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MARQUETTE — The Berry Events Center might look like the scene of a rock concert or an opera this weekend with the return of the Northern Michigan University hockey team.

Especially between the first and second periods of each game, as fans will be encouraged to throw things on the ice. Not just anything — like flowers or rotten tomatoes that might land on an opera stage — but items that will be given to local charities.

And during those intermissions, the players won’t get to see the tosses as they’ll be ensconced in their locker rooms.

Northern Michigan University’s Jakub Altrichter, center, squares off against Michigan Tech’s Philip Fankl in a third-period faceoff during their CCHA game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Nov. 1. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Tonight’s game, which opens with a 7:07 p.m. faceoff against Ferris State, will feature the Teddy Bear Toss, organized by former Mining Journal Publisher Jim Reevs. All the stuffed animals landing on the rink will be given to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul.

Then on Saturday night, with an opening puck drop of 6:07 p.m. again against Ferris, fans are encouraged at the first intermission to throw new, unwrapped socks on the ice that will be given to a variety of organizations — St. Vincent’s, the Janzen House, Room at the Inn, Beacon House, Women’s Center and area elementary schools.

In addition, the Wildcats will host their annual Skate with the ‘Cats after Saturday’s game, with players joining fans who need to provide their own skates as hockey sticks won’t be allowed on the ice. But NMU Sports Information will have posters on hand for fans, a perfect opportunity to get autographs and photos with players.

Both games will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, with internet streaming on MidcoSports Plus. Fans can visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the hockey schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics, ticket information and a series preview and history.

Northern, which is 1-12-1 overall and 0-7-1 in the CCHA, continued to struggle on this latest road trip, though the Wildcats did pull out a tie — that was actually a shootout victory — at Minnesota State-Mankato on Nov. 16.

Northern Michigan University goalie Ryan Ouellette, left, blocks a shot taken by Michigan Tech during their college hockey exhibition game played at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton on Oct. 5. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Over two weekends in Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to face Augustana, NMU earned its first two CCHA points under head coach Dave Shyiak with a team more than 85% made up of new players this season.

The Wildcats defeated the nationally ranked Mavericks 1-0 in the shootout after tying 1-1 through overtime, which occurred a day after falling 3-0 to Mankato.

Last weekend, Augustana prevailed 4-1 both nights despite Northern’s Jakob Peterson, a Marquette native, and Brendan Poshak each scoring their first collegiate goals.

This might be the weekend for NMU to register a win or two as Ferris State is in seventh place in the nine-team league at 4-10-2 overall and 3-7 in CCHA games.

Here are some other nuggets of information gleaned by NMU SI:

• While Peterson and Poshak each scored their first goals, Peterson also picked up an assist on Poshak’s goal to give him a current two-game point-scoring streak;

• The Wildcats are second in NCAA Division I in blocked shots with 238, led by 30 from Rasmus Larsson, who is second in the CCHA and tops among league freshmen;

• Grayden Slipec, with two goals and three assists for five points, and Jakub Altrichter (0-4–4) are not only two of the top freshman forwards for the Wildcats, but also two of the team’s top three scorers, with Tynan Ewart also with five points (1-4). Altrichter and Slipec rank 2-3 in shots among CCHA freshmen with 32 and 31, respectively;

• Slipec’s two power-play goals are second among CCHA freshmen while accounting for a majority of NMU’s goals with a man advantage;

• Billy Renfrew and Altrichter lead conference freshmen in faceoff wins with 105 and 100, respectively. Altrichter’s 55.2% faceoff percentage is fifth in the CCHA for those with at least 180 attempts, with Renfrew’s 52.5% eighth;

• Goaltender Ryan Ouellette is third in the conference with his 394 saves his .916 saves percentage for goalies with at least 13 games. Those 394 saves are also seventh in the nation;

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NMU has only allowed one power-play goal in its last five games, and excluding the Nov. 8 game vs. Lake Superior State when the Lakers notched four power play tallies, Northern has killed off 32 of 37 shorthanded situations.

Ferris, which was off last weekend, was 2-6 in November with both wins coming in its last three games — 3-2 over LSSU in the Traverse City Takeover, and 5-2 past Augustana in the opening game of that series.

Leading the Bulldogs with eight points apiece are Caiden Gault (six goals) and Cole Burtch (three goals) as Gault leads the CCHA with his three game-winning goals, while Burtch is one of the league’s top faceoff players with 77 wins.

Also important is the play of first-year captain and junior defenseman Travis Shoudy, who averages just shy of 23 minutes of playing time per game, nearly four more minutes than any other Ferris skater, to go with 19 blocks this season.

Graduate transfer goalie Noah West has started all but one game this season, with a 2.82 goals-against and .907 saves percentage, which rises to .932 at even strength.

Special teams have plagued FSU, with the Bulldogs having the nation’s worst penalty kill at 65.1% (41 of 63) while also carrying the NCAA’s third-worst power play at 8.3% (4 of 48).

Ferris is 1-5 on the road, being outscored 23-8 in those games, four of those goals coming in a 5-4 loss.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.