NMU Hockey defeats #6 Miami 2-1

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University hockey team extended its winning streak to three games on Friday (Jan. 11) night with a 2-1 victory over the No. 6-ranked Miami University RedHawks from the Berry Events Center. With the Central Collegiate Hockey Association win, the Wildcats are now 9-10-3 overall and 3-9-3-1 in the league.

“It was a good win,” NMU coach Walt Kyle said. “They’re number six in the country for a reason. Barber and Czarnik are tremendous players and NHL players at some point in their careers.”

Junior goaltender Jared Coreau, the current CCHA goaltender of the week, stopped a season-high 43 shots, including 20 in the third period. He also picked up his first career assist in the victory.

“I don’t think we played nearly as good as we need to,” Kyle added. ”I didn’t like, as a whole, our defenseman. Jared was very good in goal and we caught some breaks.”

Freshman forward Darren Nowick sniped the game-winner with a sharp-angled shot over the blocker shoulder of Miami goaltender Jay Williams. Coreau assisted on the play.

“Darren adds a lot to our lineup,” Kyle said. “He brings us tremendous speed and he’s very aggressive. He hunts down pucks and gets to loose pucks.”

Miami (12-5-4, 8-4-3-3 CCHA) opened the game’s scoring 4:44 into the second period when Austin Czarnik found the back of the net. Curtis McKenzie and Taylor Richart assisted on Czarnik’s eighth of the season.

Junior forward Stephan Vigier tied up the game just over three minutes later (7:55) with his fourth of the season on the power play. Vigier got the puck past Williams with a crowd in front of the net. The net came off its pegs and the officials reviewed the play, calling it a goal. Freshman forward Justin Rose and sophomore forward Ryan Daugherty assisted on the tally.

Williams finished the game with 22 saves for the RedHawks and had his nine-game unbeaten streak snapped.

Northern was 1-for-2 on the man advantage after three Miami penalties. The visiting squad was 0-for-5 on the power play, including 0-for-3 in the third period. NMU took six minor penalties.

Miami freshmen Riley Barber and Sean Kuraly were honored before the game for winning gold as members of Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships on Jan. 5.

Also before the game, a moment of silence was held for Roger Lewis a member of the NMU hockey team from 1994-97. He passed away at age 41 on Jan. 4.

The two teams wrap up the CCHA series on Saturday with the puck dropping at 7:35 p.m. The Blue Line Club is hosting a Fourth Period Party at Hudson’s Classic Grill following the game.

Game Notes: Friday’s win was the second over a top 10 ranked team…NMU last defeated Miami on Jan. 27, 2012 in Miami…Vigier now has 20 career goals…Coreau has stopped over 30 shots 12 times this season.