MARQUETTE – The first half of the 2015-16 college hockey season is coming to a close and the Northern Michigan University squad will end it on a big stage.

The Wildcats will play in the Great Lakes Invitational down Dec. 29-30 in Detroit. The GLI is one of the more famous college tournaments and this year’s tournament features Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan Tech. Northern starts off with the No. 10 Wolverines at 7 p.m. on the 29th.

This is also the first time NMU has participated in the GLI since 1998 when they finished third.

“I think it’s great for us,” NMU head coach Walt Kyle said. “Unfortunately for our fans, it’s not here. It’s downstate. It was always a great rivalry in the CCHA. We’ve played them a number of times through the years. I respect (Michigan head coach) Red Berenson and his staff. It’s a great opportunity for us to show our alumni downstate and our fans where we are against some Big Ten opponents.”

The nationally-ranked Wolverines (9-3-3) were the popular pick to win the Big Ten this year and they’re stacked as they are currently No.1 when it comes to offense. Michigan has 11 players with 10 points or more with freshman forward Kyle Connor at the top with 22. Connor is also tied for ninth in the nation. Fellow forwards J.T. Compher and Tyler Motte are also off to hot starts with 18 and 16 points respectively. Michigan’ power play is also 11th in the nation.

“Michigan teams are always good,” Kyle said. “They get some of the best players in the country. We’ll be challenged.”

Michigan looks intimidating offensively, but defense is another story. Wolverines are 36th in defense and 29th on the penalty kills. Michigan’s No. 1 goalie Steve Racine is solid, but his GAA of 2.66 is only places him 41st overall.

Last weekend, NMU picked up a split with Ferris State, falling Friday before winning Saturday in overtime on a goal by Dominik Shine. The win helped the fifth-place Wildcats stay two points behind the Bulldogs in the WCHA standings and five behind Michigan Tech. Wildcats goalie Mathias Israelsson made his first start in net Saturday and earned his first collegiate win.

“I think last weekend went well,” Kyle said. “When we’re here, we’d like to win two every time. However, it’s such a close competitive league. They got a break on Friday on an icing call and we got a break on a face-off play on Saturday in overtime. Sometimes that’s what it comes down to when we have so many teams that are so similar.

“That Saturday win was critical for us because we needed to keep pace in the standings. Ferris is one game up on us and Tech is two and a half. We also have two games in hand against both of those teams. We’re right in the hunt right now and we’re getting some guys back from injuries.”

Kyle also felt that the return of defenseman Zach Urban to the lineup was a big help and that Israelsson played well in his first start.

“To me, Zach Urban made a huge difference in our lineup,” he said. “His experience, his ability to move pucks, his ability to get shots through from the point. That was a big deal for us. I’m not sure if we’d won that game without Zach.

“I thought Israelsson looked really good. We’ve watched him practice and he’s a quality goaltender. That was a big game for us and we believed in him, put him in there and he responded.”

Before they head to Detroit, the Wildcats will get a few days off over the holidays, which is a benefit to both the players and the coaching staff.

“It gives the guys a chance to see their families and the guys that are injured will get a chance to heal,” Kyle said. “Some of the guys that have played a lot will get a chance to rest. It won’t be long though because while they’re at home, they’ll have to maintain a level of conditioning. When you’re in a lot of games and you’re in a dogfight in a league right now, I think being able to mentally rest is a big deal. For me as well.”

All four games at the GLI will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit. Michigan Tech plays Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. on the 29th with NMU-Michigan to follow at 7 p.m.

The third place game will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the 30th with the championship at 7 p.m.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.