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MARQUETTE — Guess who’s back, back again?

That lyric from a popular 2002 Eminem song referring to himself can also apply to Northern Michigan University’s hockey captains.

After completing their senior seasons last year, captain Joe Nardi and alternate captain Ben Newhouse have decided to return to their positions this season after receiving an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Michigan University's Joe Nardi takes a shot on goal against Alaska-Fairbanks on Nov. 16, 2019, at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Journal file photo)

In October, the NCAA announced that winter sports student-athletes who competed in the 2020-21 season would receive an additional season of eligibility and an additional year to complete it.

Last week, both Nardi and Newhouse said they were happy with their decision to return to the Wildcats.

“Anybody in this position in his career has to make a decision whether to go professional, and obviously in a normal year, you wouldn’t get that option to come back for another year,” Nardi said. “But because of COVID and just how everything is kind of laying out right now from the NHL trickling down to the East Coast (Hockey League, now ECHL), I talked to my parents and I talked to the coaching staff and we kept a long-lasting relationship throughout this process.

“When all the dust settled, I thought it would be in my best interests to come back to Northern and allow myself to not only produce, but to kind of grow as an individual and a player. The fact that we have so many guys coming back and adding new players, just seems like it’s going to be a really promising year and something I want to be a part of.

“Not many people in college hockey can say that they played five years and have the opportunity that we were given. So I just thought it would be in my best interest to take this opportunity and kind of run with it.”

Northern Michigan University's Joe Nardi, center, takes a knee to the face from Alaska-Anchorage's Alex Frye during a third-period faceoff in their WCHA game played Jan. 11, 2020, at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. Frye later transferred to NMU during the 2020-21 season after the Seawolves suspended their hockey program that season. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Newhouse said coming back is an opportunity to not only to play in front of fans again, but also finish his master’s degree.

“This past year, right when we heard that we’d be able to have the fifth year, initially I wanted to,” he said. “There was no real urge for me to want to go try to play pro hockey right away. Even after the year, I really didn’t have any thoughts about it, but everything just kind of aligned perfectly. I’ll be able to finish my master’s, which I think is important. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to finish it if I would’ve left after this past year, and if they didn’t give us this extra year.

“Obviously, I’m grateful for that. Just the way the year ended and the year as a whole, I really would like to have a more enjoyable last year of college. Not being able to play in front of the fans in Marquette I think was something I would’ve been very disappointed about if I would’ve (had) to end my college career and say I never even got to be able to play in front of the fans.

“I only had one year of that, so I would’ve been really upset about that. So there’s some unfinished business stuff and obviously, it aligned with the school stuff as well where it really ended up working out. So I’m really excited about it.

“I think going just through the decision process of deciding if this is what I wanted to do, it was a good learning experience that I was able to have. So I’m really excited about it and I have no regrets about it.”

Northern Michigan University defenseman Ben Newhouse, top, with teammate Joe Nardi watching, looks up ice as the Wildcats attempt an offensive rush during the second period on Jan. 10, 2020, at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Shannon Stieg)

Looking back on last season, the Wildcats had pretty much the definition of a roller-coaster year. They got off to a rough start, then caught fire down the stretch and made it to the WCHA Championship game for the second time in four years. Both players said it got difficult at times, but ultimately they were able to fight through things.

“Obviously, it’s tough,” Nardi said. “It’s not ideal, but I think you have to keep a positive mindset, especially being an older guy. You know, come to the rink with a good attitude and bring good energy. If you’re staying frustrated and you bring that into the rink, the young guys and the other guys on the team can see that.

“For me, I just wanted to keep playing the way I was playing. Play consistent, work hard every game. I knew at some point, we had the ability, the skill and the work ethic in the group to turn the season around and it was just a matter of time.

“Just staying positive, staying on track, and obviously the coaching staff did a great job in pushing us and allowing us to kind of get back on track.”

The Wildcats did eventually figure things out, but they had a tough climb in front of them having to play at least four games on the road in the WCHA playoffs.

Joe Nardi

In the end, though, they took down Bowling Green State in the first round and pulled a big upset of Minnesota State-Mankato in the semifinals before falling in a tough championship game to Lake Superior State.

“The end of the year was a good positive step and it leaves a little better taste in your mouth compared to if we were to go down and lose to Bowling Green, I think it would be a pretty crappy year all around,” Newhouse said. “I think there were a lot of positives that we were able to take from the end of the year.

“I think we have a really solid group coming back for next year, but at the same time, there’s unfinished business and we have stuff we still want to achieve.

“I think for the most part, if you reflect on the season as a whole, it was probably like a C grade, but the last five games, I would probably grade an A.”

From an individual standpoint, it was an impressive season for both players. Nardi had a breakout year offensively, leading the Wildcats in points with 33 and was second in goals with 12. He also was second in the WCHA and ninth nationally in points.

Ben Newhouse

“I’ve had talks with (head coach) Grant (Potulny) leading into my senior year the summer before, we talked about adding an offensive flair and producing and that’s something that in the summer that I really worked on,” Nardi said. “I worked on my shot and worked on my skill. It was really nice to see everything come together in my senior year and kind of in a sense, make a statement that I do have more to give and there is an offensive side to me.

“So that’s something that I’m looking to build upon and still kind of harness my skills in those areas.”

Newhouse’s offensive stats may not be as eye-popping — he had seven points and two goals — but there’s one category where he stood above the rest of the country — blocked shots. He finished with 91, easily leading both the WCHA and nationally, but that wasn’t something that at the start of the season he expected to accomplish.

“I think right out of the gate, I didn’t really think too much of it,” he said. “Even toward the end of the year, it wasn’t in the forefront of my mind. I don’t know, somehow it happened, I guess.

“I don’t think it’s quite as big of a deal as other people make it out to be by any means, but the people on social media made it fun and they made some good jokes about it. And I think it’s funny as well. Obviously, if it was able to prevent a few goals, that’s beneficial as well.

“Going into the year, I did not think I would end up with like 90 blocks or something like that. I don’t think anyone goes into the year thinking they’re going to be a ‘partial’ goalie.

“Fortunately, knock on wood, I haven’t been hurt too badly from any shots, but I guess toward the end of the year, what I started telling people is that they were just not even shooting at the net, they were just shooting at me is what it felt like.”

Looking to this year, both players are just happy that things appear to be getting back to where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve been really looking forward to, it seems like everything is going to get back to normal,” Nardi said. “It seems like we’re going to have fans in the stands. So just to feel that energy from our crowd again and to see familiar faces in the crowd, I think that was one aspect that was missing from the year, was just the energy from the students and the energy from the community. You definitely feel it every night when you’re out there.

“I think just getting back to some sort of normalcy and being able to play in front of a full crowd and experience out-of-conference games, and just the whole journey that encompasses college hockey.

“Like I said, I’m very excited. We have a promising group and everything is going back to normal, so I think this is going to be a great year and I’m looking forward to it.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.