Bettens, Gault score for Wildcats in regulation
MANKATO, Minn. — The NMU hockey team battled the #18 Minnesota State Mavericks to a 2-2 tie before falling in the exhibition shootout.
The Wildcats (3-28-2, 3-20-2 CCHA) got great goaltending from freshman Oliver Auyeung-Ashton to go along with goals from Kyle Bettens and Caiden Gault, who tied the game late to steal a crucial CCHA point away from the Mavericks (17-9-7, 13-7-5 CCHA), who are vying to keep the MacNaughton Cup in Mankato one more season.
The scoring opened in the second, and it was the Wildcats who converted after killing a crucial penalty and gaining momentum. Medrick Bolduc forced a turnover in the neutral zone and laid a pass up to Kyle Bettens, who beat his defender wide before making a move in tight to beat a sprawling Alex Tracy. Campbell Cichosz used a flash screen to even the game at 1-1 a handful of minutes later.
Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made back-to-back incredible saves before Mason LeBel jumped on the third rebound and gave the Mavericks a 2-1 lead at the midway mark of the final frame. Caiden Gault fired one past Tracy with the net empty at the other end, and the Wildcats forced overtime.
The Mavericks got goals from Jordan Ronn and Jack Smith to go with two saves from Alex Tracy in the shootout, and the Mavericks escaped with the extra CCHA point.
MSU edged the Wildcats in shots on goal (44-23), shot attempts (77-45), and faceoffs (25-23), while both teams blocked 12 shots. Both teams penalty killing units were perfect, as NMU went 2/2 and MSU went 3/3.
‘Cat Nips
- Bettens (2-9–11) scored his second goal and third point in his last five games.
- Gault (16-2–18) continues to be one of the best goal scorers in the CCHA, as he has goals in back-to-back games and eight in his last 13 games played.
- Bolduc (2-3–5) got on the scoresheet for the first time in 18 games, as his last point was an assist on November 8, 2025, vs Michigan Tech.
- Schiller (3-7–10) is currently riding a three-game point streak, with four points (1-3–4) in that frame.
- Pitka (5-7–12) is riding a point streak of his own, as the freshman has three assists in three games to go with six points (2-4–6) in his last six contests.
- Auyeung-Ashton was outstanding between the pipes, making 42 saves for a .955 SV%. This marked the fourth time this season he has made 42+ saves and posted a save percentage of .955 or above.
- Aidyn Hutchinson and Caiden Gault were the skaters to attempt the shootout. Hutchinson is now 0/2 on the season, and this was Gault’s first attempt of the 25/26 campaign.
- The last time NMU and MSU played in Mankato ended in a 1-1 tie with the Wildcats winning in the shootout on November 16, 2024. Jakub Altrichter was the lone goal scorer, and Ryan Ouellette stopped all three MSU skaters.
How It Happened
Bolduc forced a turnover in the neutral zone and laid a pass up to Bettens, who beat his defender wide before making a move in tight to beat a sprawling Tracy moving left to right.
A pass went back to the point, and Cichosz let go a wrist shot that beat Auyeung-Ashton through the legs after an MSU forward provided an effective flash screen.
Auyeung-Ashton made an incredible sprawling save moving from left to right to deny a great Maverick chance, but the Mavericks followed up the rebound with a one-timer that Auyeung-Ashton got back across to save. The rebound would land on the stick of LeBel, and he had a wide-open net to look at.
Dave Shyiak pulled his goalie with just under two minutes to go, and his team converted. Gault walked into the left circle and fired a blistering wrist shot to the upper corner past the glove of Tracy, notching the game back to even and forcing overtime.
Shootout
RD1:
Ronn – Goal
Hutchinson – MissRD2:
Smith – Goal
Gault – Miss
RD3: Not needed
Up Next
The season finale from the Mayo Clinic HSEC is tomorrow night, with puck drop at 7:07 p.m. ET.
