A Look At Wildcat Hockey

Marquette, MI – Though I have been attending Northern Michigan University for the past five years I have never been to one of our hockey games. That is until having my first chance to photograph last Friday’s game against Alabama-Huntsville for MarquetteMagazine.com.

NMU hockey players defend their goal during their ice hockey game against Alabama-Huntsville at the Berry Events Center, in Marquette, MI, Friday, Oct. 31, 2014. (photo by Cody Huebner)

Though it was Halloween fans still came out in flocks to support the Hockey team in their first home game of the season. It was nice to see that NMU encouraged fans to attend the game in their costumes by hosting a costume contest between the second and third periods. After the contest kids went from skybox to skybox trick or treating which added to the festivities. I am not sure who was more fired up for the game, the fans or the hockey team themselves.

When NMU took the ice you could instantly see their determination to win. The second the puck dropped NMU came out swinging, never giving Huntsville a second to rest or retaliate. Their onslaught allowed them to score within the first period. With every attack on goal fans erupted with excitement and encouragement for the team. The harder NMU hit Huntsville and attacked their goal the more fans cheered. It was easy to see that NMU fans are just as passionate about the sport as their team.

A NMU men’s ice hockey player takes the ice. (photo by Cody Huebner)

Though Huntsville scored in the second half NMU kept up their assault on goal. Unfortunately, the team was only able to come out of the game with a one to one tie. However, after only a few minuets into the game I found myself caught up in all the excitement of the game and just as involved as the other fans. I found that unlike other sports hockey, allows fans to really be apart of the game. With only glass separating players and fans it makes the spectator feel as if they are right in the middle of the play. Though the game ended in a tie, we as fans could not be more proud of the NMU team for fighting till the last second to pull of a win for us. I am definitely looking forward to attending more games in the future.

by Cody Huebner

I am a photography major at Northern Michigan University, at lest for one more semester. When I am not out taking pictures or writing articles I am normal traveling, racing motocross, hang out with my two nephews, or studying anthropology. All I want out of life is to travel the world taking pictures, to see and do things others only dream of, and to just experience all that life has to offer.