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Wildcat icers ready for UW

MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University hockey Wildcats may be a week late in starting their season, but it’s clear they’re ready to drop the puck this weekend.

NMU will have its first “home” series of the 2014-15 season Friday and Saturday against Wisconsin. Both games will be played at the Resch Center in Green Bay, which is an experience the ‘Cats are looking forward to.

“We’re really excited to get the season started,” NMU head coach Walt Kyle said. “Not being able to get an exhibition game scheduled and having the first weekend off makes for a long time of just practice.

“The guys are anxious to see who we are and what we need to work on. We really can’t wait for the puck to drop.”

Added NMU captain Ryan Kesti: “It’s going to be an exciting weekend. We know there’s going to be a lot of alumni there and it’s a great place to play at.

“A lot of us that were in the USHL (United States Hockey League) have played there and we’ll be playing a great team who’ll give us a challenge.”

That challenge will come in the form of a Badgers team similar to the 2013-14 NMU squad. Wisconsin lost its top five scorers from last season and will suit up 11 freshmen’

Kyle agreed the Badgers are sort of like his own squad from last season, but said Wisconsin will be able to get past it.

“I do see some similarities,” he said. “The thing is that Wisconsin has some of the top returning kids in the country from a year ago, so they always have a good team and they’ll be in the picture when all is said and done. We’ll have our hands full.”

Kesti agreed.

“They’re a premier team,” he said. “They have a lot of good recruits and a lot of young guys.”

The Badgers’ greatest asset is goalie Joel Rumpel. The senior was a Hobey Baker award finalist last season thanks to a GAA of 2.07 and a save percentage of .929 (tied for sixth in the nation).

Despite some blows to its offensive attack, Wisconsin does return 22-point scorer Joseph LaBate, as well as sophomore Grant Besse, who racked up 14 points for the Badgers.

Wisconsin opened its season last week at the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage, and it didn’t go well.

The Badgers dropped their first game to Alaska 1-0 and they only managed 14 shots.

Wisconsin played better the next night against Alaska-Anchorage, but the Badgers fell behind 3-1 midway through the second period and lost 4-2.

With the Badgers already having two games under their belt, the Wildcats could be at a big disadvantage.

“There’s nothing we can do about that,” Kesti said. “We have had a chance to have a few more practices than we have had in the past and we’ve been able to implement more tactics that we may have not gotten to do in other years.”

Said NMU senior defenseman Jake Baker: “I think the extra practices have helped with some of the new guys.

“I see a lot of positives so far. The guys are clicking and there’s a lot of good energy as we head into the first game.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246.

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