By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE — A pair of freshmen forwards are ready to join the Northern Michigan University hockey team for the second half of the season starting next week.

Brett Heikkila of Marquette and Demico Hannoun of North Delta, British Columbia, Canada, may give the Wildcats some more offensive options with the team often struggling to score.

They bring to eight the number of players in the Class of 2020, including two defensemen and a goaltender who have played in the BCHL, USHL and NAHL.

Heikkila, 5-foot-8 and 167 pounds, is a former Marquette Electricians’ player who has spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL, accumulating 30 goals and 26 assists in 147 regular-season games, along with five goals and four assists in 20 playoff contests.

He helped Minnesota win its first Robertson Cup in 2015, scoring twice in the Wilderness’ 4-0 title-clinching victory over Austin. In 2014-15, he had 28 points in 59 games, including 16 goals. He started in the NAHL with the Texas Tornado in 2012.

Hannoun, 6-foot and 195 pounds, had 78 goals and 99 assists for 177 points in 228 regular-season games in the BCHL for three teams over five seasons. He also had 51 points, including 18 goals, in 77 playoff games.

He has played for Penticton the past two years, getting 74 points with 37 goals in 90 games. In 2015, he helped the Vees win the BCHL championship and Western Canada Cup tournament.

Hannoun has also participated in three Royal Bank Cup tourneys, which serve as Canada’s national Junior A championship, and accumulated 14 points in just 15 games.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.