Marquette, MI – January 17, 2018 – An exciting new era of Northern Michigan University hockey is here with the addition of Hockey Coach, Grant Potulny. As the school’s third-ever head hockey coach, Potulny is highly qualified and motivated to rebuild the NMU Hockey. He joined the Marquette West Rotary in the Skyroom at the Landmark Inn today for our weekly luncheon meeting to share his history and vision for the sports team.
Coach Potulny told us he was from North Dakota and played hockey all across the country. As a highly awarded player and hockey officiant, Potulny knows the game and wants to change how the NMU program builds their players.
The new coach looks beyond the rink, focusing on the classroom and weight room as well. He pushes players to excel in all aspects of college, not just on the ice. Sixteen NMU hockey students made the Dean’s List and average a 3.4 GPA. At the rink, the team does drills to build strength and test their motivation. Potulny even brought a new motto to the team: “Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.”
The changes Coach Potulny is bringing to the team focus on treating players like men and building them up to be the best they can be. Remembering how to coaches used to just tell the team what to do when he was playing in college, Potulny believes you need to talk to the players and walk with them through their journey. By changing things within the program, Potulny has seen the players become more invested in the game and other aspects of their lives.
Currently second in the league with eight matches to go, it’s an exciting time to be a Wildcat. Next year, Coach Potulny expects things to improve even more with two key players coming to the team. Both incoming students were awarded Mr HOCKEY from their respective states, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The title is given to the most outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state. Potulny is excited to have both players joining the NMU team and expects them to be strong additions to the team.
See the changes in the NMU Hockey Team for yourself by attending their next home game on Friday, January 19th, as NMU takes on Lake Superior State University at the Barry Events Center. Let’s Team Up as a community to support the team. Marquette has a lot to be proud of, and this team is definitely one to watch!
GO WILDCATS!
