Swift Current Broncos forward Mathew Ward skates with the puck during a Western Hockey League game. (Photo courtesy DobberProspects.com)
There also might’ve been a couple transfers, but often they were coming in under various questionable circumstances.
Now, though, with the advent of the NCAA transfer portal, those transfers from other college programs are vital to keeping a program competitive — or in the case of last year’s NMU hockey team, just keeping it afloat.
With a full year under his belt, Northern head coach Dave Shyiak has been able to lay the groundwork of a much more solid roster that he had in 2024-25.
Heck, at this time last year, Shyiak had been back where he helped the Wildcats win the 1991 NCAA hockey championship for about one whole week, having been hired near the end of June.
Wisconsin goaltender William Gramme, right, watches the puck go by his net during a game against Alaska-Anchorage in Madison, Wis., on Nov. 25, 2023. Gramme made 25 saves and recorded a shutout in this game, his first collegiate start. (Wisconsin Athletics photo by Paul Capobianco, courtesy TheRinkLive.com)
He spent the rest of the summer of 2024 trying to find two dozen players to join the four who had returned from former head coach Grant Potulny’s final team.
For this coming season, fans can get particularly excited about seven transfers coming to Marquette, while being eager to see nine freshmen get their feet under them, a total of 16 new players pumping up this NMU program.
The group includes nine forwards, four defensemen, and maybe most importantly, three goalies. New players in net are important because last year’s starter Ryan Ouellette has completed his collegiate eligibility and the other two goaltenders who saw ice time last season entered the transfer portal this spring.
Among the transfers, two come from the Big 10, two from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and one each from Northern’s own Central Collegiate Hockey Association, Hockey East and an independent.
The freshmen are weighted toward the front line with seven forwards to go with one defenseman and a pair of goalies. That group includes the first skater at NMU from the Western Hockey League, plus three from the U.S. Hockey League, three from the North American Hockey League and a pair of teammates from the British Columbia Hockey League.
Northern opens the season with a pair of road series facing strong opposition to begin October, playing at a pair of NCAA tournament teams, then having a third NCAA team in Week 4 at home.
The opener on Oct. 4-5 is at Massachusetts, while the next series is Oct. 10-11 at Ohio State. After a rematch from last year at home vs. Colorado College on Oct. 17-18, the Wildcats then face Big 10 champion Michigan State at the Berry Events Center on Oct. 24-25.
Every other game the rest of the season is in the CCHA, including four games against NCAA tourney team Minnesota State-Mankato, two in late November and the other two to end the regular season on the final two days of February.
Here are thumbnail sketches of each new player, first the transfers and then freshmen, listed in order by the uniform numbers they’ll wear with the Wildcats:
Transfers
William Gramme, 6-foot-4 jr. goalie, from Stockholm, Sweden, transfer from Wisconsin, to wear No. 1 at NMU — Gramme appeared in eight contests for the Badgers last season, starting in six and posting a 3.23 goals-against average and .878 saves percentage.
His sophomore season included backstopping Wisconsin to its first win of the season, making 15 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory against Lindenwood after the Badgers had lost the night before.
He also posted a career-high 39 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss against No. 3 Minnesota and made eight saves while allowing no goals in relief to allow the Badgers to make a 5-4 comeback win over No. 10 Michigan.
In his career at Wisconsin, Gramme posted a 2.44 goals-against and .909 saves percentage, was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team, and made 25 saves in a shutout in his collegiate debut, the first Badger to post a shutout in his collegiate debut since Jack Berry in 2016.
Before Wisconsin, Gramme had an 18-9-2 record, 1.99 goals-against and .919 saves percentage with two shutouts for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas. Gramme was third in goals against that season in the league. With his team finishing second in the South Division, he added a 2-0-1 playoff record with a 0.90 goals-against and .961 saves percentage.
“Our staff is excited about adding William to the roster,” Shyiak said in an NMU Sports Information news release about the incoming players. “He has gained valuable experience at the University of Wisconsin over the past two seasons and will enhance our goaltending group with his knowledge of the game and work ethic.
“William is an athletic, competitive goaltender (who) possesses a pro frame and we are excited to see what he can do in a Wildcat uniform.”
Warren Clark, 6-3 jr. defenseman, from Riverside, Ontario, transfer from St. Cloud State, to wear No. 4 at NMU — This 2023 draft pick of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning is a right-shot blueliner and described as a big, smooth-skating defenseman with good hockey sense and good hands.
He skated for St. Cloud in 51 games over two seasons, recording one goal and six assists. The 2024-25 NCHC Academic All-Conference player notched his only collegiate goal against Omaha on Dec. 6 with his first assist coming against Alaska-Anchorage as a freshman.
Before the Huskies, he played for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach Pistons in 2022-23, scoring six goals with 32 assists for 38 points in 55 games. In the ’23 postseason, he helped Steinbach win the Turnbull Cup playoff championship, recording a goal and seven assists in 18 games.
Clark also played for the Chatham Maroons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and the South Shore Kings of the National Collegiate Development Conference during the 2021-22 season, combining for six goals and 14 assists in 50 games, adding 10 assists in the playoffs for Chatham.
“Warren is a player that I am very familiar with, having recruited and coached him while at St. Cloud,” Shyiak said. “He is a long, mobile defenseman, with skill and good hockey sense.
“We feel that he has high upside potential and should immediately contribute to our defensive corps this season and beyond.”
Cade Mason, 5-11 graduate student defenseman, from Red Deer, Alberta, transfer from Long Island University, to wear No. 8 at NMU — This left-shot defenseman skated in 89 games while recording 10 goals and 67 assists for 77 points over three seasons with Long Island. He is the program’s all-time leader in assists and points. In fact, he led the Sharks in each of his three seasons in those stats, while his point totals were third in 2022-23 and fourth in 2023-24.
Before Long Island, Mason played junior hockey in the AJHL, his final stop with the Spruce Grove Saints in 2021-22. He put together one of the most dominant defensive campaigns for the Saints after moving on from the Grande Prairie Storm at the beginning of that season. In 53 regular-season and playoff games that season, he had 36 points, including 30 assists, while helping the Saints reach the AJHL finals.
In 123 regular-season and playoff games in the AJHL, he amassed 13 goals and 64 assists for 77 points.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Cade to our program for his final year of collegiate eligibility,” Shyiak said. “Cade should bring immediate offense to our group with his poise, skill and skating ability.
“He has had a tremendous career at Long Island University and we are excited to see him compete in the CCHA this season.”
Zane Demsey, 6-2 sr. defenseman, from Harrison Township, transfer from Miami, to wear No. 9 at NMU — This left-shot blueliner from the Detroit suburbs skated in 79 games and accumulated two goals and eight assists for 10 points over three seasons at Miami.
He was recognized as a Krampade-AHCA All-American Scholar in 2024, and is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and NCHC Academic All-Conference team selection. His first collegiate goal was a game-winner, coming against Niagara in December 2023.
Demsey spent the majority of his junior career in the USHL, with the last season and a half with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. In 93 games there, he had three goals and 22 assists with a plus-36 rating. In 129 junior games between the USHL and the NAHL, Demsey put up five goals and 23 assists with a plus-35 rating.
“Zane comes to Marquette with a wealth of college hockey experience,” Shyiak said. “He has strong physical tools and can contribute in all three zones with his size, skating and athletic ability.
“We expect Zane to instantly bring a competitive edge and senior leadership to our defense.”
Caiden Gault, 6-1 sr. forward, from Oakbank, Manitoba, transfer from Ferris State, to wear No. 16 at NMU — This left-shot forward had a breakout season with fellow CCHA member Ferris State last season, posting career highs and scoring a team-best 15 goals, four power play goals and five game-winning goals, while finishing second on the Bulldogs with 25 points, missing the top spot by a single point.
Nominated as college hockey’s most valuable player — the 2025 Hobey Baker Award — he has 37 points in 77 career collegiate games.
Gault is no stranger to scoring — in his final season with the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints, he led the team and was third in the league with 46 goals and 73 points in 58 games while being named to the Viterra North Division All-League Team and a finalist for the AJHL’s Top Forward Award.
He also put up exceptional numbers in the postseason, scoring six goals and six assists in 13 games. In his junior career between the AJHL, MJHL and NAHL, Gault posted 77 goals and 56 assists for 133 points in 143 games.
“Our staff is ecstatic that Caiden has chosen to join our team for his last year of college hockey,” Shyiak said. “We are well acquainted with his game, having coached against him in the CCHA this past season.
“He is a lethal goal scorer, coming back to our league as one of the top returning goal scorers in the conference. Caiden’s skill, nose for the net and hockey sense should make him one of the top threats in the CCHA this season.”
Girts Silkalns, 6-2 jr. forward, from Talsi, Latvia, transfer from Massachusetts-Lowell, to wear No. 17 at NMU — This right-shot forward from the former Soviet republic spent the last two seasons with the Riverhawks, playing in 28 games and scoring a goal and four assists, his goal vs. Boston College in December.
Before college, he spent the 2022-23 season in the USHL with the Fargo Force and Des Moines Buccaneers, totaling 10 goals and 20 assists in 55 games. Silkalns represented Latvia in the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Under-20 Championships and the U-18 World Championships in 2021.
“Girts comes to Marquette highly recommended by his previous coaches,” Shyiak said. “He plays an all-around brand of hockey that should complement our existing forward group nicely.
“We hope that with his size and ability to shoot the puck, Girts will add a different element to our team and continue to develop in a Wildcat uniform.”
Kyle Bettens, 6-3 sr. forward, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, transfer from Minnesota-Duluth, to wear No. 24 at NMU — This right-shot forward has spent all three college years at Duluth, playing in 102 games with 12 goals and 20 assists.
Prior to that, he played a season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists in 54 games. He had at least 29 points in every year as a junior, along with 11 points in 12 playoff games with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL in 2018-19, posting 59 goals and 109 assists for 168 points in 222 regular and postseason games.
“Experience is a huge component of success in college hockey, and Kyle joins our team with over 100 games played at a really strong program in the University of Minnesota-Duluth,” Shyiak said. “He’s a big, strong, pro-style forward that we believe has a chance to thrive at NMU and beyond.
“We’re looking forward to helping Kyle unlock his potential and expect him to be an impact player in the CCHA.”
Freshmen
Mathew Ward, 5-9 forward, from Kamloops, British Columbia, last team Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), to wear No. 10 at NMU — This left-shot forward becomes part of the first class of Canadian Hockey League players — those from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Hockey League — to be allowed to play for U.S. colleges after a successful players’ lawsuit forced the NCAA to change its rules.
Ward is not only the first CHL player to come to the Wildcats, but the first from Medicine Hat to commit to an NCAA program.
Playing in the WHL his entire career up to this point, he helped his team win the WHL title before losing to the London Knights in the Memorial Cup Final for the CHL championship. It was the sixth time his team was in the CHL finals.
In the regular season, Ward was seventh on Medicine Hat with 19 goals, 25 assists and 44 points before he added five goals and seven assists in 18 playoff games. He also scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over London that sent his Tigers to the Memorial Cup Final.
Before Medicine Hat, he was with the Swift Current Broncos, amassing 74 goals and 142 assists for 216 points in 207 games. Ward was a Central Division Second Team All-Star in 2022-23 after setting career highs across the board, scoring 26 goals and 48 assists for 74 points.
Ward averaged nearly a point per game in his career in the WHL, posting 98 goals and 174 assists for 272 points in 289 regular-season and postseason contests.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Mathew to Northern Michigan University,” Shyiak said. “He brings a great deal of pedigree to our team, having been a former first-round pick in the Western Hockey League and playing over 260 games during his junior hockey career.
“On the ice, Mathew is a skilled, versatile forward with excellent hockey sense and competitive drive.”
Peter Cisar, 6-0 forward, from Bratislava, Slovakia, last team Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), to wear No. 12 at NMU — Coming from central Europe, he played his entire junior career in the USHL at Youngstown, the Fargo Force and Madison Capitols.
Last season, he was traded from Fargo to Youngstown, where he totaled 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points, including 10 power play points, and finished sixth for Youngstown in assists and seventh in points and goals, also accumulating the team’s fourth-best rating of plus-20, along with 70 penalty minutes.
Cisar was alternate captain with Fargo before his departure, and was also with that team throughout 2023-24 when it won the Clark Cup as USHL playoff champions that was in addition to Fargo winning the regular-season title.
He is no stranger to international competition, either, representing Slovakia in the World Junior U-20 Championships twice and once in the U-18 World Championships, among other international stints.
Most recently, Cisar scored for Slovakia against the Czech Republic at the U-20 Championships in December, and was a teammate of fellow incoming NMU freshman Tobias Pitka.
“We expect Peter to come in and have an immediate impact within our forward group,” Shyiak said. “He comes to our program on the heels of a great season in the USHL that also saw him contribute in a key role for the Slovakian World Junior team.
“Peter is a cerebral forward that can impact the game in a variety of ways with his play-making and strong-two way game.”
Mikey Burchill, 5-10 forward, from Mundelein, Illinois, last team Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL), to wear No. 18 at NMU — Spending the past four seasons in the USHL, the EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide describes him as “more than capable of filling the net. He hooks pucks around sticks and slips them under when pressured. Where many sprint into traffic, he finds the trailer. High-speed dekes and crafty setups beat defenders, and puck protection skills keep them on his back. A powerful wrister, fired off either leg, shows some finishing ability, too.”
Joining the Des Moines Buccaneers late last season, he potted a pair of goals and assists in 17 games. Before the Buccaneers, he played 43 games with the Youngstown Phantoms, scoring nine goals and five assists for 14 points.
Burchill, selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 USHL Phase I draft, scored double-digit goals in all four USHL seasons, while he had consecutive seasons with 20 or more assists. He finished his time in the USHL with 49 goals and 61 assists for 110 points in 233 games.
“Mikey is another player that our staff knows well, with (NMU assistant) coach Andy Contois having coached him with the Youngstown Phantoms,” Shyiak said. “We’re thrilled that Mikey will be joining our program this season; he is an exemplary teammate, a feisty competitor and a versatile forward.
“He can play in a lot of different situations, as evidenced by his time in the USHL, and should be able to make a positive impact on our group with his shot, IQ and two-way game.”
Tobias Pitka, 6-4 forward, from Poprad, Slovakia, last team Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), to wear No. 19 at NMU — After two seasons at Victoria, this right-shot forward is described as being able to bring “a good mix of smarts and size to the lineup. Capable of making plays in small areas, Pitka can find teammates through pressure as well as create chances for himself.”
With five goals and 14 assists in 46 games his first season at Victoria, he tripled his goal output and doubled his point total in season No. 2 to 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in five fewer regular-season games. He continued his production in the postseason, adding eight goals and 12 points in 17 playoff games.
Pitka has also represented his country on the international stage, representing Slovakia at the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships, when he was a teammate of fellow incoming NMU freshman Peter Cisar.
“Tobias is a prospect that we feel still has his best hockey in front of him,” Shyiak said. “He comes to our team from a very strong organization in Victoria and continues to grow into a dominant power forward.
“Tobias has a pro hockey frame to go along with great hockey sense, soft hands and excellent faceoff ability. We’re very much looking forward to helping him develop his game at Northern Michigan.”
Tyler Stern, 5-10 forward, from Plainview, New York, last team Maryland Black Bears (NAHL), to wear No. 21 at NMU — This right-shot forward has been described by Black Bears head coach Clint Mylymok as a “natural born leader” and “team first” player.
He played his entire junior career in the NAHL, starting with four games with the Jamestown Rebels in 2021-22 before transitioning to the Philadelphia Rebels the next season, scoring nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 56 games.
After starting the 2023-24 season in Philadelphia, Stern was traded to Maryland, where he scored five goals and 18 points in 32 games to end the regular season before tacking on five more assists in 11 playoff games. Named captain of the Black Bears for 2024-25, he scored career-highs with 14 goals, 22 assists and 36 points before adding three points in four postseason contests.
“Tyler joins our team from the Maryland Black Bears of the NAHL, where he wore the ‘C’ as a 20-year-old,” Shyiak said. “He is highly coachable, very competitive and will be an instant culture-driver in our locker room.
“His hockey sense, willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice and scoring ability will benefit our program moving forward.”
Landon MacDonald, 6-2 forward, from Brighton, last team Madison Capitols (USHL), to wear No. 22 at NMU — This left-shot forward from the southern Lower Peninsula has been described as “a good-sized forward who plays the game hard and physical…. He can pick corners and gets his shot off extremely quickly and carry a ton of zip…. A taller, lean forward with a goal scorer’s mentality.”
He started the 2024-25 season as an alternate captain with the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL before transitioning to the Madison Capitols of the USHL. He scored 13 goals and 21 points in 28 games with the Vipers before scoring nine points in 26 games with the Capitols.
Between the USHL, BCHL and the NAHL, he played in 172 games and scored 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points.
“Landon comes to Northern Michigan playing his best hockey,” Shyiak said. “He finished out his junior career with strong stints in Vernon and Madison, and really developed his all-around game in a way that should be an asset for our program.
“Landon’s a big, strong, two-way forward with good skating ability and can impact the game in a variety of different ways.”
Evan Johnson, 5-11 defenseman, from Trenton, last team North Iowa Bulls (NAHL), to wear No. 23 at NMU — This right-shot defenseman from the Detroit area enjoyed a breakout season as an alternate captain with the Bulls in 2024-25, leading North Iowa with 17 power play points, including two goals, and was third on the team with 38 points, second with 32 assists and led Bulls’ blueliners with six goals.
Prior to the Bulls, Johnson had 18 points in 42 games between the Whitecourt Wolverines of the AJHL and Philadelphia Rebels of the NAHL.
“Evan is a smooth-skating defenseman that really popped in his last season of junior hockey,” Shyiak said. “He played a leadership role in North Iowa this past season and has a wealth of experience across North American junior hockey.
“We’re looking forward to seeing Evan adjust to college hockey and display his puck poise in all three zones.”
Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, 5-10 goalie, from Coquitlam, British Columbia, last team Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), to wear No. 30 at NMU — After joining the Grizzlies for 2022-23, he posted a .927 saves percentage with five shutouts and a 21-14-6 record. Over three seasons in 96 games, he finished at 50-29-12, eight shutouts and 14-10-1 record in the postseason.
He had a historic career at Victoria, being its all-time leader in goaltenders’ games played, wins and shutouts. His career saves percentage of .916 is also third all-time in program history.
His time in the BCHL saw him take home the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, as well as being named to the All-Rookie Team.
“Oliver has had an exceptional track record during his time in the BCHL,” Shyiak said. “He comes highly recommended as a goaltender, teammate and competitor.
“On the ice, Oliver has a lot of traits that we look for in our goaltenders — he’s an exceptional skater (who) tracks the puck very well and never gives up on a play. We’re looking forward to seeing him in a Wildcat uniform next season.”
Jack Fuller, 6-0 goalie, from Centerville, Minnesota, last team New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL), to wear No. 31 at NMU — Reuniting with former head coach Phil Fox, who is an assistant coach with the Wildcats, he had a 1.91 goals against average and a .929 saves percentage in 40 games last season, having played three years with the Ice Wolves.
Fuller was named the February Goaltender of the Month and a South Division Star of the Week three times last season, producing five shutouts. At the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament, he was the winner in net for the South Division squad, producing a 15-save shutout. He was also named 2024-25 team MVP.
“Jack is a player we feel extremely comfortable with, given his experience with Coach Fox in New Mexico,” Shyiak said. “He was the backbone of the Ice Wolves team (last) season, and brings a calm, efficient style of play to the crease every night. Jack reads the play very well and brings a competitive mindset to every practice.
“He will be an important part of our culture and we’re looking forward to having Jack on campus.”
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the incoming hockey class. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.