Calling all Northern Michigan University hockey fans. This weekend NMU host the first round of the WCHA playoffs going up against Alaska-Fairbanks. The playoffs will be the best-of-three series including a Sunday game if necessary. NMU is on spring break so most of the students won’t be at the games so “Hockeyville” needs to step up to the plate and come and show support for the Wildcats.

NMU came in second place in the WCHA for the regular season. This past weekend NMU goaltender Atte Tolvanen set three NMU records. Tolvanen set the NMU record for 13 career shutouts following his shutout of MTU on Saturday night.

Tolvanen also set an NMU goalie record on Friday night at Tech for 58 saves in a game. Tolvanen’s third record was for the most starts in a career for NMU goalies. To top things off, Tolvanen also was named for the second week in a row as the WCHA goaltender of the week.

Troy Loggins, a forward for NMU, also had a big weekend. Loggins scored his first career hat trick on Friday at Tech and then he added two more goals on Saturday for a five-goal weekend. For the second week in a row Loggins was recognized as the WCHA forward of the week.

The two NMU players that had the great weekend could not have done it without an outstanding team effort by the entire NMU team. Tolvanen credited his teammates for their help in him setting the NMU record for shutouts. Loggins recognized his connection with his linemates Adam Rockwood and Denver Pierce for the role they played in his recent success by setting him up for the goals.

The weekend sweep was a full team effort. NMU is playing its best hockey of the season and to help them stay on this positive roll it is important that “Hockeyville” helps fill the stands for this weekend series with Alaska-Fairbanks. For years NMU hockey fans pined for a winning team. The last two years NMU has been coming through with quality hockey giving fans a real reason to get excited about NMU hockey again.

We hope “Hockeyville” shows its true colors this weekend and comes out and supports the Wildcats.

If NMU could win the WCHA playoffs they would be off to the NCAA playoffs for the first time in many years.

Attending a game has become a much more family friendly environment in the past few years. You could be caught on the Berry Events Center “Kiss Camera” or the “Dance Camera.” Kids and adults alike seem to really enjoy the special activities associated with NMU hockey games.

The variety of food and adult beverages has also made for a more enjoyable game day experience. If you have not been to a game in years this weekend would be a good time to get familiar with the new fan experience.

Just like the offensive and defensive WCHA players of the week recognized their teammates for helping them achieve their goals, the support from the fans could play a big role in determining a win or loss for the NMU hockey team this weekend.