2023–24 Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey season was the 48th season of play for the program and 26th in the CCHA. The Wildcats represented Northern Michigan University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at Berry Events Center and were coached by Grant Potulny in his 7th season.

2023–24 Northern Michigan Wildcats
men's ice hockey season
Conference5th CCHA
Home iceBerry Events Center
Rankings
USCHONR
USA HockeyNR
Record
Overall12–16–6
Conference10–10–4
Home10–4–2
Road2–12–4
Coaches and captains
Head coachGrant Potulny
Assistant coachesByron Pool
Nick Peruzzi
Jimmy Spratt
Captains
Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey seasons
« 2022–23 2024–25 »

Season

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Despite high hopes for a squad that was picked to finish second in the conference pre-season poll,[1] Northern Michigan got off to a poor start. With four games against ranked opponents to begin with, the Wildcats had the opportunity to gain some notoriety early in the year, however, Béni Halász struggled in goal and the team was unable to overcome his slump. One bright spot was the stellar debut of Tanner Latsch, who had sat out the entire previous season while recovering from hip surgery.[2] The redshirt freshman recorded a hat-trick in his first college game and then scored in each of the next three as well. Unfortunately, he was bit by the injury bug against Ferris State and played just three games afterwards.

The loss of Latsch was bad enough but the team was also in desperate need for offense. Northern Michigan got a reprieve in mid-November when backup Charlie Glockner turned in a few good performances but those results were unsustainable. Halász did start playing better once he got his starting job back but the scoring never really materialized. Over the course of the season, the Wildcats recorded 40 fewer goals than they had in 2023, which equated to about 0.8 goals per game. Even with the defense improving as the season went along, that missing offense prevented the team from being able to capitalize on its chances and left NMU stuck in neutral. In the second half of the season, Northern Michigan lost just five games, however, the team was unable to break a tie on several occasions and could only manage a .500 mark in the spring semester.

The mediocre results placed the team 5th in the conference and forced them to hit the road for their playoff series with Minnesota State. The first game saw the Wildcats outshoot the Mavericks by a wide margin, particularly in the second, but the pop-gun offense could only muster a single goal and the team fell 1–2. They opened the scoring in the rematch with a shorty from André Ghantous but afterwards NMU could only watch as the Minnesota State offense poured on the offense to the tune of 6 goals. The Wildcats couldn't come close to matching that output and quietly ended their disappointing season.

After the season, Grant Potulny stepped down as head coach to continue his career in the professional ranks.[3]

Departures

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Player Position Nationality Cause
Nathan ButlerForward United StatesLeft program (retired)
Rico DiMatteoGoaltender United StatesTransferred to Long Island
Vincent De MeyForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Kansas City Mavericks)
Alex FryeForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Orlando Solar Bears)
Jett JungelsForward United StatesGraduation (retired)
David KeeferForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Kalamazoo Wings)
Simon KjellbergDefenseman SwedenGraduation (retired)
Joey LarsonForward United StatesTransferred to Michigan State
A. J. VanderbeckForward United StatesGraduation (signed with Kansas City Mavericks)
Tanner VescioDefenseman United StatesGraduation (retired)
Brett WillitsForward CanadaLeft program (retired)

Recruiting

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Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Mitchel DeelstraForward Canada24Wallace, ON; transfer from Ferris State
Viking Gustafsson NybergDefenseman Sweden20Stockholm, SWE
Travis HensrudForward Canada21Thunder Bay, ON
Matvei KabanovForward Russia20Togliatti, RUS
Kevin Marx NorénForward Sweden21Knivsta, SWE
Michael MesicForward United States19Plymouth, MI
Jack PerbixDefenseman\Forward United States22Elk River, MN; graduate transfer from Western Michigan; selected 116th overall in 2018
Brendan PoshakForward United States21Green Bay, WI
Grant SlukynskyForward United States21Edina, MN
Carsen StokesGoaltender United States21Prior Lake, MN
Jeppe UrupDefenseman Denmark24Odense, DEN; graduate transfer from Sacred Heart

Roster

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As of September 18, 2023.[4]

No. Nat. Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 United States Charlie Glockner Junior G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2000-06-27 Minnetonka, Minnesota Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
4 Canada Michael Van Unen Graduate D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-02-26 Kamloops, British Columbia Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
5 United States Colby Enns Senior (RS) D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 1999-09-16 Minot, North Dakota Lincoln Stars (USHL)
6 Sweden Kevin Marx-Norén Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-07-15 Knivsta, Sweden Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
7 United States Brendan Poshak Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-07-13 Green Bay, Wisconsin Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
8 Russia Artem Shlaine (C) Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-03-07 Moscow, Russia Connecticut (HEA) NJD, 130th overall 2020
9 Canada Josh Zinger Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-08-05 Red Deer, Alberta Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
10 United States Aiden Gallacher (C) Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2000-03-20 Rochester Hills, Michigan Michigan State (Big Ten)
11 United States André Ghantous (C) Graduate F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1998-12-07 Glendale, California Penticton Vees (BCHL)
12 United States Jack Perbix Graduate F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-09-13 Elk River, Minnesota Western Michigan (NCHC) ANA, 116th overall 2018
13 United States Mikey Colella Senior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1999-06-12 Wenonah, New Jersey Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
14 Canada Tyrell Boucher Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-06-03 Nampa, Alberta Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL)
15 Canada Rylan Van Unen Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-02-26 Kamloops, British Columbia Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
16 Hungary Kristóf Papp Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 2001-06-27 Budapest, Hungary Michigan State (Big Ten)
17 United States Luke Gramer Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-07-02 Moorhead, Minnesota Fargo Force (USHL)
18 United States Michael Mesic Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2004-08-15 Plymouth, Michigan Lincoln Stars (USHL)
19 United States Grant Slukynsky Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-03-12 Edina, Minnesota Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
20 Canada Mitch Deelstra Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1999-07-15 Wallace, Ontario Ferris State (CCHA)
21 Canada Connor Eddy Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-04-18 Victoria, British Columbia Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
22 United States Tanner Latsch Freshman (RS) F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-01-02 Muskegon, Michigan Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
23 United States Jakob Peterson Sophomore (RS) D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2002-04-18 Marquette, Michigan Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)
24 Canada Isack Bandu Sophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-05-03 Montreal, Quebec Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
25 Denmark Jeppe Urup Graduate D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1999-03-14 Odense, Denmark Sacred Heart (AHA)
26 Canada Travis Hensrud Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-05-02 Thunder Bay, Ontario Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
27 United States Zach Michaelis Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 2002-05-30 Elk River, Minnesota Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
28 Sweden Viking Gustafsson Nyberg Freshman D 6' 6" (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2003-09-21 Stockholm, Sweden Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
29 Canada Reilly Funk Sophomore (RS) F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2000-12-23 Portage, Manitoba Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
30 Hungary Béni Halász Sophomore G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 2001-08-13 Budapest, Hungary New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL)
32 United States Carsen Stokes Freshman G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-02-13 Prior Lake, Minnesota New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL)
33 Russia Matvei Kabanov Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2003-01-15 Togliatti, Russia Amurskie (MHL)

Standings

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Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Bemidji State2415722124882643820162117111
St. Thomas2412111020396862371520297105
#19 Michigan Tech*24121021203963544019156109102
Minnesota State2412102211387362371815411196
Northern Michigan2410104112365767341216683105
Bowling Green2411121111356069361322186116
Lake Superior State24111212203479733817201114113
Ferris State246171321194980361024283125
Augustana ^0000000000341218490105
Championship: March 22, 2024
† indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Mason Cup)
^ Augustana is playing a transition schedule of 16 games against conference opponents that are not counted in the standings
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Schedule and results

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DateTimeOpponent#Rank#SiteTVDecisionResultAttendanceRecord
Regular Season
October 13 8:07 pm at #17 Minnesota Duluth* AMSOIL ArenaDuluth, Minnesota  Halász T 5–5 OT 5,947 0–0–1
October 14 8:07 pm at #17 Minnesota Duluth* AMSOIL ArenaDuluth, Minnesota  Glockner L 5–8  6,497 0–1–1
October 20 9:00 pm at #18 Arizona State* Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona  Halász L 2–3  4,495 0–2–1
October 21 9:00 pm at #18 Arizona State* Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona  Halász L 1–5  4,357 0–3–1
October 27 7:07 pm Ferris State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász L 1–2 OT 4,040 0–4–1 (0–1–0)
October 28 6:07 pm Ferris State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 4–1  4,135 1–4–1 (1–1–0)
November 3 8:07 pm at St. Thomas St. Thomas Ice ArenaMendota Heights, MinnesotaFloHockey Halász L 2–4  614 1–5–1 (1–2–0)
November 4 7:07 pm at St. Thomas St. Thomas Ice ArenaMendota Heights, MinnesotaFloHockey Halász L 1–6  922 1–6–1 (1–3–0)
November 10 7:07 pm Lake Superior State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 6–4  3,239 2–6–1 (2–3–0)
November 11 6:07 pm Lake Superior State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Glockner W 4–3 OT 3,774 3–6–1 (3–3–0)
November 17 7:07 pm Alaska* Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Glockner W 3–1  2,303 4–6–1
November 18 6:07 pm Alaska* Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Glockner W 3–1  2,381 5–6–1
November 24 7:07 pm at Bowling Green Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, OhioFloHockey Glockner L 2–6  2,610 5–7–1 (3–4–0)
November 25 7:07 pm at Bowling Green Slater Family Ice ArenaBowling Green, OhioFloHockey Halász W 2–0  1,340 6–7–1 (4–4–0)
December 1 7:07 pm Augustana* Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász T 2–2 OT 2,859 6–7–2
December 2 6:07 pm Augustana* Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Glockner L 3–5  2,911 6–8–2
December 8 7:07 pm at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (Rivalry)FloHockey Halász L 2–4  3,649 6–9–2 (4–5–0)
December 9 6:07 pm Michigan Tech Berry Events CenterMarquette, Michigan (Rivalry)FloHockey Halász W 3–1  7–9–2 (5–5–0)
January 6 6:07 pm Michigan Tech* Berry Events CenterMarquette, Michigan (Rivalry, Exhibition)FloHockey Halász W 7–2  3,911
January 12 7:07 pm at Lake Superior State Taffy Abel ArenaSault Ste. Marie, MichiganFloHockey Halász L 1–5  995 7–10–2 (5–6–0)
January 13 6:07 pm at Lake Superior State Taffy Abel ArenaSault Ste. Marie, MichiganFloHockey Glockner L 2–5  877 7–11–2 (5–7–0)
January 19 7:07 pm St. Thomas Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 3–2  2,562 8–11–2 (6–7–0)
January 20 6:07 pm St. Thomas Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász L 1–3  8–12–2 (6–8–0)
January 26 8:07 pm at Minnesota State Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, MinnesotaFloHockey Halász T 2–2 SOW 4,667 8–12–3 (6–8–1)
January 27 7:07 pm at Minnesota State Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, MinnesotaFloHockey Halász L 0–4  4,981 8–13–3 (6–9–1)
February 2 7:07 pm Michigan Tech Berry Events CenterMarquette, Michigan (Rivalry)FloHockey Halász W 4–1  4,260 9–13–3 (7–9–1)
February 3 6:07 pm at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (Rivalry)FloHockey Halász T 3–3 SOW 3,730 9–13–4 (7–9–2)
February 9 7:07 pm Bemidji State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász L 2–4  2,645 9–14–4 (7–10–2)
February 10 6:07 pm Bemidji State Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász T 3–3 SOL 3,011 9–14–5 (7–10–3)
February 23 7:07 pm at Ferris State Ewigleben ArenaBig Rapids, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 3–2  1,950 10–14–5 (8–10–3)
February 24 6:07 pm at Ferris State Ewigleben ArenaBig Rapids, MichiganFloHockey Halász T 1–1 SOL 2,389 10–14–6 (8–10–4)
March 1 7:07 pm Bowling Green Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 4–1  2,565 11–14–6 (9–10–4)
March 2 6:07 pm Bowling Green Berry Events CenterMarquette, MichiganFloHockey Halász W 1–0  3,007 12–14–6 (10–10–4)
CCHA Tournament
March 8 8:07 pm at Minnesota State* Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 1)FloHockey Halász L 1–2  3,084 12–15–6
March 9 7:07 pm at Minnesota State* Mayo Clinic Health System Event CenterMankato, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 2)FloHockey Halász L 1–6  3,494 12–16–6
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[5]

Scoring statistics

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Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
André GhantousRW349233248
Artem ShlaineC2710132323
Josh ZingerD343172020
Kristóf PappC34613196
Kevin Marx-NorénLW/RW304131714
Connor EddyC34761340
Michael ColellaF3475126
Rylan Van UnenF33461055
Grant SlukynskyC346396
Michael MesicC264598
Matvei KabanovLW264594
Tanner LatschC87186
Aiden GallacherD3435825
Isack BanduD2614545
Reilly FunkC1722410
Mike Van UnenD171348
Colby EnnsD281344
Jack PerbixD/RW3113435
Viking Gustafsson NybergC3321324
Mitch DeelstraLW251238
Zach MichaelisC90332
Jakob PetersonD180112
Tyrell BoucherD210114
Brendan PoshakF70000
Jeppe UrupD80002
Charlie GlocknerG90000
Béni HalászG2800015
Total83138221438

[6]

Goaltending statistics

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Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Béni Halász281650:309126787072.9012.84
Charlie Glockner10405:12340221690.8853.26
Empty Net-19:57---5----
Total342075:39121661058762.8933.04

Rankings

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Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (Final)
USCHO.com NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
USA Hockey NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25.[7]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

Awards and honors

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Player Award Ref
Josh Zinger CCHA Second Team [8]

2024 NHL entry draft

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Round Pick Player NHL team
7205Austin Moline Philadelphia Flyers

† incoming freshman [9]

References

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  1. "Preseason Coaches' Poll and Awards Announced". CCHA. September 18, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  2. "Northern Michigan University hockey player Tanner Latsch continues to collect CCHA hardware". The Mining Journal. October 24, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  3. "Grant Potulny Named Head Coach of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack". New York Rangers. June 27, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  4. "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Northern Michigan Wildcats. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  5. "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". Northern Michigan Wildcats. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  6. "Northern Michigan Univ. 2023-2024 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  7. "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. "Six Earn All-CCHA Second Team". CCHA.com. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2024 NHL Draft". USCHO.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.