Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan University hockey team faced a challenging match against the no. 16 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks, resulting in a 3-0 loss on Friday night. The game, held in Mankato, Minnesota, was characterized by strong defensive plays from both teams.

Despite the Wildcats' efforts to restrict the Mavericks to only 23 shots—marking the second-fewest shots they have allowed this season—the team could not secure a win. This game also recorded the lowest combined total of shots on goal for any Wildcats contest so far, with only 44 shots taken between both teams.

Leading the offensive attempts for the Wildcats were Grayden Slipec and Jakub Altrichter, who had seven and six shots respectively. In terms of accuracy, Jesse Tucker and Altrichter showed proficiency in faceoffs, winning a significant portion of them and giving their team a slight edge in this area.

While successful during their single penalty kill opportunity, the Wildcats struggled to capitalize on power plays. Both teams demonstrated solid defense with each blocking 16 shots; Rasmus Larsson notably led with four blocks.

Ryan Ouellette contributed significantly by making 20 saves for a .909 save percentage. On the opposing side, Alex Tracy's performance was pivotal as he made 21 saves to achieve his third shutout of the season.

All goals scored by the Mavericks occurred at even strength, including an empty-net goal in the final moments of play. Six different players from Minnesota State contributed points during this match-up, with Ralfs Bergmanis standing out by scoring one goal and assisting another.

Looking ahead, Northern Michigan University aims to recover in their upcoming game against Minnesota State scheduled for Saturday evening.

"How It Happened: In a fast-paced first period with barely any stoppages," noted an observer. "The Mavericks opened the scoring with Will Hillman potting his first of the season." Hillman's strategic move down to the left faceoff dot culminated in a precise shot past Ouellette. Later, Ralfs Bergmanis extended their lead with a well-placed shot through traffic that eluded Ouellette's view due to heavy screening. The final nail came when an empty net goal sealed NMU's fate late into regulation time.