January games are all in the Upper Peninsula
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Head coach Dave Shyiak and the Northern Michigan University hockey team have announced its 2026-27 season schedule.
The ‘Cats kick off the 50th anniversary season at home, hosting Miami University (Ohio) for opening weekend on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3.
After the top-ranked Spartans traveled to Marquette last season, the Wildcats will head to East Lansing this season for the second weekend of regular-season play. The second weekend of October is confirmed, but the dates are still to be determined as a Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday series. The schedule will be updated once those dates are set.
Rounding out the opening non-conference slate will be Stonehill, when the Skyhawks travel to the Berry Event Center for games on October 16 and 17, 2026.
The CCHA conference schedule then begins after a weekend of rest for the Wildcats, traveling to Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to begin conference play, marking consecutive seasons where the ‘Cats have opened the season in Sioux Falls. NMU is then home for consecutive weekends, hosting Minnesota State on November 6 and 7, followed by Bowling Green on November 13 and 14.
The Wildcats head to Big Rapids to face Ferris State on November 20 and 21, then receive a bye as Thanksgiving weekend rolls through. After the weekend bye, NMU has its first home-and-home series with Michigan Tech on December 4 and 5, then hosts Augustana to round out the season series with the Vikings and send the ‘Cats into the holiday break.
Right before the turn of the calendar to 2027, NMU will play in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-off at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tournament runs December 29 and 30, and features Wisconsin, UMass, Arizona State, and the Wildcats. The Wildcats have never played in the tournament before, and host Wisconsin has won three times since its inception in 2021.
The ‘Cats return to conference play on January 8, 2027, and will not leave the Upper Peninsula for the entire month of January. NMU first hosts Bemidji State for the only regular-season meeting between the two sides on January 8 and 9, followed by back-to-back U.P. rivalry weekends. NMU first heads to the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula to play Lake Superior State on January 15 and 16, before finishing the regular-season series with Michigan Tech on January 22 and 23. The first month of the new year ends with Ferris State on January 29 and 30 at the Berry Events Center.
NMU will travel to Bowling Green the first weekend of February before receiving its final bye week of the season. The ‘Cats then hit the road again for a trip to Minnesota State on February 19 and 20 before concluding the regular season in Marquette, hosting the Lakers on February 26 and 27.
The CCHA playoffs begin March 5 and run through the CCHA Championship game on March 20. The NCAA Regional tournament runs March 25-28, and the NCAA Frozen Four will be held April 8-10.
