Minnesota State recruit Jake Jaremko was one of 40 players chosen to play the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 12 in Omaha, the USHL announced on Tuesday.
Players were chosen by NHL general managers and scouts, NHL Central Scouting and USHL general managers. All 40 players are eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.
Jaremko, 19, a Nowthen, Minn., native and Elk River High School grad, who was named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey as the top senior player in the state following the 2014-15 season, is tied for seventh in USHL scoring with 23 points. He has 13 goals, which is tied for fifth, and his nine power-play goals and 13 power-play points lead the league.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Mavericks 4, Chargers 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Hunty stays hot: Michael Huntebrinker got things going for the Mavericks for the second game in a row. Minnesota State trailed 1-0 after one period, just as it did on Friday night, and the junior center tied things up, just as he did on Friday. Instead of waiting until the third period, however, he scored at 4:12 of the second, a spark that led to three goals in the frame. Huntebrinker, who added an empty-net goal, has points in his last eight games and now has 13 for the year, which ranks second only behind Teddy Blueger (who assisted on a goal) on the team's scoring list. "I thought we played hard in the first period," Huntebrinker said. "We felt if we stuck to what we were doing, eventually, it was going to break for us. In the second, it did."
2. Break time: The Mavericks finally made it through their first 20 games, playing 10 consecutive weekends since the start of the season. Despite being bruised and battered, especially on defense, they go into their first break of the season on a nine-game unbeaten streak and in first place in the WCHA standings. Coach Mike Hastings said he expects his team to come out of their three weeks off as healthy as they've been , with Carter Foguth, Zach Stepan and Sean Flanagan back, possibly Clint Lewis, too. In the meantime, though, their young and somewhat patchwork D-corps, including sophomore Jaden Schmeisser (more on him in the game story linked below) was a key to getting the job done on Saturday.
3. Pawloski still unbeaten: Freshman goaltender Jason Pawloski stopped 14 of 15 shots to improve his record to 7-0-4. Once again, he didn't have to deal with a lot of shots, as the Mavericks did such a good job possessing the puck and keeping it away from Huntsville. However, he made two huge, back-to-back, saves during a strong push by the Chargers when it was still 2-1 in the second period. Pawloski has started every game of the Mavericks' unbeaten streak. His 1.62 goals-against average is tied for fifth in the nation.
Guest deep thought from "Hockey Correspondent" and former Free Press stringer Dan Myers: There’s a lot of hockey left, but MSU’s nine-game unbeaten streak has at least put itself back into the at-large discussion for the NCAA Tournament. The win Saturday moved Minnesota State up to No. 17 in the Pairwise Rankings; not bad for a team that started the season 0-4. “We dug a little bit of a ditch there to start the season,” Hastings said. “To find ways to get through the adversity we’ve had, hopefully we’ve grown.” One spot ahead of MSU in the Pairwise? Bowling Green, who trails the Mavericks by two points for first place in the WCHA standings.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 2 ... Northern Michigan 3, Ferris State 2 (OT) ... Bowling Green 2, Bemidji State 0 ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage (late)
1. Hunty stays hot: Michael Huntebrinker got things going for the Mavericks for the second game in a row. Minnesota State trailed 1-0 after one period, just as it did on Friday night, and the junior center tied things up, just as he did on Friday. Instead of waiting until the third period, however, he scored at 4:12 of the second, a spark that led to three goals in the frame. Huntebrinker, who added an empty-net goal, has points in his last eight games and now has 13 for the year, which ranks second only behind Teddy Blueger (who assisted on a goal) on the team's scoring list. "I thought we played hard in the first period," Huntebrinker said. "We felt if we stuck to what we were doing, eventually, it was going to break for us. In the second, it did."
2. Break time: The Mavericks finally made it through their first 20 games, playing 10 consecutive weekends since the start of the season. Despite being bruised and battered, especially on defense, they go into their first break of the season on a nine-game unbeaten streak and in first place in the WCHA standings. Coach Mike Hastings said he expects his team to come out of their three weeks off as healthy as they've been , with Carter Foguth, Zach Stepan and Sean Flanagan back, possibly Clint Lewis, too. In the meantime, though, their young and somewhat patchwork D-corps, including sophomore Jaden Schmeisser (more on him in the game story linked below) was a key to getting the job done on Saturday.
3. Pawloski still unbeaten: Freshman goaltender Jason Pawloski stopped 14 of 15 shots to improve his record to 7-0-4. Once again, he didn't have to deal with a lot of shots, as the Mavericks did such a good job possessing the puck and keeping it away from Huntsville. However, he made two huge, back-to-back, saves during a strong push by the Chargers when it was still 2-1 in the second period. Pawloski has started every game of the Mavericks' unbeaten streak. His 1.62 goals-against average is tied for fifth in the nation.
Guest deep thought from "Hockey Correspondent" and former Free Press stringer Dan Myers: There’s a lot of hockey left, but MSU’s nine-game unbeaten streak has at least put itself back into the at-large discussion for the NCAA Tournament. The win Saturday moved Minnesota State up to No. 17 in the Pairwise Rankings; not bad for a team that started the season 0-4. “We dug a little bit of a ditch there to start the season,” Hastings said. “To find ways to get through the adversity we’ve had, hopefully we’ve grown.” One spot ahead of MSU in the Pairwise? Bowling Green, who trails the Mavericks by two points for first place in the WCHA standings.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 2 ... Northern Michigan 3, Ferris State 2 (OT) ... Bowling Green 2, Bemidji State 0 ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage (late)
MSU vs. Alabama-Huntsville — Game 2 live blog
Minnesota State will go for the series sweep when it plays its final game of 2015 on Saturday night against Alabama Huntsville. The Mavericks came from behind to beat the Chargers 2-1 on Friday night. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Follow along with the action or join the conversation below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
9-Gervais, 23-Blueger, 10-Knutson
15-Franklin, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
24-Knowles, 26-Margonari, 12-Coatta
14-Mullin, 16-J. Nelson, 13-Madry
28-Jutzi, 6-C. Nelson
8-Brickley, 27-Schwalbe
21-Vanko, 22-Schmeisser
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-A. Nelson
Scratches: Cooper, Flanagan, Foguth, Lewis, Stepan
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
24-Saulnier, 7-McHugh, 19-Brears
16-Houcher, 25-Wilcox, 22-Salhany
12-Soquila, 10-Fletcher, 21-Poulsen
6-Carlson, 14-Dunn, 15-Gorowsky
33-Buri, 4-Misuraca
20-Parker, 2-Knight
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
30-Larose
35-Guerriero
9-Gervais, 23-Blueger, 10-Knutson
15-Franklin, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
24-Knowles, 26-Margonari, 12-Coatta
14-Mullin, 16-J. Nelson, 13-Madry
28-Jutzi, 6-C. Nelson
8-Brickley, 27-Schwalbe
21-Vanko, 22-Schmeisser
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-A. Nelson
Scratches: Cooper, Flanagan, Foguth, Lewis, Stepan
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
24-Saulnier, 7-McHugh, 19-Brears
16-Houcher, 25-Wilcox, 22-Salhany
12-Soquila, 10-Fletcher, 21-Poulsen
6-Carlson, 14-Dunn, 15-Gorowsky
33-Buri, 4-Misuraca
20-Parker, 2-Knight
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
30-Larose
35-Guerriero
Friday, December 11, 2015
Mavericks 2, Chargers 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Nothing easy: Minnesota State extended its unbeaten streak to eight games, but nothing has come easy over that stretch, and that included Friday night, where it didn't give up much to an improved and hard-working Alabama Huntsville team but found itself trailing for a big chunk of the game. Mavericks fans have been spoiled with some of the great playmaking they've seen in recent years, but there have been fewer of those with finish thus far season. Still, the two goals MSU scored in the third period were two very pretty plays. "We'll take it any way we can get it," said sophomore forward C.J. Franklin, the set-up man on both goals. "Even if it's 2-1. Even if we're down 1-0 in the third. It shows you what kind of guys we have in the locker room. We'll find a way to get it done."
2. Staying hot: Michael Huntebrinker, who scored MSU's first goal, improved his point-scoring streak to seven games and is now tied for second on the team with 11 points. Teddy Blueger, who scored the game-winner with 3:40 left in the game, has nine points in his last four games and is the leading scorer with 16 points, including five goals. Goalie Jason Pawloski only faced nine shots and upped his record to 6-0-4. Minnesota State is unbeaten in its last 17 games against Alabama Huntsville, a streak that goes back to the 2001-02 season. Huntsville has not won in its last nine games, a tough-luck stretch that includes a tie and five one-goal losses.
3. Power outage: Minnesota State was 0 for 6 on the power play, getting six shots on goal with the man advantage. Some credit has to go to Huntsville's disciplined penalty kill and shot-blocking ability (the Chargers blocked 23 shots for the game), as well as to Carmine Guerrero's goaltending. But their 0-for-4 performance in the first period into the early third could have been costly. Meanwhile, MSU's penalty kill was rock-solid, stopping five power plays, including 71 seconds of 5-on-3 time, and allowing one shot on goal. Over the last 14 minutes of the second period, the Mavericks took four penalties, including the two that overlapped for the 5-on-3.
Deep thought: One more game for the Mavericks to get through before they get that much-needed break. This is their 10th consecutive weekend of play since the start of the year. They played Friday's game without captain and defenseman Carter Foguth (upper body) for the second game in a row, and freshman forward Ryan Schwalbe continued to fill in on D. Zach Stepan, Sean Flanagan and Clint Lewis also remained out with upper-body injuries.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Northern Michigan 2 ... Michigan Tech 1, Lake Superior State 1 (OT) ... Bowling Green 4, Bemidji State 1 ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage.
1. Nothing easy: Minnesota State extended its unbeaten streak to eight games, but nothing has come easy over that stretch, and that included Friday night, where it didn't give up much to an improved and hard-working Alabama Huntsville team but found itself trailing for a big chunk of the game. Mavericks fans have been spoiled with some of the great playmaking they've seen in recent years, but there have been fewer of those with finish thus far season. Still, the two goals MSU scored in the third period were two very pretty plays. "We'll take it any way we can get it," said sophomore forward C.J. Franklin, the set-up man on both goals. "Even if it's 2-1. Even if we're down 1-0 in the third. It shows you what kind of guys we have in the locker room. We'll find a way to get it done."
2. Staying hot: Michael Huntebrinker, who scored MSU's first goal, improved his point-scoring streak to seven games and is now tied for second on the team with 11 points. Teddy Blueger, who scored the game-winner with 3:40 left in the game, has nine points in his last four games and is the leading scorer with 16 points, including five goals. Goalie Jason Pawloski only faced nine shots and upped his record to 6-0-4. Minnesota State is unbeaten in its last 17 games against Alabama Huntsville, a streak that goes back to the 2001-02 season. Huntsville has not won in its last nine games, a tough-luck stretch that includes a tie and five one-goal losses.
3. Power outage: Minnesota State was 0 for 6 on the power play, getting six shots on goal with the man advantage. Some credit has to go to Huntsville's disciplined penalty kill and shot-blocking ability (the Chargers blocked 23 shots for the game), as well as to Carmine Guerrero's goaltending. But their 0-for-4 performance in the first period into the early third could have been costly. Meanwhile, MSU's penalty kill was rock-solid, stopping five power plays, including 71 seconds of 5-on-3 time, and allowing one shot on goal. Over the last 14 minutes of the second period, the Mavericks took four penalties, including the two that overlapped for the 5-on-3.
Deep thought: One more game for the Mavericks to get through before they get that much-needed break. This is their 10th consecutive weekend of play since the start of the year. They played Friday's game without captain and defenseman Carter Foguth (upper body) for the second game in a row, and freshman forward Ryan Schwalbe continued to fill in on D. Zach Stepan, Sean Flanagan and Clint Lewis also remained out with upper-body injuries.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Northern Michigan 2 ... Michigan Tech 1, Lake Superior State 1 (OT) ... Bowling Green 4, Bemidji State 1 ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage.
MSU vs. Alabama Huntsville — live chat
Follow along or join the conversation during tonight's game between the Mavericks and the Chargers. The chat can be found below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
9-Gervais, 23-Blueger, 10-Knutson
15-Franklin, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
24-Knowles, 26-Margonari, 12-Coatta
14-Mullin, 16-J. Nelson, 13-Madry
28-Jutzi, 6-C. Nelson
8-Brickley, 27-Schwalbe
21-Vanko, 22-Schmeisser
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-A. Nelson
Scratches: Cooper, Flanagan, Foguth, Lewis, Stepan
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
24-Saulnier, 7-McHugh, 19-Brears
6-Carlson, 14-Dunn, 26-Kestner
16-Houcher, 10-Fletcher, 21-Poulsen
23-Marooney, 25-Wilcox, 22-Salhany
33-Buri, 4-Misuraca
20-Parker, 2-Knight
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
30-Larose
35-Guerriero
MINNESOTA STATE
9-Gervais, 23-Blueger, 10-Knutson
15-Franklin, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
24-Knowles, 26-Margonari, 12-Coatta
14-Mullin, 16-J. Nelson, 13-Madry
28-Jutzi, 6-C. Nelson
8-Brickley, 27-Schwalbe
21-Vanko, 22-Schmeisser
39-Pawloski
34-Huggins
29-A. Nelson
Scratches: Cooper, Flanagan, Foguth, Lewis, Stepan
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
24-Saulnier, 7-McHugh, 19-Brears
6-Carlson, 14-Dunn, 26-Kestner
16-Houcher, 10-Fletcher, 21-Poulsen
23-Marooney, 25-Wilcox, 22-Salhany
33-Buri, 4-Misuraca
20-Parker, 2-Knight
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
30-Larose
35-Guerriero
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks will close out the 2015 calendar, as well as finals week and a stretch of 10 straight weekends of play since the start of the year, on Friday and Saturday when they host Alabama Huntsville for a WCHA series.
Minnesota State will try to keep a few different streaks alive this weekend, including their current seven-game unbeaten streak, Huntsville's eight-game winless streak, along with a 16-game unbeaten streak against the Chargers that dates back to the 2001-02 season.
One player who's on a hot streak for the Mavericks is junior forward Michael Huntebrinker, who has a point in his last six games. Huntebrinker really seems to be coming into his own this season, comfortable and confident as MSU's No. 2 center.
Read more about the series in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
Huntsville is coming off a loss and tie at home to Northern Michigan. It was 17 seconds away from overtime on Friday when the Wildcats scored the game-winner on a penalty shot.
Going around the WCHA:
• Ferris State at Northern Michigan: The Bulldogs and the Wildcats sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the WCHA standings, separated by two points. Ferris State has gotten two points out of every league weekend, while Northern Michigan has played four overtimes in its last six games and seven total this season.
• Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State: How mad are the Huskies going to be for this one after dropping two games at home to Alaska Anchorage last weekend. The Lakers are on a little bit of a run, having won three straight games and going unbeaten in five of their last six.
• Bowling Green at Bemidji State: Following two ties with Minnesota State that extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, the Falcons are on the road for the first time in a month and taking on the Beavers, who are unbeaten in five of their last seven games. The series allows two old friends to square off against each other.
• Alaska at Alaska Anchorage: The first games of the Governor's Cup rivalry will take place in Anchorage where the Seawolves are coming off that impressive sweep in Houghton. Now, they hope to get an edge in a trophy series they haven't won in six years. The Nanooks, meanwhile, will use the rivalry as motivation to try to end a seven-game winless streak.
Read more about the league this week in Jack Hittinger's and my USCHO column. And check out our predictions for the weekend, too.
Minnesota State will try to keep a few different streaks alive this weekend, including their current seven-game unbeaten streak, Huntsville's eight-game winless streak, along with a 16-game unbeaten streak against the Chargers that dates back to the 2001-02 season.
One player who's on a hot streak for the Mavericks is junior forward Michael Huntebrinker, who has a point in his last six games. Huntebrinker really seems to be coming into his own this season, comfortable and confident as MSU's No. 2 center.
Read more about the series in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
Huntsville is coming off a loss and tie at home to Northern Michigan. It was 17 seconds away from overtime on Friday when the Wildcats scored the game-winner on a penalty shot.
Going around the WCHA:
• Ferris State at Northern Michigan: The Bulldogs and the Wildcats sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the WCHA standings, separated by two points. Ferris State has gotten two points out of every league weekend, while Northern Michigan has played four overtimes in its last six games and seven total this season.
• Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State: How mad are the Huskies going to be for this one after dropping two games at home to Alaska Anchorage last weekend. The Lakers are on a little bit of a run, having won three straight games and going unbeaten in five of their last six.
• Bowling Green at Bemidji State: Following two ties with Minnesota State that extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, the Falcons are on the road for the first time in a month and taking on the Beavers, who are unbeaten in five of their last seven games. The series allows two old friends to square off against each other.
• Alaska at Alaska Anchorage: The first games of the Governor's Cup rivalry will take place in Anchorage where the Seawolves are coming off that impressive sweep in Houghton. Now, they hope to get an edge in a trophy series they haven't won in six years. The Nanooks, meanwhile, will use the rivalry as motivation to try to end a seven-game winless streak.
Read more about the league this week in Jack Hittinger's and my USCHO column. And check out our predictions for the weekend, too.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Mavericks return to Top 20
Minnesota State returned to the USCHO top 20 on Monday, coming in at No. 20 following its two ties at Bowling Green, which extended its unbeaten streak to seven game (3-0-4).
It's the first time the Mavericks have been in the top 20 since the second week of the season. Minnesota State started the season ranked sixth, then dropped to 14th after getting swept at home by Omaha. After dropping their next two games to St. Cloud State, the Mavericks fell out of the rankings, although they've received votes every week.
Bowling Green remained at No. 14. The Falcons also are on a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2). Michigan Tech, which was ranked 17th last week, fell out of the top 20 after getting swept at home by Alaska Anchorage.
Minnesota State (8-6-4, 7-1-4 in WCHA) will host Alabama Huntsville on Friday and Saturday before taking a three-week break.
It's the first time the Mavericks have been in the top 20 since the second week of the season. Minnesota State started the season ranked sixth, then dropped to 14th after getting swept at home by Omaha. After dropping their next two games to St. Cloud State, the Mavericks fell out of the rankings, although they've received votes every week.
Bowling Green remained at No. 14. The Falcons also are on a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2). Michigan Tech, which was ranked 17th last week, fell out of the top 20 after getting swept at home by Alaska Anchorage.
Minnesota State (8-6-4, 7-1-4 in WCHA) will host Alabama Huntsville on Friday and Saturday before taking a three-week break.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Mavericks 2, Falcons 2
Freddy's belated three thoughts from afar ...
1. Road points: The Mavericks now have four consecutive road ties after a couple of stalemates at Northern Michigan and two more this past weekend at Bowling Green. In both instances, MSU feels like it left a point or two behind. This past weekend, that was the case on Friday when the Falcons scored with 6.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Saturday was a different story, however, as it was MSU that came from behind to tie the game in the third period, albeit not quite in as dramatic of a fashion. Zeb Knutson's game-tying goal came a 7:34, and goalie Jason Pawloski was top-notch in the third period and overtime. So they came away with two hard-fought points and left Ohio with a two-point lead atop the WCHA standings.
2. Who's available? The Mavericks' defensive corps continues to be depleted. Carter Fourth and Casey Nelson were unavailable on Saturday after getting hurt on Friday. Sean Flanagan and Clint Lewis were back in Mankato, and Jon Jutzi, who received a ton of praise from coach Mike Hastings for his play for most of the Bowling Green series, was injured midway through the third period on Saturday and did not return. That mean a lot of minute for a lot of inexperienced defensemen. But freshmen Daniel Brickley and Alec Vanko and sophomore Jaden Schmeisser were solid in those expanded roles, Hastings said. Forwards Ryan Schwalbe and Jordan Nelson also lined up on D.
3. Improving players: Teddy Blueger had three assists in the series to continue his hot streak, but a couple of other players are starting to emerge as well. Junior forward Michael Huntebrinker had goal on Friday an two assists on Saturday. He is now tied for third on the teaming scoring with 10 points. Knutson, a sophomore forward, scored a goal in each game. Knutson had three points in nine games last season. He has six points, including four goals, playing in 16 of 18 games this season. Huntebrinker and Knutson definitely seem to be establishing themselves as reliable forwards for the Mavericks.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 2, Bemidji State 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Michigan Tech 2 ... Northern Michigan 1, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Lake Superior State 2, Alaska 0
1. Road points: The Mavericks now have four consecutive road ties after a couple of stalemates at Northern Michigan and two more this past weekend at Bowling Green. In both instances, MSU feels like it left a point or two behind. This past weekend, that was the case on Friday when the Falcons scored with 6.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Saturday was a different story, however, as it was MSU that came from behind to tie the game in the third period, albeit not quite in as dramatic of a fashion. Zeb Knutson's game-tying goal came a 7:34, and goalie Jason Pawloski was top-notch in the third period and overtime. So they came away with two hard-fought points and left Ohio with a two-point lead atop the WCHA standings.
2. Who's available? The Mavericks' defensive corps continues to be depleted. Carter Fourth and Casey Nelson were unavailable on Saturday after getting hurt on Friday. Sean Flanagan and Clint Lewis were back in Mankato, and Jon Jutzi, who received a ton of praise from coach Mike Hastings for his play for most of the Bowling Green series, was injured midway through the third period on Saturday and did not return. That mean a lot of minute for a lot of inexperienced defensemen. But freshmen Daniel Brickley and Alec Vanko and sophomore Jaden Schmeisser were solid in those expanded roles, Hastings said. Forwards Ryan Schwalbe and Jordan Nelson also lined up on D.
3. Improving players: Teddy Blueger had three assists in the series to continue his hot streak, but a couple of other players are starting to emerge as well. Junior forward Michael Huntebrinker had goal on Friday an two assists on Saturday. He is now tied for third on the teaming scoring with 10 points. Knutson, a sophomore forward, scored a goal in each game. Knutson had three points in nine games last season. He has six points, including four goals, playing in 16 of 18 games this season. Huntebrinker and Knutson definitely seem to be establishing themselves as reliable forwards for the Mavericks.
Read my game story here.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Mavericks 2, Falcons 2
Freddy's three thoughts from afar ...
1. Seven seconds away: That's how far away the Mavericks were from getting a win and a second point out of Friday's game. But the Falcons sure know how to not lose at home, upping their unbeaten streak at the BGSU Ice Arena to 12 games dating back to last season. The game-tying-goal, by Ben Murphy was a short-handed, extra-attacker goal. Minnesota State was unable to get the puck cleared, and Bowling Green got a somewhat fortunate carom on the final play of the third period. "They made a push," MSU coach Mike Hastings said in a phone interview afterward. "I didn't think we completely went away. We had a couple of looks late."
2. Overtime? You don't say: Before leaving Mankato, Hastings said he couldn't promise that either game would end after 60 minutes, and he was right. That was based on the short history of the rivalry. Minnesota State and Bowling Green have played eight times now as WCHA foes. Four of the seven regular-season games have now gone into overtime. This was the first tie. It was a tough, physical game with each team getting called for a major along the way (the Falcons' led to MSU's second goal). "It was a tough one to give up a point, but we didn't give up two," Hastings said, "and found a way to get a point on the road."
3. On the Hunt: Michael Huntebrinker scored his first goal of the season on Friday, but the junior center has been red hot. He now has a point in five consecutive games and now has eight points, which ranks fourth on the team in scoring. Zeb Knutson, who has also been playing well, skating on the No. 1 line with Teddy Blueger and Bryce Gervais, had MSU's other goal. Gervais, who had an assist, continued his barrage of shots, putting five pucks on net. "We had some really good opportunities to get it to 3-0 and didn't," Hastings said. "That was the difference in the game in my opinion."
Here's a write-up of the game.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 2, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Michigan Tech 2 ... Northern Michigan 4, Alabama Huntsville 3 ... Lake Superior State 4, Alaska 2
1. Seven seconds away: That's how far away the Mavericks were from getting a win and a second point out of Friday's game. But the Falcons sure know how to not lose at home, upping their unbeaten streak at the BGSU Ice Arena to 12 games dating back to last season. The game-tying-goal, by Ben Murphy was a short-handed, extra-attacker goal. Minnesota State was unable to get the puck cleared, and Bowling Green got a somewhat fortunate carom on the final play of the third period. "They made a push," MSU coach Mike Hastings said in a phone interview afterward. "I didn't think we completely went away. We had a couple of looks late."
2. Overtime? You don't say: Before leaving Mankato, Hastings said he couldn't promise that either game would end after 60 minutes, and he was right. That was based on the short history of the rivalry. Minnesota State and Bowling Green have played eight times now as WCHA foes. Four of the seven regular-season games have now gone into overtime. This was the first tie. It was a tough, physical game with each team getting called for a major along the way (the Falcons' led to MSU's second goal). "It was a tough one to give up a point, but we didn't give up two," Hastings said, "and found a way to get a point on the road."
3. On the Hunt: Michael Huntebrinker scored his first goal of the season on Friday, but the junior center has been red hot. He now has a point in five consecutive games and now has eight points, which ranks fourth on the team in scoring. Zeb Knutson, who has also been playing well, skating on the No. 1 line with Teddy Blueger and Bryce Gervais, had MSU's other goal. Gervais, who had an assist, continued his barrage of shots, putting five pucks on net. "We had some really good opportunities to get it to 3-0 and didn't," Hastings said. "That was the difference in the game in my opinion."
Here's a write-up of the game.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 2, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Michigan Tech 2 ... Northern Michigan 4, Alabama Huntsville 3 ... Lake Superior State 4, Alaska 2
Friday Morning Skate
Minnesota State is in Bowling Green this weekend for a big series between two of the three favorites in the WCHA.
Minnesota State and the Verizon Wireless Center are close on agreeing to a lease deal for use of the renovated arena. MSU will pay more than $500,000 per year.
Earlier this season, Bowling Green split a series at Michigan Tech, but this is the first time the Mavericks and Falcons are playing. They have split each of their three series in the new WCHA, with three of the games going to overtime and MSU holding just a 16-15 edge in goals. The Mavericks also beat the Falcons in the 2014 Final Five semifinals.
"History doesn't guarantee anything," Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said. "But, if you look at the history of these two teams playing each other, I can't tell you that both games will be done in 60 minutes."
Minnesota State is looking to hold its stops atop the WCHA standings, but it is really looking for consistency, along the lines of how it played last weekend against Alaska Anchorage.
Read more Free Press coverage in its College Hockey Gameday.
Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron says Minnesota State is the standard-bearer of the new WCHA, and a team the Falcons have been chasing.
Both Bergeron and Hastings are trying not to over-hype the series, which is the subject of this week's USCHO column by Jack Hittinger and me. Read our weekend predictions, too.
There's a full slate of games in the WCHA this weekend. Here are the matchups (with various links):
• Bemidji State at Ferris State: The Beavers are coming off their first sweep of the season, at Alabama Huntsville, and are on another long road trip, this time to Big Rapids, where the Bulldogs haven't been swept and haven't swept anybody.
• Alaska Anchorage at Michigan Tech: Life gets no easier for the Seawolves, who go from Minnesota State to Michigan Tech, the two teams tied for first place in the WCHA. The Huskies have lost just twice in their last 11 games.
• Northern Michigan at Alabama Huntsville: The Wildcats played Bowling Green Tough last week on the road last weekend, despite losing twice (once with 5 seconds left in overtime) and continue moving southward with a trip to Huntsville, which is on a six-game skid.
• Lake Superior State at Alaska: Two teams tying to stay out of the bottom of the league standings will do battle in Fairbanks. The Lakers have not been an easy out, splitting at home with Ferris State last weekend. The Nanooks are hoping to bounce back from two home losses to Tech.
In other related reading ...
Minnesota State and the Verizon Wireless Center are close on agreeing to a lease deal for use of the renovated arena. MSU will pay more than $500,000 per year.
USCHO has a feature on St. Scholastica goaltender Tyler Bruggeman, a North Mankato native and Mankato West graduate, who is in his final season of college hockey.
Gustavus Adolphus women's player Kaitlyn Klein suffered a neck injury during a game Sunday in Vermont and had surgery to repair the crushed vertebrae. That was the subject of my Thursday notebook. But Gustavus has the latest updates here.
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