Wildcats to face Wisconsin in Green Bay

MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University hockey team begins the regular season in two days against Wisconsin. The Wildcats and Badgers will face–off Friday and Saturday night at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

Unlike NMU, Wisconsin has a couple of regular season games already in the books. The Badgers played in the Kendall Hockey Classic in Alaska last week, dropping games to the Nanooks and Seawolves. Wisconsin will be a good test for the Wildcats. The Badgers are ranked 18th in this week’s USCHO.com rankings.

“The schedule, not being able to get an exhibition game, having the first scheduled weekend off, that makes for a long time of practice,” said NMU hockey coach Walt Kyle. “I can tell you that the guys are anxious, we’re anxious to see who we are and what we need to work on. We really can’t wait for the puck to drop.”

“We’re really excited to get this season going. It’s going to be a very exciting weekend. I think a lot of alumni are going to be there and it’s (the Resch Center) is a great place to play. A lot of us that played in the USHL (United States Hockey League) played there before and it’s a great team obviously; we’re really looking forward to the challenge,” said NMU co–captain Ryan Kesti.

“Every year actually, pretty much every year I’ve been here we’ve played them, it’s exciting. For the young guys coming in for your first game you’re going to have a big crowd and play a good Big Ten school,” said NMU co–captain Jake Baker.

The last time NMU and Wisconsin played at the Resch Center was 2012. The Wildcats swept the weekend series. Puck drop for both games is at 8 p.m. eastern, 7 p.m. central.