CMU DI club hockey falls in two game series against Northern Illinois
The Chippewas drop both games after lengthy drive to Northern Illinois
Central Michigan University freshman forward Henry Simon races near the goal with the puck before passing to a teammate at Martin Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. Simon joined the team this year from Caledonia, Michigan. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
A breakout pass from the Chippewas' own zone to senior forward Riley Joyce, skating with momentum, was able to beat a flat-footed Northern Illinois defenseman. He flew to the net all alone to beat the goaltender low glove side to tie the game at one early in the first period for the Central Michigan men's DI hockey team.
Though they would enter the first intermission 4-1, the Chippewas would end up losing 12-1 on Friday night in their return to play after their Christmas break.
CMU seemed to be getting its legs back into playing shape after over a month without competing in a real game.
Central Michigan played much better overall in the second game of the series on Saturday, but still lost 8-2 to the Huskies.
Once again, the Chippewas would trail by one in the first, but answer back to even the score. This time, it was the freshman Henry Simon trailing the puck trickling into the offensive zone, catching a lazily skating defender unaware. In an instant, he held and released the shot to light the lamp.
It was close after the first period, only being down by one goal, but Northern Illinois would go on to score six unanswered goals until CMU got the last in the third.
Gathering the puck behind the net, Josh Romine skated along the boards, then broke towards the net and took a shot from the slot. Despite being blocked by a Husky defender, he gathered the puck and ripped it past the goalie on the second attempt, scoring the final goal of the game.
Although it was a tough trip for the team, the Chippewas cannot dwell on this for too long as they face dreaded rivals, Western Michigan, this upcoming weekend. It will be the second two-game series between these teams this season, with the Broncos taking the first two games back in September.
Central Michigan will be looking for revenge on Jan. 30, finally playing on home ice for the first time since early December.
