Northern Michigan University’s Tobias Pitka, left, readies to take a shot while closely defended by Michigan Tech's Jack Andresen during their CCHA hockey game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — It’s already getting to be nitty-gritty time for the hockey team at Northern Michigan University.

The Wildcats play their second-to-last home series of the season this weekend when they host Bemidji State at the Berry Events Center. Friday’s opening faceoff is at 7:07 p.m. with Saturday’s at 6:07 p.m.

The only other home series NMU has left is against Lake Superior State on Feb. 20-21, with a hoped-for CCHA first-round quarterfinal series set, almost guaranteed on the road, from March 6-8.

Northern picked up its long-awaited second win last weekend, a 3-2 victory in Houghton against Michigan Tech, just a night after the Huskies hounded NMU 8-2 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.

The Wildcats (2-24, 2-16 CCHA) had lost eight in a row, including Friday’s worst setback of the season, since their other win, also 3-2 and also on the road at Bowling Green State on Dec. 5. That first win followed 16 straight losses to begin the season back in early October.

Bemidji State, despite being sixth in the CCHA at 7-8-3, 9-14-3 overall, are in a big tailspin that NMU would love to continue.

The Beavers have lost six in a row in regulation, and if counting a pair of shootout wins before that as official ties, have not won in their last 11 games, their last victory 6-2 over Northern on Nov. 22.

The Wildcats will auction off a set of game-worn ‘Cat Head’ jerseys at Friday’s game, with on-site bidding only before the game through the end of the second period. NMU also will hold its Skate With the Cats from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Berry.

Last weekend didn’t go as planned for Northern in the opener in Marquette, but a strong third period seemed to carry over for the hundred-mile trip to Houghton the next day.

“(Michigan) Tech was by far the better team for the first two periods,” NMU head coach Dave Shyiak said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing this weekend’s series. “Anything that (could’ve) gone wrong, went wrong.”

It started with the Huskies putting three of their first four shots on goal into the net, chasing freshman sensation goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton in favor of veteran William Gramme, a transfer from the University of Wisconsin in the off-season.

Though the latter lasted a period and a half, he allowed four more goals, making it 7-0 at the time, prompting Shyiak to bring in one of his newest players, Max Weilandt, who joined the team at the beginning of this month.

Shyiak alluded to Saturday night’s success stemming from the third period Friday.

Between the second and third periods, his message to his Wildcats was “Let’s win the third period,” which they would do as Peter Cisar and Matthew Argentina dinged the Huskies net as Weilandt only gave up one goal himself.

“Let’s do it for ourselves, for our goaltender, and for our fans,” Shyiak said he told the team. “We were able to win the third period … and I thought that was important to get some positivity and try to reach a goal on Friday.”

He said he saw a change in mindset on Saturday, starting with a good team meeting in the morning.

“Our response and resiliency on Saturday (night) was awesome, especially playing in that venue against your rival,” the second-year Northern coach said about Tech’s John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. “We thought we played really well; we dictated the pace at 5-on-5, played on our toes, played downhill and threatened the net.

“We were way more connected, competed hard and did a lot of the good things.”

Auyeung-Ashton was credited for his resiliency, getting the Saturday start after his rough outing Friday.

Already a Hobey Baker nominee and Mike Richter “Watch List” netminder, he made 42 saves, including 18 in the third period. The game total was his third most this season, the most since he made 43 vs. Colorado College on Oct. 17.

“(As a goalie), you have to be able to flush (being pulled like that),” Shyiak said. “He’s only had one or two off games this year, and he’s giving us a chance to win every single night.

“(As a coach), you have to show belief and trust while tasking him to be better, and he responded. He came up with key saves at the right time, and we were finally able to get him some ‘run’ support.”

Amid the joyous bus ride back from Houghton, the coach emphasized to “remember this feeling and what it took to get there” and that “what we did that night needs to be repeatable” as the Wildcats now look to face off against a Bemidji State team that Shyiak describes as “one of the fastest teams in the league.” 

“(The Beavers) were off to a good start; they’ve been up and down recently, but they’re a very good hockey team,” Shyiak said. “We have to continue to get better, and I don’t think we’ve reached our ceiling yet.

“Friday night is going to be a great matchup and a good game.”

When asked if this is a good time to be facing the Beavers, his response was to not take them lightly.

“They’re a wounded dog, and wounded dogs can be dangerous,” he said about their losing streak. “They’re itching to get back on track, as they had a really good start, and they’re a good hockey team … I’m not sure what their injury report is, they’ve played some tough teams and lost some close games, but they’re a very good hockey team.

“Our approach is we need to play our best game and continue to get better and consistent in how we play.”

Bemidji senior forward Reilly Funk will make his return to the Berry, coming back to Marquette after spending three seasons with the Wildcats from 2021-24. Funk says that he “knows nobody on the team” since his departure two seasons ago, but will have family and friends in the stands.

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