Gramme makes 46 saves for Wildcats
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The NMU hockey team dropped its CCHA opener against the Augustana Vikings, 2-1, from Midco Arena.
The Wildcats (0-9-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) entered the CCHA schedule coming off the hardest non-conference slate in the country, and it wouldn’t get any easier on the road. After receiving votes and being ranked as high as #21/22 for four consecutive weeks in the DI hockey polls, the Vikings (4-3-0, 1-2-0 CCHA) were swept on the road in Bemidji last weekend, and subsequently fell from grace in the rankings.
Wildcat netminder William Gramme earned his fifth start of the season and was a major reason the game remained scoreless after the first 20 minutes. The ‘Cats were outshot 17-14 in the opening frame, with the Vikings holding a 14-6 on-target advantage, and Gramme was able to come up with multiple grade-A saves from dangerous positions. The ‘Cats had the game’s first power play opportunity, but they were unable to generate a shot attempt while Augustana registered one on goal during the Wildcat man advantage. The ‘Cats held a wide margin in the faceoff dot during the opening frame, led by Jakub Altrichter, who went 4/5 (80%) in the circle.
The Vikings opened the scoring late in the second period off the stick of freshman Leonid Bulgakov, scoring the second goal of his collegiate career first point outside of his three-point weekend against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Brett Meerman and Owen Baumgartner both registered their first assists of the season. The ‘Cats maintained its faceoff circle advantage through two periods, 21-14, with Girts Silkalns leading the ‘Cats with eight wins on ten faceoffs.
After going 0/13 in the last four games, the Viking power play converted on its first opportunity of the night, doubling its lead six minutes into the third period, as it was Meerman who scored off an assist from Bulgakov. The ‘Cats had a five-on-three man advantage for a minute and a half, including a crossbar hit by Caiden Gault, but were ultimately unable to convert. Shortly after the penalty expired, Tobias Pitka and Grayden Slipec combined for a goal, as Pitka cut into the lead just over halfway through the period. Gramme had to be sharp on an ensuing Auggie power play, making four saves, before Dave Shyiak and company pulled their goaltender. The ‘Cats had a minute and a half of six-on-five, but were unable to find the equalizer.
For the game, NMU was outshot 69-47, with a 48-25 Viking advantage on target. NMU went 0/3 on the man-advantage and went 1/2 on the penalty kill. The ‘Cats got it done in the faceoff circle, winning 35 draws to AUG’s 23, the third-most wins in one game and the best differential (+12) on the season.
‘Cat Nips
- Pitka (2-2–4) scored the second goal of the season and the first CCHA point of his collegiate career.
- Slipec (0-3–3) snapped his six-game point drought, tallying his third point of the season, and moves into a tie for second on the team in assists.
- St. Cloud State transfer Warren Clark (0-1–1) earned the first point of his Wildcat career with a secondary assist on the Pitka goal.
- Gramme made 46 saves for a .958 SV%, marking his most saves since the record-breaking opener in Massachusetts (65), and his best single-game save percentage of the season.
- Altricher had a spectacular night in the faceoff circle, winning 17 of his 25 draws (68%), the most faceoff wins in a single game among any Wildcat this season. Altrichter also led the team with three blocks.
- Silkalns won 11 of his 14 faceoffs (78.6%), second to only Altrichter on the evening, and his second-most in one game this season.
How It Happened
The Vikings opened the scoring late in the second period. Bulgakov received a drop pass at the top of the right circle. The left-shot Viking curled the puck into his feet before snapping a wrist shot that beat Gramme back to the stick side.
The Vikings doubled its lead on the team’s first man-advantage opportunity, scoring six minutes into the third period. Bulgakov fired a pass with pace to the stick of Meerman in the slot, who redirected the shot-pass and beat Gramme.
Immediately following the unsuccessful five-on-three opportunity, Pitka raced from his own end, gained the blue line, and slid a pass to Slipec on the left sidewall. Immediately following the pass, Pitka crashed the net to the back post, and Slipec fired a pass that found the speedy center.
Up Next
Game two from Midco Arena is tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. ET.
