Grant Potulny Head Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
Grant Potulny Head Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
The Northern Michigan University (NMU) Wildcats men's ice hockey team lost 4-0 to the top-ranked Michigan State Spartans in the first game of their weekend series. The match took place in Marquette, Michigan.
The Wildcats, who are now 0-7-0 for the season, had several opportunities to score, including six power play chances and a shot that hit the post. However, they were unable to convert on any of their man-advantage opportunities, resulting in their first shutout loss of the season. Joe Schiller, Mathew Ward, and Kyle Bettens each recorded five shot attempts, with Schiller leading with four shots on goal. Freshman goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made his third career start, stopping 36 shots for a .923 save percentage.
Defensively, the Wildcats blocked 18 shots, with Anthony Cliche leading the team with four blocks. Jakub Altrichter, Girts Silkalns, and Tobias Pitka led in faceoff wins.
Michigan State improved to 4-1-0 for the season and received a 24-save shutout from Trey Augustine, a 2023 second-round draft pick by the Detroit Red Wings. This was Augustine's first shutout of the season and seventh in his career. Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, contributed a goal and an assist, including the game-winning goal. Maxim Strbak, a 2023 second-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres, added two assists.
The Spartans killed all six of their penalties and scored once in four power play opportunities before sealing the game with an empty net goal. Charlie Stramel, a 2023 first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Wild, scored his third goal of the season and won 17 faceoffs.
The game's opening period saw the Wildcats nearly score when Bettens' rebound attempt was blocked by Michigan State's Barnhill. The Spartans responded with Martone scoring after knocking down a puck and shooting over Auyeung-Ashton's glove. Late in the first period, Stramel increased the Spartans' lead by capitalizing on a rebound.
In the second period, Ward's shot for NMU hit the post following a faceoff win by Altrichter. Michigan State added a third goal during a power play when a missed shot bounced off the end wall to O'Connell, who scored into an open net.
The two teams will meet again for game two at 6:07 p.m. at the Berry Events Center.
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