The Mavericks are in Anchorage, Alaska, this weekend where they will take on the Seawolves and try to keep themselves out of the WCHA cellar. Currently, they sit in 11th place, four points ahead of Anchorage. Remember: Anchorage took three points from MSU in November.
As for me, I'll be back in the Mankato area. The plan is to cover Gustavus men's hockey tonight and then monitor the Mavs after that. I'll try to post Twitter updates when I can.
Minnesota State just has never shaken the injury bug this year. Cameron Cooper and J.P. Burkemper remain out, and Troy Jutting said before leaving on Wednesday that Michael Dorr and Josh Nelson were questionable for tonight's game (but on the trip).
If Nelson's out, expect Joe Schiller to play some D. The other four will have three freshmen: Zach Palmquist, Brett Stern and Mat Knoll. Palmquist has played in all 30 games and is the reigning WCHA rookie of the week. Stern and Knoll are showing improvement but simply have not played as much (29 games combined).
"They've done a good job, but they're still young and stil learning," Jutting said.
Jutting said Phil Cook will get the start in goal.
Read more on the series here.
As for the Seawolves, they had lost eight games in a row before upsetting Minnesota Duluth last Saturday in Anchorage. It's the second week in a row MSU is facing a team that disappointed the then-No. 1-ranked Bulldogs a week earlier.
Going around the WCHA:
Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech: It's Winter Carnival Weekend in Houghton, which is always a big deal. Making it bigger is this series. Omaha and Tech are tied with North Dakota for fifth place in the WCHA standings and just three points out of third place. Huskies coach Mel Pearson admits that this is the biggest weekend of the season for his team, while the red Mavs face as tough a stretch run as any team in the league.
North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth: The (I guess we can again call them) Sioux (for now) are like MSU — all beat up and will take every healthy player to Duluth this weekend. That includes Stephane Pattyn, who didn't think he'd see much ice this year. As for the Bulldogs, they will be honoring their four Hobey Baker winners and hanging new banners in for them in the new arena. (Trivia question: Can you name UMD's Hobey winners? Answers below.) Of course, the Bulldogs (and many others) think they have a fifth winner on this year's team in Jack Connolly.
Colorado College at Bemidji State: The Tigers go into the Sanford Center short-handed, minus their captain, Nick Dineen, and starting goalie, Josh Thorimbert, who has an upper-body injury. Joe Howe will get the nod in goal. The Beavers aren't resting on that news, though, knowing that Jaden Schwartz is still on that team.
Minnesota at Denver: The Gophers have a three-point lead atop the WCHA standings. Coach Don Lucia says that taking on the Pioneers will be a good late-season road test. Denver is hoping to get a lift from the return of goaltender Sam Brittain, who has played twice this season after coming back from offseason knee surgery. He's finally been cleared to play in back-to-back games.
More WCHA coverage from USCHO, INCH and College Hockey News.
Trivia answer: Junior Lessard (2004), Chris Marinucci (1994), Bill Watson (1985), Tom Kurvers (1984)
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