That’s because each of them were teammates with a current Northern player in earlier days on the ice, according to an NMU Sports Information news release about the additions.

Goaltender Max Weilandt played with current Northern freshman Michael Burchill last season on the Des Moines Buccaneers of the U.S. Hockey League.

And defenseman Olivier Beaulieu was a teammate of Wildcats senior Matthew Argentina during the 2023-24 season in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Chilliwack Chiefs.

The two new players can immediately help an NMU roster that’s been hurt by injuries and will be available to play in the Wildcats’ next series in Sault Ste. Marie against CCHA foe Lake Superior State on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3-4.

Olivier Beaulieu is a defenseman who is joining the Northern Michigan University hockey team in time for the Wildcats' next series at Lake Superior State in early January. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Here are profiles of each:

Max Weilandt

This 20-year-old is a 6-foot, 189-pound goalie from Northbrook, Illinois, who has played this fall with Des Moines.

He had a 9-7-2 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and .877 saves percentage this fall, one of just three USHL netminders to have played at least 21 games.

Weilandt had two shutouts, one short of the league lead, and made 472 saves for the No. 9 mark in that loop.

Max Weilandt is a goaltender who is joining the Northern Michigan University hockey team in time for the Wildcats' next series at Lake Superior State in early January. (Photo courtesy NMU)

He was named USHL Player of the Week on Oct. 13 after stopping 40 of 43 shots in a series that included a 25-save shutout on the road.

“We are very excited to welcome Max to our program for the second half of the season,” Northern head coach Dave Shyiak said in the NMU SI release about the goaltender who will wear jersey number 32. “Max is an ultracompetitive goaltender who has played a ton of minutes in the USHL over the past two seasons.

“His hockey sense, tracking and skating are all assets that will add to our goaltending room that has battled injuries over the first half of the season.”

Overall in the USHL, Weilandt has a 3.04 goals-against average and .883 saves percentage, and before that in the North American Hockey League with the St. Cloud Norsemen, he had a 13-9-5 record with a 2.26 goals-against and .910 saves percentage in 32 games.

Olivier Beaulieu

This 20-year-old soon to turn 21 in January is a 5-11, 168-pound, left-shot defenseman from Terrebonne, Quebec, who became a fixture in the BCHL back in the 2022-23 season at Chilliwack.

In that season, he posted 10 assists in 28 games, while the following campaign, he had five goals and 25 assists for 30 points in 54 games.

Starting the 2024-25 season in Chilliwack, Beaulieu posted a goal and 10 points in 18 games before going back to his home province and being acquired by the Shawnigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after the Canadian Hockey League had reached agreement with the U.S. NCAA that allowed him to maintain collegiate eligibility.

He played 18 games in Shawnigan with some of the most minutes on the team, then returned to Chilliwack and ending the season with five goals and 14 assists in 34 games altogether.

Beaulieu had a career year to start this fall back in Chilliwack, with four goals and 25 assists for 29 points in just 24 games.

His assist and point totals led all BCHL defensemen and his 1.21 points per game were second among blueliners. He was on pace for 65 points over a full 54-game season before coming to NMU.

Beaulieu was also selected to play for Team Canada alongside teammate Jack Plandowski, the son of 1991 NMU national champion and Shyiak teammate Darryl Plandowski, for this year’s BCHL All-Star game before committing to Northern.

“Our staff and team are looking forward to the addition of Olivier in the second semester,” Shyiak said of his new defenseman who will wear number 8. “He’s a strong offensive player and underrated defender.

“Olivier possesses (a) high-level hockey IQ and offensive instincts with the puck on his stick, as evidenced by the fact that he leaves the BCHL as the highest-scoring defenseman in the league.

“He will bolster our defensive corps, which has also been plagued by injuries in the first half.”

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the news. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.