Northern Michigan University goaltender Atte Tolvanen watches in a Wildcats hockey game during his NMU career from the 2015 to 2019 seasons. (Photo courtesy NMU)

ZURICH, Switzerland — The two former Northern Michigan University hockey players participating in the

The U.S. faces Austria today in their seventh and final game of round-robin pool play. The game is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. local time, which is 10:20 a.m. EDT, with live TV coverage scheduled on the NHL Network and streaming live on the NHL YouTube Channel.

Currently, the Americans are one point and one position out of a top-four finish in Group A that would advance them to the quarterfinals, but Austria is one of a pair of teams just one point ahead of the U.S., meaning the winner of this game will be guaranteed to advance.

The loser could also advance, but only if Latvia, the team tied with Austria, also loses in its final game today against Hungary (1-5 record) that was scheduled to be played at 12:20 p.m. Swiss time (6:20 a.m. EDT).

Among Austria’s three goalies is ex-Wildcat Atte Tolvanen, but his statistics are easily the best of the trio. He had a 2-1 record — the team is only 3-3 overall — with a 2.67 goals-against average and .897 saves percentage.

Northern Michigan University goaltender Atte Tolvanen, left, shares a moment with Wildcat defenseman Ryan Black in an NMU game during their careers that both spanned from the 2015-19 seasons in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

The other two goalies have a combined 1-2 record with neither sporting goals-against better than 5.00 nor saves percentages higher than .820.

Tolvanen, who was the WCHA Goaltender of the Year in his NMU senior season of 2018-19, tied an NCAA Division I record with five straight shutouts two seasons earlier that included more than 339 minutes of consecutive shutout goaltending.

His opening win at the worlds in Switzerland came against Hungary, which won’t advance with just one win, but does include ex-NMU forward Kristof Papp, who played for Northern from 2022-24.

Papp had a third-period assist vs. Austria that pulled his team within a goal at the time in its 4-2 defeat. Tolvanen worked that entire game for the Austrians.

That’s Papp’s only point of the tournament as he also has four shots on goal and three minor penalties in his team’s six games.

Northern Michigan University forward Kristof Papp follows through on a shot in a Wildcats game during his career that spanned the 2022-24 seasons at NMU. (Photo courtesy NMU)

On Monday, the tournament defending champion Americans put themselves into contention with a 7-3 win over Papp’s Hungary team.

American Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals and set up two and U.S. captain Justin Faulk and teammate Ryan Leonard also netted two each in Zurich. American Tommy Novak assisted on five goals and U.S. netminder Joseph Woll stopped 14 shots.

The U.S. has made the last eight every year since 2011.

Faulk one-timed a low slap shot for a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period and Tkachuk doubled the advantage with a shot between the pads of Hungarian goaltender Adam Vay on a power play with 1:38 remaining.

It was the second goal for the two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion in three games since he joined the team on Tuesday.

The U.S. jumped to 4-0 lead before the midpoint of the middle period. Leonard scored from the slot and Faulk roofed one into the net with his second on a power play.

Captain Csanad Erdely replied with Hungary’s first followed by Leonard’s second on a power play with 1:47 left.

In the final period, Erdely with his second and Gabor Tornyai reduced the deficit to 5-3. Tkachuk answered with an empty net goal and Max Plante finished it off.

Also in Group A, Switzerland and Finland were guaranteed to advance as each had perfect 6-0 records headed into Tuesday.

In Fribourg in Group B, Norway upset Czechia 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012.

The Czechs and Group B leader Canada had already qualified, with the fourth and final quarterfinal spot from the group to be decided between Sweden and Slovakia today.

Story contents based on an Associated Press story and an examination of the International Ice Hockey Federation website, www.iihf.com. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.