Wildcats werre 0-6 on the power play
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The NMU hockey team rounded out its opening series of 2025, dropping a 6-1 contest against the No. 12 Minnesota State Mavericks.
The hot hand of Ryan Duguay (5-1–6) continued, as he intercepted a pass and scored his fourth goal of the weekend to extend his team-leading five goals on the year.
Starting netminder Ryan Ouellette was relieved after allowing three goals from nine shots in just shy of 13 minutes played. Ethan Barwick entered as relief, making 20 saves from 23 shots faced.
Josh Groll led the Mavericks with a goal and two assists, both Evan Murr and Steven Bellini registered a goal and a helper, and Alex Tracy made 21 saves (.955 SV%).
A physical contest from the jump, the teams were whistled for a combined 67 minutes of penalties, including three 10-minute misconduct penalties, marking the most in a single game since 1/20/2024 when the ‘Cats and Tommies were whistled for 68.
The ‘Cats had six power play opportunities to the ‘Mavs three, but it was Mankato who took advantage of its chances; Minnesota State went 3/4 (75%) on the man advantage while killing all six of Northern’s opportunities.
NMU now looks ahead to a road trip to Minnesota, where they face off against the Bemidji State Beavers at the Sanford Center on Friday, January 17, and Saturday, January 18.
How It Happened
The Wildcats opened the game with a strong offensive push generating early opportunities, but it was Mankato who struck first. At the 5:02 mark, Mankato broke the stalemate when Groll found Bohlsen in the slot for a goal.
Later in the 1st period, NMU’s penalty kill was tested after a tripping penalty at 10:38. Mankato capitalized on the power play with Carrabes sending a shot from the left wall past Ouellette. Groll would extend the Mankato lead to three, forcing an NMU goaltending change, with Barwick stepping in at 6:12.
Mankato’s power play struck again before the period ended, this time coming off the stick of Murr. A rocket from the top of the zone hit the right pipe and found the back of the net, putting Mankato up by four after twenty minutes.
Mankato opened the second period with a goal in the opening minute and scored the sixth seven minutes later before Duguay spoiled the Tracy shutout. The winger intercepted a stretch pass in the Mavericks zone and walked in one-on-one with Tracy, beating the netminder under the glove and over the pad for his fourth goal of the weekend.
