Northern Michigan University’s Artem Shlaine, left, takes a faceoff against a Lake Superior State player during a CCHA game played last season at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — Now might be an excellent time for a rivalry cup series for the Northern Michigan University hockey team.

Lake Superior State comes to town for games at 7 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Saturday both as a CCHA series and to begin contesting the Cappo Cup, presented to the winner of the season series between the two teams since 1994-95.

The Wildcats have been on the road for three of the season’s first four weeks and come up dry there, going 0-5-1 as part of their 1-6-1 overall record.

Their only home series against Ferris State on Oct. 27-28 produced their only win in a split that weekend.

NMU won last year’s Cappo Cup three game to one, but last weekend, the Wildcats were swept at St. Thomas.

Both games will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point. Fans can also go to the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the hockey schedule for links to ticket buying information, game notes, live statistics, live video and live audio.

LSSU (5-3, 2-0 CCHA) swept Bemidji State last weekend 4-3 in overtime and 5-1 to sit third in the CCHA, one spot ahead of Northern.

The Lakers’ Jared Westcott was CCHA Forward of the Month for October. Two of the hottest players in the CCHA will be meeting this weekend, as Westcott (5-6–11) and NMU’s Andre Ghantous (3-8–11) both lead the CCHA in points with 11.

Westcott and teammate Connor Milburn (5-2–7) have five goals, two back of the CCHA lead, which includes Northern’s Tanner Latsch with seven.

Reigning CCHA Goaltender of the Week Ethan Langenegger of LSSU has played all eight games with a .923 saves percentage and 2.66 goals against average.

The Lakers lead the CCHA with five wins and 29 goals. The Lakers’ penalty kill is second in the CCHA at 85.2% having conceded four power-play goals, and their power play is third at 20.0%, having scored five.

For NMU, Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters with his 135 career points and 88 assists as he is second with 47 goals.

Teammate Michael Van Unen leads all active NCAA skaters in career blocks with 277, while Jack Perbix is third among active NCAA skaters in games played with 149.

Despite being injured the previous three games, Latsch sits two goals back of the national lead with seven goals and still leads the nation in power play goals with six. Both of his scoring numbers are first nationally among NCAA freshman.

NMU’s Josh Zinger has nine assists to tie for sixth nationally and third among defensemen, while Aiden Gallacher is fourth in the nation in blocks with 22.

And the Wildcats’ Artem Shlaine has won 100 faceoffs and holds a 59.5% faceoff percentage, fourth-best among centers with at least 100 wins.

The Wildcats are third in nationally with 12 power-play goals fifth with its 30.0% power play percentage and seventh with 123 blocks.

Sophomore goalie Beni Halasz of NMU has seen the Lakers four times in his career and holds a 3-1 record with a .902 saves percentage and 2.26 goals against average.

The ‘Cats are 6-2 against the Lakers in their previous eight matchups, outscoring them 28-18 in that span.

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