MARQUETTE -- The NMU Hockey team definitely steps up in class as 2011 national runner-up and currently top ranked Michigan invades the Berry Events Center for games Friday and Saturday.
The Wolverines were in Marquette at the end of the regular season in late February, sweeping the Wildcats 3-2 and 5-0.
The Wildcats have scored 13 goals in their first four games, the Wolverines put a ten spot on Saint Lawrence last Thursday in a 10-3 victory.
The Wildcats understand the importance of being disciplined, and this could go a long way toward finding out how good the green and gold can be in the first half of the season.
"This is a group of guys that are ranked as highly as they are because they can make you pay for mistakes," says NMU Head coach Walt Kyle. "If you make mistakes, these guys have the ability to convert. So you're going to have to limit your mistakes, you're going to have to be aware of their talent, and you're going to have to respect that and play hard against them."
"As everyone knows they're always a highly talented team," says NMU forward Andrew Cherniwchan. "They've got lots of speed. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be our biggest challenge so far and I can't wait to see it."
"They're a high powered offense," adds NMU goalie Reid Ellingson. "We know that coming in. We know we're going to have to be sound defensively, limit our turnovers and mistakes, stay out of the penalty box to keep the score down to respectable limits."
Faceoff both nights is 7:35.
Lake Superior State hosts Bowling Green while Michigan Tech hits the road for the first time at Bemidji State.
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