tech] is not only our biggest rivalry, but it is one of the best in college hockey."

A 'Green Carpet Entrance' event is planned for Friday from 4:45 to 5:00 PM where fans can meet players and enjoy pre-game activities.

In their previous exhibition match against Michigan Tech in Houghton, NMU worked hard under pressure but identified areas needing improvement. Coach Shyiak remarked that there was more cohesiveness now compared to their first outing.

The Wildcats hold a slight edge over the Huskies in recent encounters with a record of 3-1-1 in their last five meetings.

On social media, updates throughout the week can be followed via @NMUHockey on X (formerly Twitter).

Statistically speaking, Ryan Ouellette stands out among goalies nationwide with impressive save numbers. Tynan Ewart and Joe Schiller lead in assists among CCHA defensemen while Jakub Altrichter excels as a centerman.

For Michigan Tech, Chase Pietila has been notable offensively with points scored consecutively over four games despite recent losses against Clarkson. Goalie Max Vayrenen struggled during his last appearance but Derek Mullahy showed resilience with strong performance stats afterward.