Here are a few hockey notes from Monday ...
Minnesota State remained No. 1 in both national polls, getting 33 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO rankings and 17 of 34 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings. In the former, which I vote on an is used by The Associated Press, North Dakota is 2, Boston University is 3, Nebraska Omaha is 4 and Michigan Tech is 5. Bowling Green is the other WCHA team, besides MSU and Tech, in the top 20, coming in at No. 8. The Mavericks, who travel to Alaska (Fairbanks) this week, are No. 1 for the fourth time in five weeks.
Mavericks freshman forward Brad McClure was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for his performance in MSU's sweep of Alaska Anchorage over the weekend. McClure had three assists, including helpers on both game-winners, along with seven shots on goal and was +3 in the series. McClure now has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points, which puts him 19th in the country in freshman scoring (teammate C.J. Franklin, with 23 points is ninth).
Saturday night's sellout at the Verizon Wireless Center got me thinking about the popularity of Minnesota State hockey right now. It just might be at an all-time high. Sure, there have been bigger crowds, but now the people are coming out in droves to see the home team. The Mavericks are a hot ticket, and the rink should be rockin' in 2 1/2 weeks when Michigan Tech comes to town.
Here's some more information on Bryce Gervais joining the 20-goal club, as well as some other notes from last weekend's games. Gervais is the 11th player to join the club, and it's the 12th time it's happened (Shane Joseph hit the mark twice). Gervais is nine goals from Joseph's D1-era high mark, and the Mavericks have at least nine games remaining in the season, likely more.
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