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Northern Michigan University hockey team begins Cappo Cup challenge at Lake Superior State tonight

Northern Michigan University's AJ Vanderbeck, left, and Andre Ghantous, second from right, lead a rush up the ice away from the Wildcats' goal with a pair of Alaska-Fairbanks defenders in close pursuit during their game played Saturday at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Tonight’s game: NMU at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m.; TV: Fox-U.P.; Radio: WUPT 100.3 FM The Point

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MARQUETTE — You couldn’t really call it the stretch run already, but this weekend begins a 24-game string that runs until the end of the season for the Northern Michigan University hockey team playing nothing but CCHA opponents.

It begins with one of its shortest road trips, to Sault Ste. Marie to face Lake Superior State at 7:07 p.m. today and 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

Tonight’s game will be televised on Fox-U.P., Spectrum cable channel 11, with Dave Ellis and Jeremy Sampson calling the play.

This is also the opening series for the Cappo Cup, which includes a series to be played in Marquette on Feb. 3-4. The Cappo Cup has been contestes between these two teams since 1994.

While the Wildcats are currently an even .500 at 5-5 overall and 1-1 in the CCHA, LSSU has struggled to a 1-4-1 mark, all nonconference.

NMU has split with the two Alaska schools the past two weekends at home. Two weeks ago, Northern zapped Alaska-Anchorage 9-1 before falling 3-1 in the second game, then last weekend, the Wildcats lost 2-1 in the opener and bounced back for a 3-2 victory on Saturday against Alaska-Fairbanks.

NMU’s Josh Zinger had an assist Friday and his first collegiate goal Saturday, while AJ Vanderbeck had two assists on Saturday and goalie Beni Halasz a .913 saves percentage and 2.02 goals-against average for the two games, earning him CCHA Rookie of the Week.

In addition, Vanderbeck and Halasz earned league Player of the Month awards for October. Vanderbeck was named Forward of the Month for leading all CCHA players in numerous categories as he played in nine of the Wildcats’ 10 games — goals with six, points with 13, points per game with 1.44, multipoint games with four, game-winning goals with two, shorthanded goals with one, shots with 52 and shots per game with 5.78.

Vanderbeck is third nationally in game-winning and shorthanded tallies and 13th in points per game. He’s already been named a CCHA Forward of the Week this season and has a four-point and a trio of two-goal games already.

Halasz has a 3-4 record with a 1.97 GAA and .927 saves percentage in seven October games, six that he started. He’s second nationally among rookies in GAA, saves percentage and his total saves of 173.

The first Hungarian-born goalie to dress in an NCAA Division I game, he made 27 saves at Colgate in NMU’s 4-1 triumph on Oct. 8.

In addition to those numbers, the Wildcats as a team lead the nation in power play goals with 14, are sixth in total goals with 34 and fourth in faceoff win percentage at .565.

Northern’s Andre Ghantous is tied for fourth in assists with eight, while Artem Shlaine is tied for seventh in faceoffs won with 99, making good on 63% of them.

LSSU’s only win came last weekend in a home split against Clarkson when the Lakers opened with a 4-3 overtime loss and came back for a 5-1 win on Saturday.

Previously, they lost and tied at home vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1 and 4-4, and were swept at home by Michigan, 5-2 and 5-1.

Louis Boudon leads LSSU in goals with four and points with seven, while Jacob Bengtsson leads the team in assists with five.

Make sure to follow @NMUHockey on Twitter to get updates throughout the week leading up to the games and for live updates while the ‘Cats are on the ice.

Visit the Wildcats athletics website at nmuwildcats.com under the hockey schedule for links to live statistics, watching on video and a history of the teams’ series.

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

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