Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey
Encyclopedia
The Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
program that represents Northern Michigan University
. The Wildcats are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
(CCHA). NMU has won one national title and has made three Frozen Four appearances. They play at the Berry Events Center
in Marquette, Michigan
.
(CCHA) for the 1976-77 season. During the 1976-77 season as a probationary member NMU competed against CCHA teams but did not count for league standings. Northern Michigan became a full member of the CCHA for the 1977-78 season.
In the first two season as a full member of the CCHA Northern Michigan finished with back-to-back 19 win seasons before a historical season in program history in 1979-80. During the 1979-80 season the team won its first CCHA regular season championship and CCHA Playoff Tournament championship. The Wildcats advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament
appearance and won their first game 4-3 against Minnesota
. NMU advanced to the National Championship game with a semifinal win over Cornell
5-4. Northern Michigan finished as the runner-up to North Dakota. In addition to the tournament being the first tournament and National Championship appearance for Northern Michigan, it was also the highest NCAA Tournament finish for a CCHA team. NMU head coach, Rick Comley
became the first CCHA coach to receive the Spencer Penrose Award
given to the NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Coach of the Year.
The success of the 1979-80 season continued for the 1980-81 season. The Wildcats again won the CCHA regular season and playoff championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats won the quarterfinal game against Cornell 10-7 but fell to Wisconsin
1-5.
(WCHA). The following day it was announced that rival Michigan Tech
was also leaving the CCHA for WCHA. The 1988-1989 season marked the first time NMU qualified for the NCAA Tournament
as a member of the WCHA. Unlike previous NCAA appearances Northern Michigan fell in the first round to Providence
4-5.
Northern Michigan qualified for the 1991 NCAA Tournament
after winning the WCHA regular season championship. Northern Michigan won two games to none in the quarterfinal round against Alaska-Anchorage
, 8-5 and 5-3. NMU advanced and beat Maine 5-3 in the semifinal round. The Wildcats matched up in the National Championship game in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 1, 1991 against Boston University and won 8-7 in three overtime periods. The 1990-91 season also set a program best record of 38-5-4 and a winning percentage of .851. It also marked the program's first and only NCAA Championship. The Wildcats returned to the National Tournament in 1992 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
as the 4th seed of the West Regional held in Detroit, Michigan
. NMU picked up a first round win over Clarkson
8-4 before losing in the quarterfinal round 6-7 to Michigan
. The 1992-93 season marked the third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. NMU won a close game in the opening round of the 1993 Tournament
in the East Regional in Worcester, Massachusetts
against Harvard
. The Wildcats won a close game 3-2 in two overtime periods but fell 1-4 in the second round to Boston University in a rematch of the 1991 National Championship.
During the following seasons NMU remained competitive in the WCHA but by the mid-1990s the program fell into the bottom half of the standings. After six 20+ win seasons from 1988-89 season through the 1993-94 season, the Wildcats failed to reach 15 wins in their last three seasons in the WCHA. The 1995-96 season marked a program low record of 7-30-2. On August 19, 1996 the CCHA approved Northern Michigan's application to rejoin the league for the 1997-98 season after 13 years in the WCHA. During the years in the WCHA the Wildcats accumulated a record of 263-243-30.
On June 13, 2002 it was announced that Walt Kyle would take over as head coach for the Wildcats to become the second coach in program history. Rick Comley
left to take over the head coaching position at Michigan State
after 26 seasons behind the bench of the Wildcats. Kyle won his first game as head coach of Northern Michigan on October 5, 2002 against Upper Michigan rival Michigan Tech, 4-1. Kyle's first CCHA victory came on October 18, 2002 10-4 against Rick Comley and his Michigan State team. Kyle led the Wildcats to four straight 20+ win seasons from 2002-2006 and six of his first eight seasons behind the NMU bench.
One of the most successful seasons in recent history came in the 2009-10 season. Northern Michigan finished the regular season ranked fourth in the CCHA and ranked 16th in the nation. The Wildcats received a first round bye in the CCHA tournament and matched up against Alaska Fairbanks
, coming off first round sweep of Western Michigan
. Northern Michigan swept the Nanooks two games to none with 4-3 and 5-1 victories, advancing NMU to the semifinal round. Northern Michigan took on Ferris State
looking to overcome the semifinal losses the previous two seasons. The Wildcats came out on top of their seventh appearance in the CCHA Semifinals in the last eight seasons with an overtime goal by Greger Hanson to give Northern Michigan the 5-4 OT win. The win was the first time Northern Michigan advanced to the CCHA Championship game since 1999, under Rick Comley. The Wildcats run in the CCHA playoffs ended in the Championship game, when Northern Michigan fell short in a close game to Michigan. The Wildcats 1-2 loss to the Wolverines did not end their season as NMU received an at-large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
, their first tournament appearance since 1999 and fist under Walt Kyle. Northern Michigan's first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 seasons took them to the West Regional at the Xcel Energy Center
in St. Paul, Minnesota and first round matchup against St. Cloud State
. The Wildcats battled hard in front of a pro-SCSU crowd. Northern Michigan found themselves down early 0-2 in the first period but picked up a late goal by sophomore forward Justin Florek. St. Cloud answered in the second period on the powerplay but Northern Michigan kept within one goal when senior forward Ray Kaunisto
scored late in the period. St. Cloud was held scoreless in the third while Northern Michigan tied the game with an even strength goal under four minutes left in the third period by junior defenseman Erik Spady. The Two team battled hard through the first overtime before St. Cloud State's Tony Mosey scored 23 seconds into the second overtime. Senior goaltender Brian Stewart stopped 50 SCSU shots in the tough loss.
In the summer of 2011, the Big Ten Conference
announced intentions to begin sponsoring men's ice hockey in 2013, followed by Miami (OH)
announcing the formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference
for 2013 with and five other schools breaking from the WCHA. The realignment continued on July 20, 2011, when Northern Michigan was approved for membership in the WCHA beginning with the 2013-2014 season.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses
Records as of March 23, 2011.
who left to take over the head coaching position at Michigan State
. In his tenure with Northern Michigan Kyle has led the Wildcats to six 20+ win seasons and one NCAA Tournament
appearance. Kyle played for Northern Michigan for two seasons from 1979-1981. He became assistant coach for NMU under Rick Comley from 1985-1992 before moving on to head coaching positions with the Seattle Thunderbirds
and later with the San Diego Gulls, Baltimore Bandits
, and Hamilton Bulldogs
. Kyle also spent time as an assistant coach in the NHL
with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and New York Rangers
.
on the NMU campus in Marquette, Michigan
. The arena has been the home of the Wildcats since 1999, replacing Lakeview Arena
which had been the home to NMU hockey since the program began in 1976. The Berry Events Center is one of two Olympic-regulation sized ice surfaces in the CCHA, the other being Alaska Fairbanks'
Carlson Center
.
feature article, "The Puckheads have created an atmosphere that makes the Berry Events Center one of the most entertaining and frustrating road trips for other teams in the CCHA."
The Puckheads were founded in November 1996 at Lakeview Arena. The Puckheads travel and follow the team on many occasions, and have established rivalries with other teams' fan groups, notably the "Red Army" supporters of the Nebraska–Omaha
Mavericks.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
program that represents Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
. The Wildcats are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(CCHA). NMU has won one national title and has made three Frozen Four appearances. They play at the Berry Events Center
Berry Events Center
Berry Events Center is a 4,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Marquette, Michigan, in the United States that opened in 1999. It is home to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats ice hockey and basketball teams. The arena also houses the US Speedskating Team. It was built in 1999, and is named for...
in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
.
Early History
The NMU men's ice hockey program began in 1976. The team competed as an independent NCAA Division I team and probationary member of Central Collegiate Hockey AssociationCentral Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(CCHA) for the 1976-77 season. During the 1976-77 season as a probationary member NMU competed against CCHA teams but did not count for league standings. Northern Michigan became a full member of the CCHA for the 1977-78 season.
In the first two season as a full member of the CCHA Northern Michigan finished with back-to-back 19 win seasons before a historical season in program history in 1979-80. During the 1979-80 season the team won its first CCHA regular season championship and CCHA Playoff Tournament championship. The Wildcats advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament
1980 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1980 NCAA Division I Ice Tournament involved in playing for single-elimination play to determine the national championship of NCAA Division I. the tournament began on March 22, 1980. The semifinals were on March 27-28,1980. The National Championship was on March 29, 1980...
appearance and won their first game 4-3 against Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
. NMU advanced to the National Championship game with a semifinal win over Cornell
Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey
The Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey team represents Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, in NCAA Division I men's competition. Cornell is one of eight members of the academically prestigious Ivy League conference and the hockey team plays in the ECAC Hockey conference.The 1970 Cornell...
5-4. Northern Michigan finished as the runner-up to North Dakota. In addition to the tournament being the first tournament and National Championship appearance for Northern Michigan, it was also the highest NCAA Tournament finish for a CCHA team. NMU head coach, Rick Comley
Rick Comley
Rick Comley is a former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University. Following the 2005-06 season, Comley has an overall coaching record of 768-596-106...
became the first CCHA coach to receive the Spencer Penrose Award
Spencer Penrose Award
The Spencer Penrose Award is awarded yearly to the top coach in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey by the American Hockey Coaches Association.The finalists for each year's award comprise the conference Coach of the Year winners from each Division I men's ice hockey conference, plus the coaches of the...
given to the NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Coach of the Year.
The success of the 1979-80 season continued for the 1980-81 season. The Wildcats again won the CCHA regular season and playoff championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats won the quarterfinal game against Cornell 10-7 but fell to Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey
The Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The team plays at the Kohl Center and is coached by former Badger and NHL player Mike Eaves...
1-5.
WCHA Years
On January 5, 1984 Northern Michigan announced the program was leaving the CCHA after seven seasons two league and playoff championships and two NCAA Tournament berths for the Western Collegiate Hockey AssociationWestern Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
(WCHA). The following day it was announced that rival Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey
The Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Michigan Technological University. The Huskies are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association...
was also leaving the CCHA for WCHA. The 1988-1989 season marked the first time NMU qualified for the NCAA Tournament
1989 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1988–89 season in men's ice hockey for teams in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Harvard Crimson defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the championship game, held in St. Paul,...
as a member of the WCHA. Unlike previous NCAA appearances Northern Michigan fell in the first round to Providence
Providence Friars men's ice hockey
The Providence Friars men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the Providence College. The Friars are a member of Hockey East. They play at the 3,030-seat Schneider Arena in Providence, Rhode Island.-External links:*...
4-5.
Northern Michigan qualified for the 1991 NCAA Tournament
1991 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1990–91 season in men's ice hockey for teams in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Northern Michigan University defeated Boston University in the championship game, held in St...
after winning the WCHA regular season championship. Northern Michigan won two games to none in the quarterfinal round against Alaska-Anchorage
Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey
The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association . They play at the Sullivan Arena in...
, 8-5 and 5-3. NMU advanced and beat Maine 5-3 in the semifinal round. The Wildcats matched up in the National Championship game in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 1, 1991 against Boston University and won 8-7 in three overtime periods. The 1990-91 season also set a program best record of 38-5-4 and a winning percentage of .851. It also marked the program's first and only NCAA Championship. The Wildcats returned to the National Tournament in 1992 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
1992 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament involved 12 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 26, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 4...
as the 4th seed of the West Regional held in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. NMU picked up a first round win over Clarkson
Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey
The Clarkson Golden Knights Men's Ice Hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Clarkson University. The Golden Knights are a member of ECAC Hockey...
8-4 before losing in the quarterfinal round 6-7 to Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey
The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season...
. The 1992-93 season marked the third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. NMU won a close game in the opening round of the 1993 Tournament
1993 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament involved 12 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 26, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 3...
in the East Regional in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
against Harvard
Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey
The Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Harvard University. The Crimson are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
. The Wildcats won a close game 3-2 in two overtime periods but fell 1-4 in the second round to Boston University in a rematch of the 1991 National Championship.
During the following seasons NMU remained competitive in the WCHA but by the mid-1990s the program fell into the bottom half of the standings. After six 20+ win seasons from 1988-89 season through the 1993-94 season, the Wildcats failed to reach 15 wins in their last three seasons in the WCHA. The 1995-96 season marked a program low record of 7-30-2. On August 19, 1996 the CCHA approved Northern Michigan's application to rejoin the league for the 1997-98 season after 13 years in the WCHA. During the years in the WCHA the Wildcats accumulated a record of 263-243-30.
Recent History
The return to the CCHA reinvigorated the program after several underachieving seasons and rebuilding years. In the 1996-97 season, the first back in the CCHA, the Wildcats finished with a record of 19-15-4. The season was the first winning record since the 1993-94 season. And in the following season NMU reached the NCAA National Tournament for the seventh time in program history. Northern Michigan entered the tournament as the 5th seed in the West Regional. Northern Michigan's playoff run was ended early by Boston College in a low scoring game 1-2.On June 13, 2002 it was announced that Walt Kyle would take over as head coach for the Wildcats to become the second coach in program history. Rick Comley
Rick Comley
Rick Comley is a former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University. Following the 2005-06 season, Comley has an overall coaching record of 768-596-106...
left to take over the head coaching position at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
after 26 seasons behind the bench of the Wildcats. Kyle won his first game as head coach of Northern Michigan on October 5, 2002 against Upper Michigan rival Michigan Tech, 4-1. Kyle's first CCHA victory came on October 18, 2002 10-4 against Rick Comley and his Michigan State team. Kyle led the Wildcats to four straight 20+ win seasons from 2002-2006 and six of his first eight seasons behind the NMU bench.
One of the most successful seasons in recent history came in the 2009-10 season. Northern Michigan finished the regular season ranked fourth in the CCHA and ranked 16th in the nation. The Wildcats received a first round bye in the CCHA tournament and matched up against Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey
The Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Nanooks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . They play at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks,...
, coming off first round sweep of Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
. Northern Michigan swept the Nanooks two games to none with 4-3 and 5-1 victories, advancing NMU to the semifinal round. Northern Michigan took on Ferris State
Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey
The Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Ferris State University. The Bulldogs are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
looking to overcome the semifinal losses the previous two seasons. The Wildcats came out on top of their seventh appearance in the CCHA Semifinals in the last eight seasons with an overtime goal by Greger Hanson to give Northern Michigan the 5-4 OT win. The win was the first time Northern Michigan advanced to the CCHA Championship game since 1999, under Rick Comley. The Wildcats run in the CCHA playoffs ended in the Championship game, when Northern Michigan fell short in a close game to Michigan. The Wildcats 1-2 loss to the Wolverines did not end their season as NMU received an at-large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
-Regional semifinals:-Regional final:The regional final between Michigan and Miami was not without controversy. In the first overtime, Michigan appeared to score what would have been the game winning goal. However, the goal was ruled off due to what replay showed to be an early whistle...
, their first tournament appearance since 1999 and fist under Walt Kyle. Northern Michigan's first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 seasons took them to the West Regional at the Xcel Energy Center
Xcel Energy Center
The Xcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally-based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 18,064, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels. The arena is owned by the...
in St. Paul, Minnesota and first round matchup against St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey
The St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents St. Cloud State University. The Huskies are a member of Western Collegiate Hockey Association. They play at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud,...
. The Wildcats battled hard in front of a pro-SCSU crowd. Northern Michigan found themselves down early 0-2 in the first period but picked up a late goal by sophomore forward Justin Florek. St. Cloud answered in the second period on the powerplay but Northern Michigan kept within one goal when senior forward Ray Kaunisto
Ray Kaunisto
Ray Kaunisto is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League...
scored late in the period. St. Cloud was held scoreless in the third while Northern Michigan tied the game with an even strength goal under four minutes left in the third period by junior defenseman Erik Spady. The Two team battled hard through the first overtime before St. Cloud State's Tony Mosey scored 23 seconds into the second overtime. Senior goaltender Brian Stewart stopped 50 SCSU shots in the tough loss.
In the summer of 2011, the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
announced intentions to begin sponsoring men's ice hockey in 2013, followed by Miami (OH)
Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey
The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University. The RedHawks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
announcing the formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference
National Collegiate Hockey Conference
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is an NCAA men's division I hockey conference, announced on July 9, 2011, by six schools. Formed by a combination of WCHA teams and two CCHA teams, the league will begin conference play for the 2013–2014 season, the same season that the Big Ten Conference...
for 2013 with and five other schools breaking from the WCHA. The realignment continued on July 20, 2011, when Northern Michigan was approved for membership in the WCHA beginning with the 2013-2014 season.
Season-by-Season Results
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Bulldogs. For the full season-by-season history, see Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey seasonsNote: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses
Records as of March 23, 2011.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 41 | 15 | 24 | 2 | 10th, CCHA | Lost in CCHA Quarterfinals 2007 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament - Nebraska-Omaha vs. Bowling Green:- Western Michigan vs. Alaska:- Ohio State vs. Northern Michigan:- Lake Superior State vs. Ferris State:- Notre Dame vs. Alaska:- Michigan vs. Northern Michigan:... , 0–2 (Michigan Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season... ) |
| 2007–08 | 44 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 6th, CCHA | Lost in CCHA Semifinals 2008 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament - Ferris State vs. Western Michigan:- Northern Michigan vs. Ohio State:- Bowling Green vs. Lake Superior State:- Nebraska-Omaha vs. Alaska:- Michigan vs. Nebraska-Omaha:- Miami vs. Bowling Green:... , 4–6 (Michigan Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season... ) |
| 2008–09 | 41 | 19 | 17 | 5 | 6th, CCHA | Lost in CCHA Semifinals 2009 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament - Ohio State vs. Bowling Green:- Northern Michigan vs. Michigan State:- Western Michigan vs. Lake Superior State:- Nebraska-Omaha vs. Ferris State:- Notre Dame vs. Nebraska-Omaha:... , 1–2 (Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the University of Notre Dame. The team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association at the NCAA Division I level.- History :... ) |
| 2009–10 | 41 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 4th, CCHA | Lost in NCAA Regional Semifinals, 3–4 2OT (St. Cloud State St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey The St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents St. Cloud State University. The Huskies are a member of Western Collegiate Hockey Association. They play at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud,... ) |
| 2010–11 | 42 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 6th, CCHA | Lost in CCHA First Round 2011 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament The 2011 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is the 40th CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. It was played between March 4 and March 19, 2011 at campus locations and at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Miami Redhawks won the tournament and was awarded the Mason Cup... , 1–2 (Bowling Green Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey The Bowling Green Falcons ice hockey team is the ice hockey team that represents Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school's team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Falcons last played in the NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament in 1990... ) |
Coaches
The Wildcats are currently coached by Walt Kyle. Kyle is currently in his 9th season behind the NMU bench and is the second coach in program history. He was hired on June 13, 2002 to replace Rick ComleyRick Comley
Rick Comley is a former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University. Following the 2005-06 season, Comley has an overall coaching record of 768-596-106...
who left to take over the head coaching position at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
. In his tenure with Northern Michigan Kyle has led the Wildcats to six 20+ win seasons and one NCAA Tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
-Regional semifinals:-Regional final:The regional final between Michigan and Miami was not without controversy. In the first overtime, Michigan appeared to score what would have been the game winning goal. However, the goal was ruled off due to what replay showed to be an early whistle...
appearance. Kyle played for Northern Michigan for two seasons from 1979-1981. He became assistant coach for NMU under Rick Comley from 1985-1992 before moving on to head coaching positions with the Seattle Thunderbirds
Seattle Thunderbirds
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a junior ice hockey team based in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, and play in the ShoWare Center...
and later with the San Diego Gulls, Baltimore Bandits
Baltimore Bandits
The Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena...
, and Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
. Kyle also spent time as an assistant coach in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
All-time coaching records
As of the completion of 2010–11 season| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–present | Walt Kyle | 9 | 176–153–39 | .531 |
| 1976–2002 | Rick Comley Rick Comley Rick Comley is a former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University. Following the 2005-06 season, Comley has an overall coaching record of 768-596-106... |
26 | 542–435–69 | .551 |
| Totals | 2 coaches | 35 seasons | 718–588–108 | .546 |
Notable Alumni
Over 170 NMU alumni have gone on to play professionally, including a number of current and former NHL players:- Mark BeaufaitMark BeaufaitMark Beaufait is a former professional ice hockey player who played 5 games for the San Jose Sharks of the NHL during the 1992–93 season. He spent the last seven playing for the Eisbären Berlin of the DEL. He retired on April 16, 2009.-Career statistics:-External links:...
- Steve BozekSteve BozekSteven Michael Bozek is a retired professional ice hockey left wing who spent 11 seasons in the NHL with four clubs...
- Dusty CollinsDusty CollinsDusty Collins is an American professional ice hockey player who currently plays with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.During the 2007–08 CHL season Collins had 23 goals, 30 assists, and 126 penalty minutes in 62 games for the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League.-External links:...
- Dallas DrakeDallas DrakeDallas James Drake is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger in the National Hockey League who last played for the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, Drake played for the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues...
- Gary EmmonsGary EmmonsGary Emmons is a former professional ice hockey player who played for the San Jose Sharks NHL as well as several teams in the IHL.-Regular season and playoffs:-External links:...
- Erik GustafssonErik GustafssonErik Gustafsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Keith HansonKeith HansonKeith Francis Hanson is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 25 games for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League during the 1983–84 NHL season. He was drafted 145th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, but was traded to the...
- Jim HillerJim HillerJames A. Hiller is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 63 games in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, while spending time in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League...
- Dieter KochanDieter KochanDieter Kochan is a former ice hockey goaltender. He was the first player to be called up directly from the UHL to the NHL. He scored a goal for the B.C. Icemen, on January 5, 1999. He was named to United Hockey League All-Star second team of 1999–2000. He was a member of the Calder Cup champion...
- Tom LaidlawTom LaidlawThomas John Laidlaw is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Laidlaw started his National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers in 1980, arriving from Northern Michigan University. He also played for the Los Angeles Kings. He left the NHL after the 1990 season. He played 1 season for...
- Jamie MilamJamie MilamJamie Milam is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan.-External links:...
- Darryl OlsenDarryl OlsenDarryl M. Olsen is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in one National Hockey League game for the Calgary Flames during the 1991–92 NHL season....
- Darin OlverDarin OlverDarin Olver is a Canadian ice hockey left winger. He currently plays for the Eisbären Berlin of the DEL. He comes from a hockey family. His father, John, played in college and coached many teams in Canada and the United States, including 2 years as an assistant coach for Northern Michigan while...
- Mark Olver
- Nathan OystrickNathan OystrickNathan Oystrick is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Mike SantorelliMike SantorelliMike Santorelli is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Brian Stewart
- Mike StutzelMike StutzelMike Stutzel is a Canadian ice hockey player, currently playing for the Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite Ice Hockey League. He played 9 games for the Phoenix Coyotes in 2003–04. He also played 13 games in Finland's SM-liiga for Tappara...
- Tuomas TarkkiTuomas TarkkiTuomas Tarkki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Kontinental Hockey League....
- J. P. Vigier
- Don WaddellDon WaddellDonald Waddell is the former, and last President of the Atlanta Thrashers and a former ice hockey defenseman.-Playing career:...
- Ed WardEd Ward (ice hockey)Edward J. Ward is a retired professional ice hockey player. Ward played 278 games for five teams.-Playing career:Ward was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the sixth round, 108th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. Ward chose to play NCAA hockey for Northern Michigan University before turning...
- Steve WeeksSteve WeeksStephen K. Weeks is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League....
- Brad WerenkaBrad WerenkaJohn Bradley Werenka is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, 47th overall. Werenka played college hockey for the Northern Michigan University Wildcats, with whom he won the 1991 NCAA hockey title...
Arena
The Wildcats play at the 3,902-seat Berry Events CenterBerry Events Center
Berry Events Center is a 4,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Marquette, Michigan, in the United States that opened in 1999. It is home to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats ice hockey and basketball teams. The arena also houses the US Speedskating Team. It was built in 1999, and is named for...
on the NMU campus in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. The arena has been the home of the Wildcats since 1999, replacing Lakeview Arena
Lakeview Arena
Lakeview Arena is a 3,100-seat multi-purpose arena, located in Marquette, Michigan. It was opened in 1974, during the Marquette Iron Rangers hockey season. The team had previously played in the historic Palestra, a building that had moved from Laurium, Michigan in 1921 and was torn down shortly...
which had been the home to NMU hockey since the program began in 1976. The Berry Events Center is one of two Olympic-regulation sized ice surfaces in the CCHA, the other being Alaska Fairbanks'
Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey
The Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Nanooks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . They play at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks,...
Carlson Center
Carlson Center
The John A. Carlson Community Activity Center is a 6,443-seat multi-purpose arena in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks ice hockey team of the CCHA, the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League, and is also the site used for the university's...
.
Puckheads
The Puckheads are a group of fans of the Wildcats hockey team. The group is made up of students as well as residents from around the community. In the words of a Michigan DailyMichigan Daily
The Michigan Daily is the daily student newspaper of the University of Michigan. Its first edition was published on September 29, 1890. The newspaper is financially and editorially independent of the University's administration and other student groups, but shares a university building with other...
feature article, "The Puckheads have created an atmosphere that makes the Berry Events Center one of the most entertaining and frustrating road trips for other teams in the CCHA."
The Puckheads were founded in November 1996 at Lakeview Arena. The Puckheads travel and follow the team on many occasions, and have established rivalries with other teams' fan groups, notably the "Red Army" supporters of the Nebraska–Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
Mavericks.