MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University hockey team’s last series had mixed results for the Wildcats.

NMU was able to keep up with Bowling Green State Friday as the Wildcats emerged with a 5-5 tie. However, Saturday was a different story as the Wildcats missed passes and ended up committing several turnovers en route to a 5-0 league loss.

NMU (8-4-2 overall, 5-4-1 WCHA) also hit four pipes in the contest, so any good fortune from Friday didn’t transfer over to the next night.

The Wildcats battled fatigue the whole series after spending two weeks in Alaska. It caught up with them particularly hard on Saturday, according to Wildcats’ head coach Walt Kyle.

“The second part of the series, Saturday, we were dead tired,” he said. “Much more significant than the tired legs is the tired minds. We just did some stuff that we shouldn’t have. We’ve got to flush that one, reload and get ready for the next one.”

This weekend, NMU travels to Minnesota to take on another WCHA foe, Bemidji State.

Despite a losing record (4-10-2 overall, 2-6-2 WCHA, the Beavers have faced a difficult schedule and have dealt with highs and lows.

BSU knocked off national powerhouse North Dakota in its season opener and the Beavers were also able to stay with Minnesota despite getting swept by the Golden Gophers.

Then, after a home sweep of Alaska, Bemidji dropped seven straight before pulling off another upset, this time of St. Cloud State of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

“The thing you have to understand about Bemidji’s record is that they have the most difficult schedule in the country,” Kyle said. “I have a ton of respect for their coach. I know the work ethic that that team has. They have some exceptional players.

“This is a tough contest. Right now, our league is going to be no different than it was a year ago. It’s going to be exceptionally tight and exceptionally close. You just have to go into each game one at a time.”

NMU captain Ryan Kesti echoed his coach.

“They are really well coached,” he said. “They are going to be very structured and they continuously play hard. They are going to backcheck and forecheck on us.

“For a team to be tested like that that early in the year shows a lot about themselves. I think it’s a big weekend for us. To be able to finish off this first half with two wins would be really nice.

“I just don’t want a bag skate when we get back,” Kesti said with a smile when asked what he wants for Christmas.

The Beavers are led by a pair of sophomore forwards as both Brendan Harms and Nate Arentz have six goals and 13 points. Defenseman Matt Prapavessis leads Bemidji in assists with eight and is second in points with 12.

Senior Andrew Walsh is the Beavers’ starting goalie with a goals-against average of 2.85 and a .900 saves percentage. Walsh’s numbers aren’t as gaudy as NMU goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom’s (1.74 GAA, .934 saves percentage), but he’s more than capable of keeping pace with other talented netminders.

The series will be the last one for the Wildcats until after the holiday break. NMU would like to head into its time off with four points and then try to use the break as a way to recuperate.

“This week is a tough week for us because it’s finals week,” Kyle said. “Our practices are really spotty. We never have a complete roster because we’ve got guys who need to take care of business in school.

“We also have to manage fatigue a little bit because guys are out studying and trying to get things done. The holiday break is coming at a really good time for us. We’re a little banged up right now and it’ll be good to get rested and ready to go.”

Friday’s game will start at 8:37 p.m. EST and Saturday’s at 8:07 p.m.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246.