Initial thoughts on the schedule

Here's a quick rundown of the MSU season, which is still more than five months away:

Oct. 3, BRITISH COLUMBIA (exhibition) ... Official practice will begin on Saturday, Oct. 1, and the Mavs will get a quick practice game in four days before the regular season starts.

Oct. 7-8, @ Rensselaer ... This will be good test to start the season. RPI was an NCAA tournament team in '10-11 (they lost 6-0 to North Dakota in the first round).

Oct. 14-15, UMASS-LOWELL ... MSU scored a sweep last year at Lowell, but the Redhawks will have a new coach, having recently hired Norm Bazin.

                            

Oct. 21-22, @ Denver ... A tough spot to open the WCHA schedule — and same place last season ended. The Pios will be one of the favorites to win the conference.

Nov. 4-5, @ Michigan Tech ... Another team with a new coach (still waiting on that hire). Mavs need to get points in Houghton; they left with just one last year.

Nov. 11-12, ST. CLOUD STATE ... This series has been extremely close of late; five of the last eight games between the Mavs and the Huskies have gone into OT.

Nov. 18-19, @ Minnesota Duluth ... MSU will get its first look at the new Amsoil Arena and a shot at the defending national champs.

Nov. 25-26, ALASKA ANCHORAGE ... Last season's home schedule ended with a thud as the Mavs got swept by the Seawolves. This will be a chance to erase that bad memory.

Dec. 2-3, @ Minnesota ... Minnesota State will look to extend its advantage of late in this series. The Mavericks have won five of their last six against the Gophers.

Dec. 9-10, ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE ... MSU will host Division I's lone independent, playing the Chargers for the first time since 2007-08.

Dec. 16-17, COLORADO COLLEGE ... The Tigers have a chance to be pretty good next season. The Mavericks have played close games in this series, splitting twice with CC last year. 

Dec. 30,  TEAM USA (exhibition game) ... No two-week break this year; the Mavericks will get a home exhibition game instead of extra vacation. 

Jan. 6-7, @ St. Lawrence ... After opening the season with a pair of ties at MSU last year, the Saints finished the season 13-22-5.                      

Jan. 13-14, WISCONSIN ... The Badgers have already lost some pretty good players to early pro signings, but stud defenseman Justin Schultz says he'll be back.

Jan. 21-22, NEBRASKA-OMAHA ... The Spirit of the Maverick series returns to Mankato. MSU hopes to give a better performance than it did in Omaha last year.

Jan. 27-28, @ Bemidji State ... The Mavericks will make their first trip to Bemidij since BSU joined the WCHA and get their first look at the Sanford Center.

Feb. 3-4, MICHIGAN TECH ... The second go-round with the new-look Huskies and the end of a stretch that includes five home series over seven weekends.

Feb. 10-11, @ Alaska Anchorage ... Another road series from which the Mavericks have to come home with points.

Feb. 17-18, MINNESOTA DULUTH ... What will the champs look like when they get to Mankato for this second meeting and late-season series?

March 2-3, @ North Dakota ... A rough place to close out the season, especially if the Mavericks need points for home ice or a good matchup in the playoffs.

What do you think of the schedule?