Fall 4-3 on Senior Night
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The NMU hockey team closed out the 2024/2025 home schedule, dropping a 4-3 decision to St. Thomas.
The Wildcats (5-26-1, 4-19-1 CCHA) entered the third period down four goals to one before goals from Jakob Peterson and Matthew Argentina in quick succession halfway through the third brought the game to a one-goal deficit. The Tommies (14-13-5, 11-9-4 CCHA) took a penalty with under a minute to play, giving the Wildcats an opportunity to tie the game, but the Wildcats were unable to complete the comeback.
On a night where the Wildcats recognized three graduating seniors, it was senior alternate captain Jesse Tucker who led the way for the ‘Cats, scoring a goal and assist for two points on the evening. Fellow senior Ryan Ouellette made 30 saves on the evening, and senior Jakub Lewandowski had two shots with one block on the evening.
The Wildcats now look forward to next weekend, where the team travels to Big Rapids to face Bob Daniels and the Bulldogs in his last career regular season weekend as head coach of the Bulldogs.
Highlights
How It Happened
The Tommies opened the scoring just under four minutes into the game as Malmquist crashed the net and found the second rebound opportunity to give the Tommies a 1-0 lead.
The Tommies doubled its lead on the power play, as O’Neill let go a one-timer from Ovechkin’s office to double up the Tommy lead.
The Tommies capitalized on a defensive zone turnover, and a quick one-two passing play gave the Tommies a three-goal cushion.
The Wildcats got one back on the power play with seven minutes remaining in the second period. Slipec tracked down a loose puck before sliding a seam pass to Tucker on the right faceoff dot who let go a one-timer to get the ‘Cats on the board on senior night.
The Tommies answered just before the second period ended, as Wahlin redirected a one-timer that Ouellette had no chance of stopping.
As a Wildcat power play was expiring, Peterson was in the right spot at the right time to gather the loose puck and walk right down the slot. Peterson let go a wicked wrist shot, beating the netminder over the stick side.
The Wildcats got on the board again minutes later, as Argentina cleaned up a rebound to get the ‘Cats within one.