In this photo composite produced by Northern Michigan University, Wildcats hockey players, from left, Caiden Gault, Tynan Ewart and Kyle Bettens, ready to enter the ice at the Berry Events Center during NMU hockey games this past season. (Photo illustration courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — A trio of hockey players — all are Canadian natives — from Northern Michigan University have decided to become professionals in their chosen profession and sign deals with the ECHL, in the past known as the East Coast Hockey League.

The ECHL is a second-tier minor league that feeds into American Hockey League, which then sends players to the National Hockey League.

The trio are forwards Kyle Bettens and Caiden Gault and defenseman Tynan Ewart.

Bettens, 24, was the only one of the three not listed as a senior — he was a junior — on the Wildcats’ online roster for the past season, meaning he would’ve had one more season of eligibility remaining.

This Winnipeg, Manitoba, native was known as being strong on the puck and heavy on the forecheck, according to a news release about the three players from NMU Sports Information.

This was his first season at Northern, though he had plenty of collegiate experience at Minnesota-Duluth and totaled 43 points in 133 games between his two schools.

Bettens signed with the Indy Fuel of Indianapolis, the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL and Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Indy is currently sixth in the ECHL’s Western Conference and 13th overall in the 30-team league at 28-21-9 with 65 points.

Gault, 23, joined the Wildcats after three seasons at Ferris State, where he led the Bulldogs in points his final season there. This season, his only one at NMU, this Oakbank, Manitoba, native also led Northern with 16 goals and 18 points in 33 games as senior alternate captain.

Gault signed with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in South Carolina, affiliated with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Ontario Reign. The Swamp Rabbits are 23rd in the league and 11th in the Eastern Conference at 23-27-7 with 53 points.

Ewart, 24, was the only one of this trio who played for two years at NMU as he was the Wildcats captain this past season.

This Duncan, British Columbia, native averaged the second-most minutes on the ice among Wildcats, 21:41 per game, playing on both the penalty kill and power play, and blocking what was easily the team-high of 72 shots this past season.

He signed an amateur tryout with the Maine Mariners, affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the NHL and Providence Bruins of the AHL.

As of Wednesday, he had played in four games with the Mariners, who had an 11-game winning streak snapped on Friday, then won on Saturday, and were ninth overall and fifth in the Eastern Conference at 33-16-7 with 73 points.

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.