The weather has begun to cool, and the leaves are falling from the trees, signifying the hockey season is right around the corner. 

Hockey season in DeKalb means the return of NIU hockey, which is eager to prove itself after winning just four games last season. 

NEW EXCITEMENT

Though there is excitement surrounding the team with new talent joining the squad this year, the Huskies are ready to use this weekend to identify positives and negatives.

“I’m excited,” said senior forward and team captain Rodahn Evans. “It should be eye opening to see what we need to work on.”

The summer provided a chance for injuries to heal. Junior defenseman Keaton Peters, who suffered a season-ending wrist injury in January, is making his return to game action after nine months.

Peters expects opening weekend to be the start of a successful year. 

“I’m ready to go,” Peters said. “I’ve been itching to get back out there in game situations. I feel good about the progress I’ve made over the summer and ready to get after it and have a big year.”

GETTING PREPARED

NIU has had three weeks of practice since training camp in August, and the team has used the time to familiarize new players with its systems and get everyone working as a cohesive unit.

“The main thing has just been getting everyone acclimated to the systems and how we want to play here,” Peters said. “Everyone’s been connecting pretty well. We have a lot of … talent. We have a lot of kids that know what they’re doing. So, I think we’ll be able to put a lot of things together this year.”

While the team has had these few weeks to prepare, Evans said practice can only get them so far, and real-game scenarios this weekend will help build a bigger picture. 

“You can practice systems all you want,” Evans said. “Until you make a mistake, you don’t learn much. You learn from your mistakes more than you learn from your successes.” 

GAME-SPEED TUNE UP

In preparation for opening weekend, the Huskies played an exhibition game against the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings of the United States Premier Hockey League on Friday.

The exhibition was a chance for NIU to get real-game experience as a squad for the first time. 

“We got to see, as a whole, playing against someone else five-on-five instead of just playing against ourselves,” Evans said. “As much fun as it is to play against your teammates (in practice), it’s more fun to hit someone else.”

HUSH THE DOUBTERS

After winning just eight games in the last two seasons combined, Peters and the Huskies are ready to show the rest of Midwest College Hockey that this isn’t the same old NIU the league is used to. 

“A lot of people will be surprised by what we have,” Peters said. “I think a lot of teams are going to take us lightly, and we are not the same team of years past, and I think we’re ready to prove a lot of people wrong in this league.”

OPENING WEEKEND

NIU will hit the ice and begin the season against Kent State University at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Canlan Ice Sports in West Dundee. 

Students will have free admission with their OneCard, and tickets will be sold at the door for $5. 

The game will be livestreamed on the NIU hockey YouTube channel.