FREMONT – Through a plethora of injuries, ineligible players and other forms of adversity, NIU hockey (0-5-2, 0-1 MCH) battled to the bitter end but came up just short in it’s conference-opening, high-scoring 7-6 defeat to the Midland University Warriors (2-2, 2-1 MCH) Friday in Nebraska. 

NIU was down three goals on three different occasions and managed to get within one goal of tying the game in the late stages.

“Guys showed resiliency, they showed some fight, some compete,” head coach Brad Stoffers said. “We could easily pack it in. Just got off the bus – seven-hour bus ride – on the road, down a bunch of guys, a lot of injuries, only playing like really two-and-a-half lines of players. I think we finished the game with … like 10 or 11 guys. There was a lot of reasons to just give up. You’re down three (goals) second half of the game. To make that a one-goal game, there’s really no quit in our guys and that says a lot about the character.”

ZIMMERMAN COMES ALIVE

A heroic performance from freshman forward Robbie Zimmerman helped NIU stay within reach of the game despite the team getting reduced to 12 skaters due to injuries and ejections. 

Zimmerman, along with scoring his first collegiate goal, recorded four points – three goals and one assist – including two short-handed goals. 

“It felt great,” Zimmerman said. “Last couple games I’ve been buzzing. Been getting (scoring) opportunities and haven’t been finishing. So, to pot a couple today, nonetheless the loss, feels good to get the monkey off the back.” 

This season being Zimmerman’s first with NIU, Stoffers said he was thrilled the offensive potential of Zimmerman finally showed on the scoreboard.

“Kid came alive. Showed his real potential,” Stoffers said. “Last week, he had a bunch of chances in Western Michigan the first game. (Zimmerman) had like five or six grade-A chances, was putting it in the goalies chest. So, not really talking to him but just kind of, trying to get his confidence.”

Two of Zimmerman’s goals came on the breakaway after stripping Midland defenders at the defensive blue line. 

According to Zimmerman, playing more aggressively on the penalty kill helped create the offensive breaks that he scored on. 

“We took a more aggressive route instead of a passive route,” Zimmerman said. “The passive route lets them shoot. Today, the aggressive route caught them off guard and potted … two short-handed goals.” 

DEPLETED DEFENSE

NIU rolled into Friday’s game missing three key defensemen in junior Luke Marks, fifth-year Alec Porzondek and soon-to-be freshman Nick Castillo (ineligible). 

Then during the game, NIU lost sophomore defensemen Sevrin Anderson and freshman defenseman Jim Franklin, forcing senior forward Matt Martin and graduate forward Nick Gonzalez to switch to defense. 

In a short-bench situation, NIU had to adopt a next-man-up mentality.

“It’s (players switching positions) hard, but you really can’t think about it,” junior defenseman Keaton Peters said. “You just got to stay in your mindset and … trust in your teammates. Know the next man up is going to do their job.”

With multiple players out of the lineup for various reasons, Zimmerman said the tight score shows the determination of the players still taking the ice.

“The core guys we have is just ready to battle, ready to go to war,” Zimmerman said.

LOOKING FORWARD

NIU will have a short bench again for Saturday’s series finale against Midland with Marks, Porzondek and Castillo still absent from the lineup.

To have success with a short bench in Saturday’s rematch, Peters emphasized the importance of recovery. 

“Good night’s sleep, fuel our bodies, drink tons of water and just come ready to play, no matter who’s out there,” Peters said.

NIU closes its series with the Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sidner Ice Arena in Fremont, Nebraska.

The game will be streamed on the Midland Athletics YouTube channel.

“It’s (Saturday’s game) going to be 12 or 13 guys getting down to work and getting grimey,” Zimmerman said. “If we can do that successfully like we did in moments today, we can definitely get them tomorrow.”