AMHERST, Mass. – In the first start of his Wildcat career, transfer netminder William Gramme made NCAA history, making 65 saves on the road in a 5-3 empty net loss to the No. 15 University of Massachusetts Minutemen.
The Minutemen got out of the gates early, opening the scoring three and a half minutes in off a one-timer and outshooting the Wildcats by a wide margin. Gramme made 34 saves in the opening period, setting the NMU single-period saves record. The ‘Cats would respond and take the lead before the first intermission, as goals from Joe Schiller and Caiden Gault (PP) gave the ‘Cats a 2-1 lead despite being outshot 35-7.
The second period was much more tame, as the two teams combined for 26 shots. The Minutemen tied the game thanks to Lukas Klecka, and the teams skated even after 40 minutes.
It was all NMU to start the third period, and the ‘Cats were able to capitalize. Medrick Bolduc finished off a hardworking shift with Jakub Altrichter, and the Wildcats regained the lead. The lead was short-lived, however, as Vaclav Nestrasil got a fortunate bounce off his skate and the redirection tied the game a minute later.
Gramme set the NMU program record for most saves in a game seven and a half minutes into the third period, and his 65 saves would end up being the second most regulation saves by a netminder in the modern NCAA era. UMass scored the eventual game-winner off a fluttery, seeing-eye shot from the point before adding an empty net goal with ten seconds to play.
The Minutemen outshot the Wildcats 95-45, with 70 of those on target to the ‘Cats 26. The Wildcats successfully killed all four of the Minutemen’s power plays, while the ‘Cats went 1/2 on their attempts. NMU was awarded a power play with two minutes remaining in the game, but was unable to convert on the chance.
Altrichter had a standout day in the faceoff circle, pacing all skaters with 15 wins (15/24, 62.5%). Tobias Pitka also had a stellar debut, adding an assist to his ledger while adding 11 faceoff wins of his own (11/16, 68.8%), the second-most in the game. In his Wildcat debut, Warren Clark matched Slipec in shots with six, while Altrichter paced the ‘Cats with four on target.
‘Cat Nips
- Gramme made 65 saves in the game, setting a career-high and breaking the NMU program single-game record that had stood for 41 years.
- Previous record – 57, John Corrigan vs. Boston College (12/8/84)
- This also marked the second-most saves in a modern NCAA (since 2004) regulation game, the most by a collegiate goaltender since Jocelyn Guimond of RIT stopped 66 in a 3-2 win on October 10, 2005, vs St. Lawrence.
- Gramme also made 34 saves in the opening 20 minutes of his first Wildcat start, breaking the program record for single-period saves, a record that stood for 22 years.
- 27, Craig Kowalski vs. Michigan (10/24/03, 2nd period)
- After missing most of last season with an injury, Schiller scored the first goal of his collegiate career in his first game back since November 30, 2024.
- The Ferris State transfer and lethal goal scorer, Gault, netted the first Wildcat goal of his career, capitalizing on the ‘Cats power play in the first period.
- Bolduc retook the lead for the ‘Cats in the third period, scoring the third goal of his collegiate career. Bolduc has a knack for scoring early in seasons, as he scored in his collegiate debut a year ago.
- Altrichter opened his 25/26 campaign on the heels of a successful freshman season, posting two assists tonight, the fifth multi-assist game in his career.
- Pitka recorded his first career collegiate point, earning the primary assist on the Schiller goal.
- Hutchinson now has a two-game point streak, earning his first point of the season with an assist after ending the season last year with a goal.
- Slipec picked up right where he left off last season, as his assist gives him a two-game point streak and eight points in eight games dating back to the end of last season.
How It Happened
It only took 17 seconds for the ‘Cats to be whistled for the game’s first penalty, as Altrichter shot the puck after gaining the zone, but after an offside whistle. Despite immediately apologizing to the goalkeeper, the second-year center was escorted to the sin bin. The ‘Cats successfully killed the penalty and survived early adversity, but would lose Altrichter for the next ten minutes for the misconduct.
Shortly after the penalty was killed, the Minutemen forward DeAngelo won a puck battle in the left corner and found Musa alone at the top of the left circle, and he fired home a one-timer over the glove of Gramme to give the Minutemen a 1-0 lead just three and a half minutes into the game.
The Wildcats responded to the one-sided first seven minutes with a goal of their own, scoring off an odd-man rush. A clear attempt from Clark found a breaking Hutchinson, who one-touched a pass to Pitka on the right wing. Pikta dropped a pass to the trailer Schiller, who had plenty of time to pick his spot over the blocker of Hrabal, scoring on just the second Wildcat shot of the game.
Joe Schiller knots things up for @NMUHockey at No. 15 UMass! His first collegiate goal.
??: ESPN+#CCHAHockey | #NMUWildcats pic.twitter.com/Ux6yQGpVq9
— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) October 4, 2025
In his second shift back from the misconduct, Altrichter drew a tripping penalty after working hard in the corner to win a battle. On the ensuing power play, Altrichter worked around the top of the circles and found Gault in “Ovi’s Office” on the right circle, and the left-shot transfer one-timed a blast past the short side of Hrabal.
WILDCAT GOAL!!!
#16 Caiden Gault gets his first as a Wildcat to make this game 2-1 at the end of the first ??#NMUWildcats | #CCHAHockey | #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/4nSCBat0mL
— Northern Michigan Hockey (@NMUHockey) October 5, 2025
Gramme continued to stand on his head, as halfway through the second period, he made a big push from left to right and denied a dangerous two-on-one chance. The Minutemen won the ensuing faceoff, and the centerman was able to walk in all alone, and Gramme once again made a crucial save from in tight.
William Gramme is having a NIGHT between the pipes for @NMUHockey, including this denial on the 2-on-1!
??: ESPN+ #CCHAHockey | #NMUWildcats pic.twitter.com/sXZUVu5EzP
— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) October 5, 2025
The Minutemen were finally able to solve Gramme and tied the game with seven minutes to go in the second frame. Lukas Klecka took a pass in a soft area between the dots from Bo Cosman on the right circle, and Klecka walked in on an abbreviated breakaway, making a move to the backhand and barely sneaking the puck under the arm of Gramme.
The Wildcats retook the lead four minutes into the final frame thanks to a hard-working offensive forecheck. Bolduc and Altrichter forced a turnover in the right corner, and Altrichter made some slick moves behind the UMass net. Altrichter eluded his defender before sliding a pass to Bolduc, who took two whacks at the puck before sneaking it past Hrabal.
WILDCAT GOAL!!!
With his 1st of the season and 3rd as a Wildcat, #13 Medrick Bolduc makes the game 3-2??#NMUWildcats | #CCHAHockey | #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/F6sfuHQvSn
— Northern Michigan Hockey (@NMUHockey) October 5, 2025
The Minuteman responded just a minute later, as a pass from the point found the skates of Nestrasil at the back post, and the puck redirected off his skate blade and into the net.
Gramme broke the program record for most saves in a single game, seven and a half minutes into the third period, stopping a flurry of shots to break a record that has stood since 1984.
The Minutemen retook the lead with six minutes to go in the game, as Dell’Elce let go a fluttering seeing-eye shot from the point that found its way through a mass of bodies and into the back of the net.
Altrichter started the breakout from his own zone and drew a penalty, giving the Wildcats a critical power play with two minutes and six seconds remaining. The Wildcats won the ensuing faceoff, and the Wildcats skated six on four. After multiple chances for the ‘Cats to tie the game, UMass eventually added the empty net tally with ten seconds to go.
Up Next
Game two from the Mullins Center is tomorrow, Sunday, October 5, at 4 PM.
