First Period Update: My Sirota

After one period in a nearly-full Berry Events Center, NMU leads 1-0 after collecting a goal from Forward Nick Sirota.

Sirota was busy all period and led the 'Cats with four shots on goal. He scored the lone goal with 3:57 remaining in the frame. The marker came from directly in front of the cage when Matt Butcher picked up the loose puck and directed it to Sirota, who backhanded it into the net.

Shots after one: NMU 7, MICH 7
Power-play: NMU 0-2, MICH 0-2
Score: NMU 1, MICH 0

The Real Deal

I know I said I would post after last weekend's matchups. But I didn't.

Long story short, the Wildcats downed Tech on Friday and fell to UMD the next night. But tonight is when it really starts.

The Wildcats play host to the Michigan Wolverines (1-1) in their first conference series of the year. Despite losing a ton of fire power after last season, the Wolverines are perennial contenders and Chad Kolarik and Kevin Porter will test the Wildcat defense.

The Wolverines are much like the 'Cats in that they are fielding 12 freshman on their roster.

Wolverine goaltender Billy Sauer has allowed seven goals in his first two games while earning a .841 SV%. He looks like the Sauer of early last season and could be a weak point in the Wolverine D.

The puck drops in the first game tonight at 7:35.

Wildcats down Tech in first game of 2007-08

In the first game of the 2007-08 season, the Northern Michigan Wildcats defeated the U.P.-rival Michigan Tech Husikes, 3-2.

The game, which was the first of two NMU games in the Superior Cup, took place in Houghton on Friday night. Wildcat goals rolled in from Nick Sirota, T.J. Miller and freshman Jared Brown.

Assists on the night went to Andrew Fernandez, Andrew Sarauer, Matt Butcher and Sirota.

More on the weekend after the weekend.

NMU Season Preview

An NMU season preview (via me and the NorthWind) can be found here.

And a feature on Wildcat captain T.J. Miller.

And a feature on Wildcat captain Billy Smith.

Wildcat captains named for 2007-2008 season

Despite knowing about this earlier, I was asked not to write anything about it until NMU Sports Information issued a press release about it (and NMU Sports Information isn't the quickest agency).

The Northern Michigan captains for the 07-08 season will be sophomore defenseman TJ Miller and sophomore forward Billy Smith.

Between them, the two have a single year of in-game experience for the Wildcats (32 games by Miller last season).

Smith, a transfer from UAA, was forced to sit out last season (via NCAA rules) and has yet to play a minute for the 'Cats.

Although the move may seem surprising, Kyle said that the decision was an easy one, however. Smith has practiced with the team for the past year and the coach said that Smith was the hardest-working player every single day.

That's impressive for a guy that had no shot of playing last year.

Kyle has said again and again that the youth of the team with be their biggest asset and their biggest hindrance, adding both energy and inexperience.

After last season, NMU lost their veterans and their leaders and have returned only three seniors for this season (Siddall, Sarauer and Cosgrove).

Its unclear whether these young captains will be able to lead a young team to the promised land, but it is clear that Kyle has, at this point, put his faith in the squad's youth.

Locker Talk

During critical match-ups throughout the season and during post season runs, many teams will print out articles from their rival teams newspapers and post them throughout the locker room. Generally the articles range from homer newspaper stories about how one team is better than the other, to "smack talk" quoted from some of the players, to even USCHO message board posts.

But here's a new one:
The NMU Wildcats will have a newspaper article looking them in the face for the whole season. Why? Thanks to a South Bend Tribune article that pre-ranks the CCHA teams for the 2007-2008 season.

Here is the story, reprinted for the NMU fans to read:

RedHawks may soar in CCHA action

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association preseason coaches and media polls will be released at the CCHA Media Day on Sept. 25. Tribune hockey writer Steve Wozniak offers a look at his ballot in the media poll, with a brief preview of each team.

1. Miami: All eight defensemen return from last year's team, while Hobey Baker finalist Nathan Davis returns with his linemate Ryan Jones to pace the offense. The RedHawks will get solid goaltending for the third straight year from the tandem of Jeff Zatkoff and Charlie Effinger.

2. Notre Dame: The offense will be even stronger, and could be one of the most prolific in the nation. The defense will still be solid. The only thing keeping them out of the top spot now is the big question mark in the crease. If Jordan Pearce or Brad Phillips can succeed, the Irish will hang another banner above their hockey rink.

3. Michigan State: Yes, they're defending national champs and they return their entire core. But the Spartans will be the Spartans, which means a lot of inconsistent play. They'll lose games they shouldn't, win games they shouldn't, and when the postseason begins, there's no telling what they'll do. Just like every season in East Lansing under Rick Comley.

4. Michigan: T.J. Hensick, Jack Johnson, Matt Hunwick and Andrew Cogliano are all gone. It's a rebuilding year in Ann Arbor for coach Red Berenson, which means about 20-25 wins and a spot on the NCAA tournament bubble.

5. Ohio State: The Buckeyes are the best of the second tier in the CCHA. In fact, the Buckeyes could be the entire second tier. Joseph Palmer showed hints of stardom in goal last year, and NHL first-round pick C.J. Severyn could develop into Ohio State's biggest star since R.J. Umberger.

6. Nebraska-Omaha: The Mavericks will live or die by the play of sophomore goalie Jeremie Dupont. They'll likely do an equal bit of both.

7. Western Michigan: The Broncos surprised last year, thanks to the play of freshman forward Mark Letestu and frosh goalie Riley Gill. Letestu bolted for the NHL, but Gill returns to anchor what should be a much improved defensive team.

8. Ferris State: The Bulldogs won't score much, but goalies Mitch O'Keefe and Derek MacIntyre won't let their opponents score much either.

9. Lake Superior: Head coach Jim Roque last year said that goalie Jeff Jakaitas was the sole reason for the Lakers' success. Jakaitas is gone, and Lake Superior will have to now depend on an impressive but inexperienced class of incoming freshmen.

10. Northern Michigan: It's a wonder how coach Walt Kyle holds onto his job, after showing almost no success in five seasons with a roster laden with NHL talent. Expect the Wildcats to have an early season exit, and for Kyle to be shopping his résumé around in the spring.

11. Alaska: The Nanooks lost 40 percent of their scoring in forwards Kyle Greentree and Curtis Fraser to graduation. Coach Tavis MacMillan resigned, only to end up coaching high school hockey in Minnesota. What could Alaska possibly have going in its favor? It's not Bowling Green.

12. Bowling Green: First Jonathan Matsumoto, the Falcons' playmaker last year, jumped ship to the NHL. Then highly touted recruit Josh Unice reneged on his commitment, with the goalie instead opting for Canadian juniors. All of which leaves coach Scott Paluch with nothing but 19-goal scorer Derek Whitmore to hang his hat, and his team's chances, on.

Comments Wildcat fans? I'll dive deeper into this article later this week with some stats and commentary.

Trip in the Wayback Machine

Thanks to YouTube and some NMU fans itching for some Wildcat Hockey during these dog days of August, the following footage has been unearthed from the Wayback Machine.


1991 Champions highlight video

ABC Sports Athletes of the Week

And something to get the fans excited for yet another season:
Go 'Cats Go!