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Adding to the mix: Wildcats hockey brings in 6 transfers, 8 freshmen this season

Wildcats hockey brings in 6 transfers, 8 freshmen this season

By Steve Brownlee 18 min read

MARQUETTE -- More than a dozen -- heck, more than a baker's dozen -- worth of players will join third-year head coach Dave Shyiak's hockey program at Northern Michigan University this fall.

There are actually 14 new players joining the Green and Gold, six of them transfers and eight freshmen as the Wildcats hockey program celebrates its 50th anniversary throughout this upcoming season.

The half-dozen transfers consist of four forwards and two defensemen with their past teams representing a variety of conferences, including NMU's own Central Collegiate Hockey Association, along with the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, ECAC Hockey and the Atlantic Hockey Association.

Among the freshmen are five forwards and three defensemen, two coming from the Canadian Hockey League that was just declared eligible for NCAA hockey in the past two years, along with one from Finland and others from the British Columbia Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, U.S. Hockey League and North American Hockey League.

"We are excited to welcome our class of six transfers and eight freshmen student-athletes to Northern Michigan University," Shyiak said in an NMU Sports Information news release announcing the newcomers.

"As we continue to rebuild our program, we feel that this group of newcomers will enhance our overall depth, competitiveness, team speed and skill level.

"They each bring unique attributes on and off the ice that will complement our core of returning Wildcats."

The Wildcats' season opens at home at the Berry Events Center against Miami (Ohio) of the NCHC on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. Like all home series in this 50th anniversary season, Friday games begin at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday contests at 6:07 p.m.

A banner-raising for three past Northern greats will be held before the opening game on Oct. 2, saluting late 1970s-early 1980s greats Don Waddell, Tom Laidlaw and Steve Bozek.

After the opening weekend, NMU hits the road for Michigan State on Oct. 9 and 11, an uncommon Friday-Sunday series, then returns home for the third of three straight nonconference series to open the season against Stonehill on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17.

Here is information about each of the Wildcats' new players from the Northern coaching staff, starting with the transfers:

Transfers

• Noah Houle, jr. defenseman, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, wearing No. 3 -- Houle, a Montreal native, previously played for Clarkson of the ECAC and Lindenwood that is an independent in Division I.

A left-shot, he is described as a strong two-way player with great leadership abilities on the ice, having played for Clarkson last season in just six games, logging 20 minutes ice time in its opener. Much of his season was derailed by injuries.

In 2024-25 at Lindenwood, Houle played in 32 games, recording four goals and 12 assists for 16 points while attaining a plus-7 rating. He averaged 18 minutes ice time per contest as he was second for the Lions in assists and points from his blueline position.

In the middle of that season, he had a run of 11 points in 15 games, logging at least 17 minutes ice time in 13 of those contests.

Before college, he had a huge final season with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, being named the SJHL Defenseman of the Year and one of five finalists for Canadian Junior Hockey League Defenseman of the Year.

He led all league blueliners with 68 points, most in the SJHL in nearly a decade, with a plus-minus rating of plus-38. He also had 15 points in 14 postseason games.

"Noah joins us after battling injuries in his last season at Clarkson University, and we are looking forward to adding Noah to our revamped defensive unit this season," Shyiak said in the NMU SI release. "On the ice, he possesses strong skating ability and offensive instincts, as evidenced by his stellar freshman season at Lindenwood where he led all LU defensemen in scoring in a tough independent NCAA schedule.

"Noah will add veteran experience to our locker room, and we're excited to see what he can do in a Wildcat uniform."

• Branden Piku, sr. forward, 5-8, 172, to wear #7 -- Piku is a downstate Harrison Township native who played three seasons at fellow CCHA member Lake Superior State.

A right shot, he played in all 34 Lakers' games each of the past two seasons, posting a career-best 17 points last season, which was sixth on the team as he was third in goals with eight. He averaged more than 15 minutes ice time in 2024-25 and more than 14 minutes last season.

Piku has now played 93 collegiate games and totaled 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points, making him the career collegiate leader in those three scoring categories among all Wildcats.

Before college, he played for the Maryland Blackbears of the NAHL, amassing 40 points in 50 games his final two seasons, leading that league in the playoffs with 11 assists and 15 points his final season.

"Branden is a player that our staff and team are very familiar with, having competed against him for the past three seasons at Lake Superior State University," Shyiak said. "It is difficult to find experienced players who are proven producers in the CCHA, and we are happy to have landed one in Branden.

"He is a hard-skill forward with great speed and agility who will help lead our offensive group this season. Branden knows what it takes to win and compete every night in the CCHA."

• Brendan Lamb, jr. forward, 5-10, 180, to wear #11 -- Lamb is a Battle Creek native who played the past two seasons with Mercyhurst of the AHA, which ended its men's varsity program in March after 38 years.

A right shot, he posted two goals and eight assists for 10 points as a freshman, then took a jump to the Lakers' second-highest total of seven goals to go with five assists for 12 points last year.

Lamb also averaged better than 21 minutes ice time last season.

Before Mercyhurst, he played three seasons with the Madison Capitols of the USHL, competing in 179 games and amassing 53 points. He was alternate captain in his final year of 2023-24, and a year earlier was a teammate with NMU player Peter Cisar.

"Brendan comes to Marquette highly recommended by his previous coaches at the junior and collegiate levels," Shyiak said. "A Michigan native, Brendan will continue to add experience, competitiveness and pace to our group of forwards.

"He was a heavily relied-upon player at Mercyhurst the past two seasons, leading their team in time on ice during the 2025-26 campaign. We're excited that Brendan will be joining us next season."

• Reilley Kotai, soph. forward, 6-3, 196, to wear #14 -- Kotai is an Abbortsford, British Columbia, native who played a season at the University of British Columbia in the USports league.

The younger brother of standout Augustana goaltender Josh Kotai, Reilley totaled 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 24 games last season in Canada's top collegiate league. This right-handed shot earned a USports West All-Rookie Team honor as he also had a plus-12 rating with two power play and three game-winning goals.

His junior career began with the Chilliwack Jets of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, earning 16 goals and 60 points in 2021-22, ninth in the league and third on his team in scoring.

After stops in the BCHL, he ended his junior time with Melfort of the SJHL, leading the Mustangs to the championship and berth in the Centennial Cup in 2024-25. That year, he ran up 39 goals and 38 assists for 77 points, leading the league, adding seven goals and 17 points in the playoffs and four more points during the Centennial Cup.

"Reilley joins the Wildcats after a standout freshman season at the University of British Columbia," Shyiak said. "He will add a different element to our forwards this year, combining size, speed and a powerful shot to create offense.

"Reilley's willingness to physically wear down opponents and hunt pucks will be an asset for us moving forward."

• Ian Engel, soph. defenseman, 5-11, 185, to wear #19 -- This Hortonville, Wisconsin, native was a member last season of NCHC regular-season champion North Dakota.

A left-handed shot, he only had a chance to play in two games last season and didn't record a point, shot, nor penalty among the Fighting Hawks' stacked blueliner corps.

Before last season, he played juniors with Bismarck of the NAHL, getting in 161 games as he was captain his final year in 2024-25, which was when the Bobcats won the Robertson Cup title. That year, Engel had a career-best 37 points and plus-20 rating in 54 regular-season game, third on the team. Overall, he had nine goals and 54 assists for 63 points at Bismarck, fifth most points on the team.

As a youth playing in Wisconsin, he had 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points in 23 games at Neenah-Hortonville-Menasha High School, and he was also a member of Team Wisconsin 18U AAA and Green Bay Junior Gamblers teams.

"Ian is another player who comes to Northern Michigan with enthusiastic endorsements from his former coaches," Shyiak said. "Ian spent last season developing in a loaded defensive corps at the University of North Dakota, and he is looking forward to a new opportunity in Marquette.

"On the ice, Ian is a steady, two-way defender with good skating, IQ and poise with the puck on his stick."

• Merril Steenari, soph. forward, 5-10, 180, to wear #26 -- A native of Aliso Viejo, California, he played last season at Colorado College of the NCHC.

This right-shot played 16 games as a freshman, averaging just over seven minutes ice time in a deep Tigers' forward group. He had no points on 15 shots and still garnered a plus-1 rating and also had one minor penalty and two blocked shots.

Before that, he collected 36 goals and 54 points in 104 games with the Fargo Force of the USHL in two seasons.

He was a finalist for the USHL's Johnny Gaudreau Award in 2025, which exemplifies the late player and his brother Matthew for excellence on the ice, spirit of the game, care and responsibility.

In 2024-25, he was a teammate of current Northern player Peter Cisar and led the Force with 29 goals and 41 points, his goals fifth in the USHL. His team won the 2024 Clark Cup as he had three points in 12 playoff games.

Before that, he had 20 goals and 37 points in 42 games with the Janesville Jets of the NAHL over two seasons, while also playing 78 games with 10 points for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL.

"Merril arrives in Marquette after one season at Colorado College," Shyiak said. "Prior to Colorado College, Merril played over 200 games in the USHL and NAHL, leading Fargo in scoring during the 2024-25 campaign.

"Although he hails from California, Merril is another player with some strong ties to Finland and will be a great member of our community at Northern Michigan and Marquette.

"On the ice, Merril has an elite motor and a nose for scoring areas; his skating and ability to score in different ways will be an asset to our program moving forward."

Freshmen

• Jason Davenport, defenseman, 6-2, 190, to wear #6 -- This downstate Shelby Township native most recently played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.

A right shot, he is described by Elite Prospects as "everything you could want in a defenseman: big, mobile, smart -- the list goes on and on. Davenport doesn't pop off the stat sheet, but he's exceptional in his own zone and consistently gets controlled exits. He's a smooth skater, especially with the puck, and looks to get involved offensively without possession."

Last season at Des Moines, he played in 59 games with two goals and 14 points, with a plus-5 rating and 105 penalty minutes. Davenport also logged 53 games in the BCHL with five goals and 13 points, and totaled a career-best 16 points with four goals with Leamington of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2023-24.

"We're ecstatic to welcome Jason to Northern Michigan this season," Shyiak said. "Jason joins our team following a number of stops in junior hockey, most recently with the Des Moines Buccaneers, where he was named the defensive player of the year and the most improved player for the Bucs in his final season of junior hockey.

"He is a high-upside player whose best hockey is still in front of him; he has great length and skating in addition to strong defending skills and an underrated offensive game."

• Coster Dunn, center, 6-1, 190, to wear #9 -- This Edmonton, Alberta, native most recently played with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

The T-Birds drafted the right-shot Dunn in the seventh round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, and through 223 games in Seattle, accumulated 130 points on 60 goals and 70 assists. In 2023, he was part of the Thunderbirds WHL championship squad, and attended the training camp of the NHL's Utah Mammoth this past fall as a free agent.

He put together back-to-back, career-best performances with the Thunderbirds his final two seasons, totaling 55 points in each of the last two seasons.

"Our staff is excited to welcome Coster to Marquette for the 2026-27 season," Shyiak said. "Coster joins us after a standout 235-game career in the Western Hockey League, all with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He also brings championship pedigree to our roster, having won the 2023 WHL Championship.

"On the ice, Coster is a cerebral center who combines elite skill with excellent skating and scoring ability."

• Niklas Gudmundson, forward, 5-10, 187, to wear #20 -- This Carnation, Washington, native played for the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL a year ago.

He had a big season with Winkler, being named MJHL most valuable player, CJHL MVP finalist and MJHL First Team All-Star after 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points.

Gudmundson played in all situations, possessing a high motor and elite shot with quick release. Over two years at Winkler, he rolled up 48 goals and 119 points in 84 games.

"Nik is a player who very much fits our desired culture and team identity at NMU," Shyiak said. "He arrives in Marquette on the heels of a prolific scoring campaign in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League that saw him finish fourth in the league in scoring.

"As a player, Nik plays with pace, hard skill and a blue-collar mentality. We ... look forward to him helping us achieve our goals for the coming season and beyond."

• Darik Olson, defenseman, 6-2, 198, to wear #22 -- This Duluth, Minnesota, native played in two leagues last season.

Splitting time between the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL and Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, this left-shot had six goals and 13 points in 22 games with Chilliwack, adding eight goals and another 13 points in 32 games at Sioux City.

Before that, he was the top-scoring defenseman with 51 points in 52 games with Northstar Christian Academy 18UAAA.

"Darik is a late bloomer who really took off in his last year of junior hockey split between two great organizations in the Chilliwack Chiefs and Sioux City Musketeers," Shyiak said. "A Duluth native, Darik is from a hockey hotbed and continues to get better every season. He is a physical specimen who hits with impact, possesses a booming shot and has strong skating ability in all four directions.

"He was a key cog in Sioux City's top-four corps during the second half of the 2025-26 season."

• Aapo Katavisto, forward, 6-0, 183, to wear #23 -- This Espoo, Finland, native played for Kiekko-Espoo last season in the U20 SM-sarja league in Finland.

He has always based in Finland as this right-shot is described on Elite Prospects as an energy forward, offensively minded and a power-play specialist.

Katavisto was ranked No. 99 by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

He was elite last season in the U20 SM-sarja, guiding his team to a playoff title after being named postseason MVP, leading Kiekko-Espoo with nine goals and 14 points in 16 playoff games.

Katavisto's regular season was sterling, too, as the alternate captain had a career-best 16 goals and 34 points in 36 games.

In three seasons in the U20s, he had 32 goals for 67 points in 98 games, including 19 points in 34 playoff contests.

He's also been a member of the Kiekko-Espoo silver medal team with 26 points in 40 games.

Katavisto has represented Finland in multiple international tournaments, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18 World Junior Championship. In four years and 51 games at that level, he had 15 goals and 24 points.

"Aapo is a natural fit in Marquette, arriving at Northern Michigan by way of Espoo, Finland," Shyiak said. "He should feel right at home with the proud Finnish heritage in the Upper Peninsula, and we think he has the potential to be an impact player for our program.

"The youngest player in the class of 2030, Aapo brings valuable experience in the Finnish U20 league, Liiga and international play that will help ease his transition to college hockey."

• Evan Depatie, defenseman, 5-9, 176, to wear #24 -- Depatie is a Granby, Quebec, native who played for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and CHL at the end of last season.

The third CHL skater to play at Northern, the right-shot Depatie was selected No. 41 in the 2022 QMJHL entry draft by Val-d'Or Foreurs, playing 126 games there over three seasons and posting 48 points each of those years.

He began 2025-26 with Rimouski Oceanic, scoring nine goals and 21 points in 30 games before a trade to Moncton, adding five goals and 23 points in 32 games for a career-best 44 points in 62 games last season.

In the playoffs, he added eight points in 21 games, totaling 92 points in 188 QMJHL career games.

Before that, he was named to the QM18AAA First All-Star team after 2022-23 with the Magog Cantonniers, scoring 49 points in 75 games as he was on a league champion in 2021-22 to earn a Telus Cup silver medal.

"We are thrilled that Evan has chosen to become a Wildcat after almost 200 games of experience in the QMJHL," Shyiak said. "A standout offensive defenseman, Evan finished second in the QMJHL in goal scoring by defensemen and was a key driver for a strong Moncton team.

"His deceptiveness, release and offensive swagger will help us produce more offense from our defensive unit this season."

• Owen Pitters, forward, 6-1, 198, to wear #28 -- A downstate Chesterfield native, Pitters played last season with the Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL.

A captain at Aberdeen, he had a breakout season with 24 goals and 54 points in 55 games, including nine points in 10 Robertson Cup games. Altogether in two seasons at Aberdeen, he had 76 points in 89 games.

Pitters was awarded the NAHL Leadership Award after this past season, bestowed for a player who exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities both on and off the ice.

Another past Wildcat also won the award, goaltender John Roberts in 2019.

Pitters started 2023-24 with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, totaling 19 points in 23 games, then moved to the Idaho Falls Spud Kings of the NAHL and added 18 points in 20 games.

Prior to that, he was drafted No. 72 by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League, playing 71 games there.

As a youth, he played downstate with Little Caesars and Compuware organizations, including a stint with current Wildcat Michael Burchill for the 15U Compuware unit in 2020-21.

"Owen comes to the Upper Peninsula with a wealth of junior hockey experience, most recently with Aberdeen in the NAHL," Shyiak said. "In Aberdeen, Owen was entrusted with a number of responsibilities at both even-strength and special situations, while serving as the Wings captain this past season.

"As a player, Owen is a 200-foot player with good size and speed; he plays a direct brand of hockey that will help our team in all situations."

• Adam Csabi, forward, 5-11, 163, to wear #29 -- A Karvina, Czech Republic, native, he played last season with the Cranbrook Bucks of the BCHL.

This left-shot had a breakout season in 2025-26, scoring a career-best and team-high 22 goals with a team-high 49 points in 53 regular-season games, then adding team highs of 11 goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games with Cranbrook.

Csabi was named to the BCHL All-Star Game to play on Team World last season. Overall in the league, he had 89 points in 110 games.

He's also represented Czechia internationally, including the U18 World Junior Championships and Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

One of his previous coaches, Colton Sparrow of the Vernon Vipers, described him as "having a knack for the net and wants to score."

"The final member of our freshman class, Adam joins us from the Cranbrook Bucks in the BCHL," Shyiak said. "Over his time in junior hockey, Adam has proven himself to be a slick, high-skill forward who can make plays and score from distance.

"He finished his junior career with an extremely productive playoff run in which he led the Bucks in goals and points while playing through a significant injury."

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

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