MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University athletic department released this season’s hockey schedule late last week and looks to be an interesting year for the Wildcats.

Thanks to big changes in the WCHA playoffs announced earlier last week, the regular-season schedule had to be tweaked to accommodate the new format, meaning it took a little longer than usual to be released.

Several intriguing matchups will be highlighted with the Florida College Hockey Classic on Dec. 28-29.

Northern will compete against host Cornell, National Collegiate Hockey Conference foe Colorado College and Hockey East member Merrimack. Semifinal matchups have not been determined.

The Wildcats won the tournament in their lone appearance in 2001 with Craig Kowalski earning MVP honors.

NMU will also play Wisconsin for the sixth straight season, but this year, the Wildcats play two series against the Badgers.

After a home exhibition Oct. 2 against the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Northern will “host” Wisconsin in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for its season-opening series on Oct. 7-8. The Wildcats play the Badgers again in Madison, Wisconsin, on Nov. 4-5.

The Wildcats’ other big nonconference series will be a home matchup against NCHC foe Nebraska-Omaha Nov. 25-26. The Mavericks made the Frozen Four in 2015, and Northern had a spirited rivalry with UNO when the teams were in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Northern’s first home series at the Berry Events Center will be against Bemidji State Oct. 14-15. The Wildcats then travel to Ferris State Oct. 21-22 before returning to the Upper Peninsula for a home-and-home series against rival Michigan Tech Oct. 28-29. Saturday’s game will be at the Berry.

After tangling with the Badgers for the second time, the Wildcats return home to battle Bowling Green Nov. 11-12, then travel to Bemidji Nov. 18-19 before returning to play Omaha.

After heading to Alaska-Anchorage Dec. 2-3, Northern plays its last home series of the calendar year on Dec. 9-10 against Alabama-Huntsville.

After returning from Florida, the Wildcats open 2017 with back-to-back home-and-home series against Lake Superior State. The first will be Jan. 6-7 with NMU playing in Sault Ste. Marie Friday, then Jan. 13-14 with the Wildcats opening in Marquette.

Northern hosts Anchorage Jan. 20-21 and then heads to Bowling Green Feb. 3-4. The Wildcats return home to face Alaska-Fairbanks Feb. 10-11 for their only matchup with that team. NMU then takes on Minnesota State in Mankato in their only matchup against the Mavericks.

The Wildcats wrap up their season with a home-and-home against MTU Feb. 24-25. Friday’s game will be at the BEC and Saturday’s in Houghton.

Last year, the Wildcats finished 15-16-7 overall and 12-11-5 in the WCHA. Their league record was their best since the 2009-10 season when they were in the CCHA and went on to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

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