Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Top notch, top notch: Minnesota State's top line of C.J. Suess, Marc Michaelis and Parker Tuomie, which was put together as a trio for the first time this season on Friday, was dominant in what was essentially a must-win for the Mavericks on Saturday. The group compiled eight points, including a two-goal, one-assist performance by Suess. Although he didn't get an assist on Daniel Brickley's goal, Suess did a lot of the dirty work in the offensive zone that eventually set up the scoring play. "He's been pretty consistent," Michaelis said of Suess. "He plays like a man. He wins his battles and plays a 200-foot game." Suess now has a team- and WCHA-leading 26 points (10-16).
2. More about Marc: Michaelis missed the Mavericks' last four games before Christmas and returned to action on Friday. Perhaps one game was all the adjustment he needed to get back in the groove as he had a goal and two assists Saturday, especially in the third period when he scored a key insurance goal. (The puck went in off his skate on a Riese Zmolek shot, but he was going hard to the net with a defender all over him.) "It was terrible watching," Michaelis said of being injured. "Ask any player whose been scratched. I had a lot of time to prepare." Michaelis now has 16 points.
3. Big rebound: The series-opening loss to Northern Michigan was the first Friday-night loss of the season for the Mavericks, so it was going to be interesting to see how they reacted. They certainly didn't want to get swept at home, nor did they want to drop out of first place in the WCHA standings. That's why it was as close to a must-win as you could have for a pre-Jan. 1 game. Not only was that top line great, but Jason Pawloski was solid in goal, especially to help a penalty kill that had its work cut out for it in the second period and early third. Six of Pawloski's 23 saves came against the WCHA's leading goal scorer, Robbie Payne, who was kept off the board.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Lake Superior State 4, Arizona State 1
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Live: Minnesota State vs. Northern Michigan
The Mavericks will try to get a series split when they play the Wildcats in the second game of the weekend between the top two teams in the WCHA. Just two points separate MSU and NMU. Follow along with the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
9-Gerard, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Sheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 7-Diamantoni
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 27-Roeder
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
9-Gerard, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Sheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 7-Diamantoni
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 27-Roeder
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
Friday, December 29, 2017
Wildcats 4, Mavericks 3
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. How odd: When the Mavericks are playing well, they don't give up many odd-man rushes. But they gave up more than their usual share on Friday, and it proved costly. A couple of turnovers and a fallen D-man led to the dagger, a 2-on-1 finished off by Joseph Nardi with 36.1 seconds left in the game. Minnesota State also gave up a goal off a bad line change, another by leaving the WCHA's best goal scorer, Robbie Payne, all alone below the left circle and one on the first shot of the game for NMU, one goaltender Connor LaCouvee undoubtedly would like to have back.
2. Race tightens: As I mention in my gamer (link below), there's now a close race between the Mavericks and the Wildcats as they begin the second half of the WCHA schedule. Just two points separate MSU and NMU atop the WCHA standings. They split a series in early November in Marquette. If they split again this weekend, the Mavericks will still be up five points. If the Wildcats pull off the road sweep, they'll be in first place by a point. There's a lot of season left, of course, it feels like Saturday's game is a big one.
3. Bright spots: Jake Jaremko, Parker Tuomie and Riese Zmolek each had a goal and an assist for the Mavericks. Jarmeko continues to impress as a rookie. He extended his point streak to 10 games and now has 20 points. Tuomie was playing on a line with C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis on Friday and scored what seemed like a big game-tying goal with 5:10 left in the game. Zmolek, the freshman, was called the team's best defenseman in the game by coach Mike Hastings afterward for his play at both ends of the ice.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Robert Morris 5, Lake Superior State 0
1. How odd: When the Mavericks are playing well, they don't give up many odd-man rushes. But they gave up more than their usual share on Friday, and it proved costly. A couple of turnovers and a fallen D-man led to the dagger, a 2-on-1 finished off by Joseph Nardi with 36.1 seconds left in the game. Minnesota State also gave up a goal off a bad line change, another by leaving the WCHA's best goal scorer, Robbie Payne, all alone below the left circle and one on the first shot of the game for NMU, one goaltender Connor LaCouvee undoubtedly would like to have back.
2. Race tightens: As I mention in my gamer (link below), there's now a close race between the Mavericks and the Wildcats as they begin the second half of the WCHA schedule. Just two points separate MSU and NMU atop the WCHA standings. They split a series in early November in Marquette. If they split again this weekend, the Mavericks will still be up five points. If the Wildcats pull off the road sweep, they'll be in first place by a point. There's a lot of season left, of course, it feels like Saturday's game is a big one.
3. Bright spots: Jake Jaremko, Parker Tuomie and Riese Zmolek each had a goal and an assist for the Mavericks. Jarmeko continues to impress as a rookie. He extended his point streak to 10 games and now has 20 points. Tuomie was playing on a line with C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis on Friday and scored what seemed like a big game-tying goal with 5:10 left in the game. Zmolek, the freshman, was called the team's best defenseman in the game by coach Mike Hastings afterward for his play at both ends of the ice.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Robert Morris 5, Lake Superior State 0
Live: Minnesota State vs. Northern Michigan
The Mavericks and Wildcats will close out 2017 with a WCHA series at the Verizon Center. Game 1 is tonight at 7:07 p.m. Follow the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremk, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
17-Duehr, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 8-Pierce
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 4-Frantti
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 20-Michaelis
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremk, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 26-French, 19-McClure
17-Duehr, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Hookenson, Schwalbe, Vanko
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 8-Pierce
29-Payne, 18-Nardi, 86-Hannoun
23-Slattery, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 12-Heikkila
40-Klimek, 25-Beaulieu
2-Vermeulen, 3-Fosdick
44-Black, 4-Frantti
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are back in action after a week off and will host Northern Michigan in what should be an entertaining WCHA series at the Verizon Center.
There's good news-bad-news on the injury front for MSU as Marc Michaelis is back in the lineup after missing the last four games but Dallas Gerads remains out after taking the elbow to the head late in the Mavericks' last game against Alabama Huntsville. Gerads will miss both games this weekend, as will the player who hit him, UAH's Brennan Saulnier, who was suspended for two games. Saulnier will be back next week, but will Gerads?
Previewing the Mavericks-Wildcats series, Minnesota State has been getting great contributions from its rookies. The top two forwards in that group, Elk River's Jake Jaremko and Reggie Lutz, have been, with a few exception, hockey teammates since their were 5 years old.
Minnesota State finished the first half of the season in a good spot, atop the WCHA and sixth in the Pairwise rankings, however, the team wants to keep climbing in the second half.
For more on the weekend, be sure to check out the College Hockey Gameday feature.
As for Northern Michigan, it will be without first-year head coach Grant Potulny, who is an assistant coach with the U.S. Junior National Team playing at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y.
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green played Western Michigan on Thursday night and fell 5-2, another tough nonconference result for the WCHA.
Bemidji State hosts previously mentioned Alabama Huntsville in the only other conference series tonight and Saturday. The Beavers enter the weekend riding a five-game unbeaten streak.
Lake Superior State is playing in the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh. The Lakers are playing Robert Morris today and either Arizona State or Providence on Saturday.
On Monday and Tuesday, Michigan Tech and Bowling Green are playing in the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit with the former starting the tournament against Michigan State and the latter taking on Michigan.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Chargers' Saulnier suspended
Alabama Huntsville senior forward Brennan Saulnier was suspended for two games by the WCHA for his illegal hit to a Minnesota State player's head during Saturday's hockey game at the Verizon Center, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
With 30 seconds remaining in the game, Saulnier elbowed MSU freshman Dallas Gerads, who lay on the ice for several minutes before getting assisted out of the rink. Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said Gerads was "not healthy" and likely had a concussion.
Saulnier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for contact to the head but not a game disqualification, which comes with an automatic one-game suspension. The WCHA reviewed the play and on Monday determined that the hit warranted a two-game ban.
Saunier will miss the Chargers games Dec. 29-30 at Bemidji State. It is the third supplementary-discipline suspension of Saulnier's college career.
Saulnier has received one other suspension due to a game DQ for fighting last season. Over his 3+ seasons he has received eight game misconducts that coupled with major penalties, including Saturday's, according to an examination of box scores on collegehockeystats.net. The infractions have included contact to the head (3), checking/hitting from behind (3), charging (1) and roughing (1).
With 30 seconds remaining in the game, Saulnier elbowed MSU freshman Dallas Gerads, who lay on the ice for several minutes before getting assisted out of the rink. Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said Gerads was "not healthy" and likely had a concussion.
Saulnier received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for contact to the head but not a game disqualification, which comes with an automatic one-game suspension. The WCHA reviewed the play and on Monday determined that the hit warranted a two-game ban.
Saunier will miss the Chargers games Dec. 29-30 at Bemidji State. It is the third supplementary-discipline suspension of Saulnier's college career.
Saulnier has received one other suspension due to a game DQ for fighting last season. Over his 3+ seasons he has received eight game misconducts that coupled with major penalties, including Saturday's, according to an examination of box scores on collegehockeystats.net. The infractions have included contact to the head (3), checking/hitting from behind (3), charging (1) and roughing (1).
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Mavericks 3, Chargers 0
Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Back on top: Minnesota State's sweep of Alabama Huntsville put it back in first place in the WCHA standings, five points ahead of Bowling Green, Northern Michigan (MSU's next opponent) and Michigan Tech. Tech has played four more games than MSU and BG, however. At the halfway mark of the conference schedule, the Mavericks are 11-3 against conference opponents. In their last four games, all wins, they have outscored Lake Superior State and Alabama Huntsville 20-2. That streak came after a 3-1 loss at Minnesota Duluth. "I think the work the guys did collectively," coach Mike Hastings said of the turnaround from that game. "They’re holding each other accountable and working for each other, knowing that what one does sets the other up for success. … We’ve been better offensively but better defensively also."
2. Better start: Minnesota State started better than it did on Friday, getting a 1-0 lead on freshman Reggie Lutz's power-play goal. It was Lutz's third goal and 11th point, and it came on a similar play to a first-period power-play chance on Friday that was turned away with an amazing save. Goaltender Connor LaCouvee had to make a couple tough saves early on, too, en route to his second straight shutout (more on him in my Monday series notebook). "I knew they’d come," Hastings said of the Chargers. "They’ve won in some pretty difficult buildings, Tech, Bowling Green Northern. They’re prideful in what they’re doing also. It was a pretty good pace to that first period going both ways."
3. Dirty play? It will be interesting to see if the WCHA punishes UAH's Brennan Saulnier for the elbow to the head of Dallas Gerads with 30 seconds left in the game. Gerads had to be helped out of the rink and could barely lift his head up as he departed. Hastings was livid on the bench, directing ire at his counterpart, Mike Corbett, but also at the referees, apparently arguing for a game disqualification for Saulnier. The Chargers senior got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Saulnier does have a history. He has twice been suspended by the league for head contact, getting two gameslast January in January of 2016 and a one-game ban in October of 2015.
Read my game story, which focuses on the stellar play of senior C.J. Suess (two goals, four on the weekend) here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Northern Michigan 4, Ferris State 2 ... Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 3 (Tech wins in shootout)
Puckato Postgame Show:
1. Back on top: Minnesota State's sweep of Alabama Huntsville put it back in first place in the WCHA standings, five points ahead of Bowling Green, Northern Michigan (MSU's next opponent) and Michigan Tech. Tech has played four more games than MSU and BG, however. At the halfway mark of the conference schedule, the Mavericks are 11-3 against conference opponents. In their last four games, all wins, they have outscored Lake Superior State and Alabama Huntsville 20-2. That streak came after a 3-1 loss at Minnesota Duluth. "I think the work the guys did collectively," coach Mike Hastings said of the turnaround from that game. "They’re holding each other accountable and working for each other, knowing that what one does sets the other up for success. … We’ve been better offensively but better defensively also."
2. Better start: Minnesota State started better than it did on Friday, getting a 1-0 lead on freshman Reggie Lutz's power-play goal. It was Lutz's third goal and 11th point, and it came on a similar play to a first-period power-play chance on Friday that was turned away with an amazing save. Goaltender Connor LaCouvee had to make a couple tough saves early on, too, en route to his second straight shutout (more on him in my Monday series notebook). "I knew they’d come," Hastings said of the Chargers. "They’ve won in some pretty difficult buildings, Tech, Bowling Green Northern. They’re prideful in what they’re doing also. It was a pretty good pace to that first period going both ways."
3. Dirty play? It will be interesting to see if the WCHA punishes UAH's Brennan Saulnier for the elbow to the head of Dallas Gerads with 30 seconds left in the game. Gerads had to be helped out of the rink and could barely lift his head up as he departed. Hastings was livid on the bench, directing ire at his counterpart, Mike Corbett, but also at the referees, apparently arguing for a game disqualification for Saulnier. The Chargers senior got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Saulnier does have a history. He has twice been suspended by the league for head contact, getting two games
Read my game story, which focuses on the stellar play of senior C.J. Suess (two goals, four on the weekend) here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Northern Michigan 4, Ferris State 2 ... Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 3 (Tech wins in shootout)
Puckato Postgame Show:
Live: Minnesota State vs. Alabama Huntsville
The No. 7 Mavericks will go for the series sweep at 7:07 p.m. today at the Verizon Center. Minnesota State defeated Alabama Huntsville 5-1 on Friday. Follow the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Hookenson, Michaelis, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
19-Salerno, 24-Saulnier, 21-Poulsen
11-Wunder, 15-Gorowsky, 26-Kestner
14-Dunn, 9-Rajic, 18-Beaulieu
12-Merkley, 25-Wilcox, 16-Wod
20-Parker, 8-Teets
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
33-Buri, 4-James
30-Sinclair
32-Uhelski
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 2-Mackey
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Hookenson, Michaelis, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
19-Salerno, 24-Saulnier, 21-Poulsen
11-Wunder, 15-Gorowsky, 26-Kestner
14-Dunn, 9-Rajic, 18-Beaulieu
12-Merkley, 25-Wilcox, 16-Wod
20-Parker, 8-Teets
28-Gosselin, 5-Champagne
33-Buri, 4-James
30-Sinclair
32-Uhelski
Friday, December 15, 2017
Mavericks 5, Chargers 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Mr. French: Most of my gamer (link below) focuses on Josh French, the sophomore center, who finally scored his first collegiate goal after going 55 games without one. That tells you something. He played in every game from the start of his freshman year because he did other things so well, namely defensive-zone play, penalty killing, faceoffs. It was almost bizarre, though, that he did not yet have a goal. He had one taken away due to review last season and avoided that on Friday when officials went to the monitor to look at his. It stood this time, and French was grinning from ear to ear after the game.
2. Figuring it out: Coach Mike Hastings wasn't too happy with is team's play in the scoreless first period, although a lot of credit has to go to Chargers goalie Jordan Uhelski, too, who made 14 saves. "I thought our first wasn’t very good," Hastings said. "I didn’t think we were real crisp. I think at times we tried to slow the game down instead of speed it up. And our second period we started to play with more pace and cause more problems." The Mavericks were dominant in the second period, outshooting the Chargers 22-3 and taking a 3-0 lead on French's goal and two more by C.J. Suess.
3. Fourth-line shines: French centered the fourth line, and the group accounted for two goals, with Nick Rivera scoring the other. Max Coatta, who has been strong all year, also had an assist. Hastings said that trio has been used to match up with opponents' top lines over the last three games, but is getting things done at both ends of the rink. "For them to contribute offensively with a couple of goals, there’s karma in this game," Hastings said. "When you do things the right way and you play from your end to the other end, the game usually pays you back. And it did tonight. Because they’ve been putting a lot in the bank as far as playing the game from our end."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 0 ... Northern Michigan 6, Ferris State 1 ... Bemidji State 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
1. Mr. French: Most of my gamer (link below) focuses on Josh French, the sophomore center, who finally scored his first collegiate goal after going 55 games without one. That tells you something. He played in every game from the start of his freshman year because he did other things so well, namely defensive-zone play, penalty killing, faceoffs. It was almost bizarre, though, that he did not yet have a goal. He had one taken away due to review last season and avoided that on Friday when officials went to the monitor to look at his. It stood this time, and French was grinning from ear to ear after the game.
2. Figuring it out: Coach Mike Hastings wasn't too happy with is team's play in the scoreless first period, although a lot of credit has to go to Chargers goalie Jordan Uhelski, too, who made 14 saves. "I thought our first wasn’t very good," Hastings said. "I didn’t think we were real crisp. I think at times we tried to slow the game down instead of speed it up. And our second period we started to play with more pace and cause more problems." The Mavericks were dominant in the second period, outshooting the Chargers 22-3 and taking a 3-0 lead on French's goal and two more by C.J. Suess.
3. Fourth-line shines: French centered the fourth line, and the group accounted for two goals, with Nick Rivera scoring the other. Max Coatta, who has been strong all year, also had an assist. Hastings said that trio has been used to match up with opponents' top lines over the last three games, but is getting things done at both ends of the rink. "For them to contribute offensively with a couple of goals, there’s karma in this game," Hastings said. "When you do things the right way and you play from your end to the other end, the game usually pays you back. And it did tonight. Because they’ve been putting a lot in the bank as far as playing the game from our end."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 3, Lake Superior State 0 ... Northern Michigan 6, Ferris State 1 ... Bemidji State 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
Live: MSU vs. Alabama Huntsville
The Mavericks are back home (finally!) and will take on the Chargers in a WCHA series starting at 7:07 p.m. tonight. Follow along with the action in the box below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Hookenson, Michaelis, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
19-Salerno, 24-Saulnier, 21-Poulsen
11-Wunder, 15-Gorowsky, 26-Kestner
14-Dunn, 9-Rajic, 18-Beaulieu
12-Merkley, 25-Wilcox, 10-Dodson
20-Parker, 8-Teets
28-Gosselin, 2-Knight
33-Buri, 5-Champagne
32-Uhelski
30-Sinclair
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 19-McClure
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
23-Rivera, 26-French, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Hookenson, Michaelis, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
19-Salerno, 24-Saulnier, 21-Poulsen
11-Wunder, 15-Gorowsky, 26-Kestner
14-Dunn, 9-Rajic, 18-Beaulieu
12-Merkley, 25-Wilcox, 10-Dodson
20-Parker, 8-Teets
28-Gosselin, 2-Knight
33-Buri, 5-Champagne
32-Uhelski
30-Sinclair
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are back home for the first time in what seems like forever and will host Alabama Huntsville in a WCHA series.
This week, I take a look at the Mavericks' — and one of the WCHA's top two — leading scorer, Zeb Knutson, who is having his best season as a senior. But it's his play in the defensive zone, coach Mike Hastings said, that has led directly to his success in the offensive end.
Read more about the weekend in my College Hockey Gameday and other nuggets in my College Hockey Notebook (such as a new player on the practice rink), including a look at the MSU women's team. Also, here's a look at the series from the perspective of UAHhockey.com.
In cased you missed it, my Tuesday column encourages folks to come out and see a team that has spent a lot of time — and had a lot of success — on the road so far this season.
The WCHA website this week features MSU freshman Jake Jaremko, who sure looks like the real deal through one semester of college play.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alaska Anchorage at Bemidji State: The Beavers are on a bit of a frustrating run, going winless in their last five games, including three ties in which they missed out on the extra point. Perhaps the one-win Seawolves can cure what ails them. Anchorage is trying to crack an eight-game winless streak, although it did get the extra point in all three of its ties.
Lake Superior State at Michigan Tech: Minnesota State's opponent from last week will try to bounce back against the third-place Huskies. Tech, unbeaten in seven of its last nine games, is finding some chemistry, particularly in the line of Jake Jackson, Alex Smith and Brent Baltus.
Ferris State at Northern Michigan: With wins in three of its last four games and five of its last six, Ferris State has gotten itself back in the WCHA race. Up next is a trip to Marquette, where Northern Michigan will try to hold off the charging Bulldogs. The Wildcats have one win in their last seven games, although they feel good about the two ties at Bemidji last week, in which they got the extra points.
This week, I take a look at the Mavericks' — and one of the WCHA's top two — leading scorer, Zeb Knutson, who is having his best season as a senior. But it's his play in the defensive zone, coach Mike Hastings said, that has led directly to his success in the offensive end.
Read more about the weekend in my College Hockey Gameday and other nuggets in my College Hockey Notebook (such as a new player on the practice rink), including a look at the MSU women's team. Also, here's a look at the series from the perspective of UAHhockey.com.
In cased you missed it, my Tuesday column encourages folks to come out and see a team that has spent a lot of time — and had a lot of success — on the road so far this season.
The WCHA website this week features MSU freshman Jake Jaremko, who sure looks like the real deal through one semester of college play.
Going around the WCHA ...
Alaska Anchorage at Bemidji State: The Beavers are on a bit of a frustrating run, going winless in their last five games, including three ties in which they missed out on the extra point. Perhaps the one-win Seawolves can cure what ails them. Anchorage is trying to crack an eight-game winless streak, although it did get the extra point in all three of its ties.
Lake Superior State at Michigan Tech: Minnesota State's opponent from last week will try to bounce back against the third-place Huskies. Tech, unbeaten in seven of its last nine games, is finding some chemistry, particularly in the line of Jake Jackson, Alex Smith and Brent Baltus.
Ferris State at Northern Michigan: With wins in three of its last four games and five of its last six, Ferris State has gotten itself back in the WCHA race. Up next is a trip to Marquette, where Northern Michigan will try to hold off the charging Bulldogs. The Wildcats have one win in their last seven games, although they feel good about the two ties at Bemidji last week, in which they got the extra points.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Three Mavericks honored
Three Minnesota State players received WCHA honors for their play in last weekend's series sweep over Lake Superior State.
Senior forward Zeb Knutson was named Offensive Player of the Week, junior defenseman Daniel Brickley was named Defensive Player of the Week and freshman center Jake Jaremko was named Rookie of the Week.
Knutson had a five-point weekend with two goals and three assists. Four of the points came in Friday's 5-1 win. He was plus-2 and had six shots on goal. He leads MSU in scoring with 20 points and in goals with eight.
Brickley had a goal and three assists for four points in the series. He had four shots on goal and was plus-1. Three of the points cam eon Friday night. He now has 14 points for the year, including four goals.
Jaremko also had a four-point weekend, with two each night. He had six shots on goal and was plus-1. He had a goal and an assist on Friday and two assists in Saturday's 7-0 victory. He now has 17 points, including four goals, for the season with 13 points coming during his current seven-game point-scoring streak.
The other WCHA award went to Alaska's Anton Martinsson, who earned the Goaltender of the Week honor for winning twice against rival Alaska Anchorage in Anchorage.
Senior forward Zeb Knutson was named Offensive Player of the Week, junior defenseman Daniel Brickley was named Defensive Player of the Week and freshman center Jake Jaremko was named Rookie of the Week.
Knutson had a five-point weekend with two goals and three assists. Four of the points came in Friday's 5-1 win. He was plus-2 and had six shots on goal. He leads MSU in scoring with 20 points and in goals with eight.
Brickley had a goal and three assists for four points in the series. He had four shots on goal and was plus-1. Three of the points cam eon Friday night. He now has 14 points for the year, including four goals.
Jaremko also had a four-point weekend, with two each night. He had six shots on goal and was plus-1. He had a goal and an assist on Friday and two assists in Saturday's 7-0 victory. He now has 17 points, including four goals, for the season with 13 points coming during his current seven-game point-scoring streak.
The other WCHA award went to Alaska's Anton Martinsson, who earned the Goaltender of the Week honor for winning twice against rival Alaska Anchorage in Anchorage.
Mavericks move up to No. 7
Following its sweep of Lake Superior State over the weekend, the Minnesota State men's hockey team moved up one spot to No. 7 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Today/USA Hockey rankings.
At 11-5-0, the Mavericks are tied for fifth in the country in winning percentage. They're also third in the nation in scoring (3.75 goals per game) after scoring 12 goals over the weekend and eighth in defense (2.38) after allowing just one to the Lakers. Here's the USCHO poll:
At 11-5-0, the Mavericks are tied for fifth in the country in winning percentage. They're also third in the nation in scoring (3.75 goals per game) after scoring 12 goals over the weekend and eighth in defense (2.38) after allowing just one to the Lakers. Here's the USCHO poll:
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./December 11, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 St. Cloud State (35) 12- 2-1 978 2 2 Denver ( 8) 9- 3-4 918 1 3 Notre Dame ( 6) 16- 3-1 907 4 4 Clarkson ( 1) 15- 3-1 893 3 5 Cornell 10- 2-0 760 6 6 North Dakota 10- 5-5 758 5 7 Minnesota State 11- 5-0 694 8 8 Northeastern 10- 5-1 617 10 9 Ohio State 10- 4-4 566 15 10 Minnesota 10- 9-1 519 7 11 Providence 10- 7-1 516 9 12 Western Michigan 10- 8-1 433 11 13 Wisconsin 10- 9-2 335 12 14 Boston College 9- 7-2 327 14 15 Penn State 11- 7-2 322 18 16 New Hampshire 9- 7-1 260 13 17 Minnesota Duluth 8- 9-2 150 17 18 Colgate 8- 6-4 129 16 19 Union 10- 8-1 74 19 20 Canisius 10- 5-1 69 NR Others receiving votes: Bowling Green 61, Colorado College 50, Miami 37, UMass Lowell 33, Omaha 26, Boston University 20, Harvard 16, Michigan 14, Massachusetts 10, Niagara 4, Army 2, Bentley 1, Maine 1.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Mavericks 7, Lakers 0
Freddy's three thoughts (from afar):
1. Road trippin': The Mavericks dominated the Lakers all weekend, outscoring them 12-1, including Saturday's touchdown and PAT. With their next four games at home, they finished their 11 first-half road games with an impressive 8-3 record. That included three shutouts (Connor LaCouvee's first collegiate clean sheet on Saturday) and three series sweeps (at BU, at Bemidji State, at Lake State). Minnesota State had just one series sweep away from Mankato last year, two the year before. It also had three road sweeps total in 2014-15.
2. Freshmen feeling good: Minnesota State's rookies didn't play like first-year players against the Lakers. Dallas Gerads scored his first collegiate goal to open the scoring on Saturday, and Reggie Lutz had three assists. Jake Jaremko, continued to stay hot, assisting on two goals for a four-point weekend and now ranks third on the team in scoring with 17 points. The scoring was really spread around, but the line of Jaremko, Lutz and senior Zeb Knutson (he had a goal Saturday and a five-point weekend), but dominant all weekend.
3. They've got the power: Minnesota State went 4 for 7 on the power play on Saturday and finished the series 6 for 13. Parker Tuomie scored two power play goals on Saturday and three for the weekend. Knutson, Ian Scheid and Jaremko also had PPGs in the series. MSU's power play percentage for the season is now up to 28 percent. Meanwhile, the Mavericks stoned the Lakers on three power plays Saturday and eight for the weekend. Lake State entered the series with one of the better power plays in the WCHA and in the country. Just an impressive weekend for the Mavericks.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Michigan Tech 5, Ferris State 1 ... Northern Michigan 4, Bemidji State 4 (NMU wins shootout) ... Alaska at UAA (late, UAF won 7-2 on Friday)
1. Road trippin': The Mavericks dominated the Lakers all weekend, outscoring them 12-1, including Saturday's touchdown and PAT. With their next four games at home, they finished their 11 first-half road games with an impressive 8-3 record. That included three shutouts (Connor LaCouvee's first collegiate clean sheet on Saturday) and three series sweeps (at BU, at Bemidji State, at Lake State). Minnesota State had just one series sweep away from Mankato last year, two the year before. It also had three road sweeps total in 2014-15.
2. Freshmen feeling good: Minnesota State's rookies didn't play like first-year players against the Lakers. Dallas Gerads scored his first collegiate goal to open the scoring on Saturday, and Reggie Lutz had three assists. Jake Jaremko, continued to stay hot, assisting on two goals for a four-point weekend and now ranks third on the team in scoring with 17 points. The scoring was really spread around, but the line of Jaremko, Lutz and senior Zeb Knutson (he had a goal Saturday and a five-point weekend), but dominant all weekend.
3. They've got the power: Minnesota State went 4 for 7 on the power play on Saturday and finished the series 6 for 13. Parker Tuomie scored two power play goals on Saturday and three for the weekend. Knutson, Ian Scheid and Jaremko also had PPGs in the series. MSU's power play percentage for the season is now up to 28 percent. Meanwhile, the Mavericks stoned the Lakers on three power plays Saturday and eight for the weekend. Lake State entered the series with one of the better power plays in the WCHA and in the country. Just an impressive weekend for the Mavericks.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Michigan Tech 5, Ferris State 1 ... Northern Michigan 4, Bemidji State 4 (NMU wins shootout) ... Alaska at UAA (late, UAF won 7-2 on Friday)
Friday, December 8, 2017
Mavericks 5, Lakers 1
Freddy's three thoughts (from afar) ...
1. Floodgates open: The Mavericks used a five-goal second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into the 5-1 win and snap a two-game losing streak. The key was something they didn't do against Minnesota Duluth in their last game: Get to the net. Starting with Jared Spooner's game-tying goal, the Mavericks worked to get to the so-called "hard areas" and were rewarded for it. Parker Tuomie, Zeb Knutson, Jake Jaremko and Daniel Brickley also scored goals. The Mavericks also got their scoring going without Marc Michaelis in the lineup. He was back in Mankato with an undisclosed injury.
2. Big night: Knutson had a four-point game with a goal and three assists, and Brickley finished with a goal and two assists. When asked about those performances, coach Mike Hastings actually turned to both players' defensive play, saying Knutson "played a 200-by-85 game" that led to scoring chances. Watching online, it was amazing how open Knutson seemed to get in the Lakers zone. Hastings said Brickley played a well-rounded game. Hastings also praised captain C.J. Suess, who had an assist and a team-leading five shots on goal.
3. Goalie change: Hastings gave Jason Pawloski his first start in goal since Nov. 11, and the junior got his third win of the season, stopping 23 shots. The game started disastrously for him, though, as he got behind 1-0 when a puck dumped in past a defenseman from the blue line took an odd bounce off the ice and went into the net. The Mavericks were playing well in that period, too, but were denied on 13 shots. Everyone bounced back in the second period, though. Pawloski helped the Mavericks kill off five penalties.
Read my write-up here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Michigan Tech 3 ... Alabama Huntsville 3, Bowling Green 3 (UAH wins in shootout) ... Northern Michigan 1, Bemidji State 1 (NMU wins in 3x3) ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage (late)
1. Floodgates open: The Mavericks used a five-goal second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into the 5-1 win and snap a two-game losing streak. The key was something they didn't do against Minnesota Duluth in their last game: Get to the net. Starting with Jared Spooner's game-tying goal, the Mavericks worked to get to the so-called "hard areas" and were rewarded for it. Parker Tuomie, Zeb Knutson, Jake Jaremko and Daniel Brickley also scored goals. The Mavericks also got their scoring going without Marc Michaelis in the lineup. He was back in Mankato with an undisclosed injury.
2. Big night: Knutson had a four-point game with a goal and three assists, and Brickley finished with a goal and two assists. When asked about those performances, coach Mike Hastings actually turned to both players' defensive play, saying Knutson "played a 200-by-85 game" that led to scoring chances. Watching online, it was amazing how open Knutson seemed to get in the Lakers zone. Hastings said Brickley played a well-rounded game. Hastings also praised captain C.J. Suess, who had an assist and a team-leading five shots on goal.
3. Goalie change: Hastings gave Jason Pawloski his first start in goal since Nov. 11, and the junior got his third win of the season, stopping 23 shots. The game started disastrously for him, though, as he got behind 1-0 when a puck dumped in past a defenseman from the blue line took an odd bounce off the ice and went into the net. The Mavericks were playing well in that period, too, but were denied on 13 shots. Everyone bounced back in the second period, though. Pawloski helped the Mavericks kill off five penalties.
Read my write-up here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Michigan Tech 3 ... Alabama Huntsville 3, Bowling Green 3 (UAH wins in shootout) ... Northern Michigan 1, Bemidji State 1 (NMU wins in 3x3) ... Alaska at Alaska Anchorage (late)
Friday Morning Skate
Minnesota State is back on the road — again.
The Mavericks are playing at Lake Superior State for their 10th and 11th road games of their first 16 games, their sixth weekend away from Mankato after playing just three times at home in the first half. But MSU doesn't seem to mind the travel, as it has gone 6-3-0 on the road so far.
The Mavericks are also back from their first bye weekend of the season and hope to be well-rested going forward, too.
Read more about that and the series against the Lakers in my College Hockey Gameday feature here. The Laker Hockey Blog also previews this weekend's series here.
Around the WCHA ...
All 10 conference teams are in action against each other. Here's a look at the matchups:
Ferris State at Michigan Tech: The host Huskies are back from a two-week tour of Alaska where they went 2-0-2. They're also 3-1-3 in their last seven games and hope to keep that non-losing momentum going this weekend. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have won three of their last four and are 6-3-0 since starting the season 2-6-1.
Alabama Huntsville at Bowling Green: The host Falcons moved into first place in the WCHA last weekend. They have lost just twice since Oct. 21, although they are 6-2-5 in that stretch. The Chargers, who are in the midst of a 12-game road swing, are playing well, too. After starting the season 1-6-0, next week's MSU opponent has gone 5-3-1.
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State: The host Beavers hope to bounce back after getting just two points at Bowling Green last weekend. They felt a little unlucky last weekend and hope being back home will cure what's ailing them. They have just one win in their last six games but are beginning a six-game homestand. As for the Wildcats, they're 1-4-0 in their last five and are trying to find more consistency in their game.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage: These are games 3 and 4 of the Governor's Cup between the two rivals, both of whom have been struggling a bit. The visiting Nanooks are 2-7-0 in their last nine games, and the Seawolves are on a six-game winless streak, although they have gotten a few extra overtime points in shootouts and 3x3 play. The best story of the day comes from the Alaska Dispatch News, which has this one about the Seawolves' emergency third goalie, a former sports media intern.
Read the USCHO weekly column here.
Also, if you're going to the Minnesota State women's games against Lindenwood this weekend at the Verizon Center, Saturday is the Mavericks' Teddy Bear Toss. It will take place during the second intermission Saturday and all stuffed toys tossed on the ice will be donated to children in need. There also will be a team autograph session after Saturday's game.
The Mavericks are playing at Lake Superior State for their 10th and 11th road games of their first 16 games, their sixth weekend away from Mankato after playing just three times at home in the first half. But MSU doesn't seem to mind the travel, as it has gone 6-3-0 on the road so far.
The Mavericks are also back from their first bye weekend of the season and hope to be well-rested going forward, too.
Read more about that and the series against the Lakers in my College Hockey Gameday feature here. The Laker Hockey Blog also previews this weekend's series here.
Around the WCHA ...
All 10 conference teams are in action against each other. Here's a look at the matchups:
Ferris State at Michigan Tech: The host Huskies are back from a two-week tour of Alaska where they went 2-0-2. They're also 3-1-3 in their last seven games and hope to keep that non-losing momentum going this weekend. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have won three of their last four and are 6-3-0 since starting the season 2-6-1.
Alabama Huntsville at Bowling Green: The host Falcons moved into first place in the WCHA last weekend. They have lost just twice since Oct. 21, although they are 6-2-5 in that stretch. The Chargers, who are in the midst of a 12-game road swing, are playing well, too. After starting the season 1-6-0, next week's MSU opponent has gone 5-3-1.
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State: The host Beavers hope to bounce back after getting just two points at Bowling Green last weekend. They felt a little unlucky last weekend and hope being back home will cure what's ailing them. They have just one win in their last six games but are beginning a six-game homestand. As for the Wildcats, they're 1-4-0 in their last five and are trying to find more consistency in their game.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage: These are games 3 and 4 of the Governor's Cup between the two rivals, both of whom have been struggling a bit. The visiting Nanooks are 2-7-0 in their last nine games, and the Seawolves are on a six-game winless streak, although they have gotten a few extra overtime points in shootouts and 3x3 play. The best story of the day comes from the Alaska Dispatch News, which has this one about the Seawolves' emergency third goalie, a former sports media intern.
Read the USCHO weekly column here.
Also, if you're going to the Minnesota State women's games against Lindenwood this weekend at the Verizon Center, Saturday is the Mavericks' Teddy Bear Toss. It will take place during the second intermission Saturday and all stuffed toys tossed on the ice will be donated to children in need. There also will be a team autograph session after Saturday's game.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
What'd I miss?
I'm back from a couple of days or R and R. So what happened during Minnesota State's bye week?
Well, the Mavericks stayed at No. 8 in the latest USCHO poll and moved up to No. 8 from No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings.
As expected, idle Minnesota State also dropped out of first place in the WCHA standings, as Bowling Green took 4 of 6 points from Bemidji State last weekend, a 3-1 win and a 3-3 tie with a shootout loss.
The Falcons now have a three-point lead over the Mavericks atop the standings, but MSU has two games in hand. Minnesota State has four games in hand over Michigan Tech, which sits one point back in third place.
Those games in hand won't change this weekend as all 10 WCHA teams will be in action against each other. Here's the schedule:
Minnesota State at Lake Superior State
Alabama Huntsville at Bowling Green
Ferris State at Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage
Current standings look like this:
1. Bowling Green, 24 points (12 GP)
2. Minnesota State, 21 points (10)
3. Michigan Tech, 20 points (14)
4. Northern Michigan, 18 points (10)
5. Alabama Huntsville, 16 points (10)
5. Ferris State, 16 points (10)
7. Lake Superior State, 11 points (10)
7. Alaska, 11 points (12)
9. Bemidji State, 10 points (8)
10. Alaska Anchorage, 9 points (8)
Well, the Mavericks stayed at No. 8 in the latest USCHO poll and moved up to No. 8 from No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings.
As expected, idle Minnesota State also dropped out of first place in the WCHA standings, as Bowling Green took 4 of 6 points from Bemidji State last weekend, a 3-1 win and a 3-3 tie with a shootout loss.
The Falcons now have a three-point lead over the Mavericks atop the standings, but MSU has two games in hand. Minnesota State has four games in hand over Michigan Tech, which sits one point back in third place.
Those games in hand won't change this weekend as all 10 WCHA teams will be in action against each other. Here's the schedule:
Minnesota State at Lake Superior State
Alabama Huntsville at Bowling Green
Ferris State at Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage
Current standings look like this:
1. Bowling Green, 24 points (12 GP)
2. Minnesota State, 21 points (10)
3. Michigan Tech, 20 points (14)
4. Northern Michigan, 18 points (10)
5. Alabama Huntsville, 16 points (10)
5. Ferris State, 16 points (10)
7. Lake Superior State, 11 points (10)
7. Alaska, 11 points (12)
9. Bemidji State, 10 points (8)
10. Alaska Anchorage, 9 points (8)
Monday, November 27, 2017
Minnesota State stays at No. 8
Despite Saturday's 3-1 loss at Minnesota Duluth, USCHO voters kept Minnesota State at No. 8 this week in the rankings. The Mavericks are the only WCHA team in the top 20.
Meanwhile, in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings, the Mavericks fell from ninth to 10th.
Meanwhile, in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings, the Mavericks fell from ninth to 10th.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 27, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (39) 7- 3-2 984 1 2 St. Cloud State ( 9) 9- 2-0 946 2 3 Clarkson ( 1) 12- 3-1 862 5 4 Notre Dame ( 1) 12- 3-1 860 4 5 Cornell 9- 1-0 793 7 6 North Dakota 8- 4-4 714 3 7 Minnesota 9- 6-1 676 6 8 Minnesota State 9- 5-0 568 8 9 Providence 8- 5-1 512 10 10 Western Michigan 9- 5-1 501 11 11 Ohio State 8- 3-3 465 15 12 Northeastern 7- 4-1 425 12 13 New Hampshire 7- 4-1 386 13 14 Wisconsin 9- 6-2 382 9 15 Boston College 8- 5-2 375 14 16 Minnesota Duluth 7- 6-2 300 16 17 Colgate 8- 4-4 260 18 18 UMass Lowell 8- 6-0 142 19 19 Union 8- 6-1 130 NR 20 Omaha 6- 5-1 65 NR Others receiving votes: Michigan 48, Boston University 22, Niagara 19, Michigan State 14, Canisius 11, Penn State 11, Bemidji State 3, Bowling Green 3, Harvard 3, Holy Cross 3, Miami 3, Colorado College 2, Massachusetts 1.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Bulldogs 3, Mavericks 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Where'd the scoring go? This was the theme of my gamer (see link below), but Minnesota State scored just one goal for the second game in a row and lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. In what was otherwise an entertaining, up-and-down-the-rink game, the difference came down to the Bulldogs getting to the net to score two rebound goals and the Mavericks not creating second chances despite putting 34 shots on goal. "I'll use a golf analogy," coach Mike Hastings said. "Just get it in the hole, right? It doesn't matter if it goes off a tree and goes in the hole." In other words, goals don't just have to come on pretty plays, even though MSU had a nice stretch of games in which it did make many of those plays. Can the Mavericks get gritty when they have to? We'll see.
2. Big guns go silent: Minnesota State was carried early in the season by the top line of C.J. Suess, Zeb Knutson and Marc Michaelis, along with defenseman Daniel Brickley. They all had quiet nights on Saturday. Suess, who missed a chunk of the game getting a skate repaired, and Knutson had no points. They played with Parker Tuomie as Michaelis moved on a line with Jake Jaremko and Brad McClure. Brickley was minus-3 and Knutson was minus-2. Suess and Knutson, who lead MSU with 16 and 15 points, respectively, each have just one assist in the last three games. Brickley has been held of the scoresheet over that same stretch.
3. Break time: Minnesota State will get its first bye week of the year next week and it probably comes at a good time. The Mavericks have had games in eight straight weekends to start the season. Following the week off, they will play a WCHA series at Lake Superior State and one at home against Alabama Huntsville before getting another break during Christmas week. "We're going to continue to practice and get better," Hastings said. "That's what I'm looking forward to this week. Get our rest when we need our rest. But we've got to go back and tighten some bolts — and then ask a little bit more of the guys that are getting more, whether that's ice time, opportunities. Those are things you really want to ask the guys to earn, and so that's what we'll ask them to do next week."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 2, Miami 2 (OT) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Ferris State 3 ... Omaha 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska (late)
1. Where'd the scoring go? This was the theme of my gamer (see link below), but Minnesota State scored just one goal for the second game in a row and lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. In what was otherwise an entertaining, up-and-down-the-rink game, the difference came down to the Bulldogs getting to the net to score two rebound goals and the Mavericks not creating second chances despite putting 34 shots on goal. "I'll use a golf analogy," coach Mike Hastings said. "Just get it in the hole, right? It doesn't matter if it goes off a tree and goes in the hole." In other words, goals don't just have to come on pretty plays, even though MSU had a nice stretch of games in which it did make many of those plays. Can the Mavericks get gritty when they have to? We'll see.
2. Big guns go silent: Minnesota State was carried early in the season by the top line of C.J. Suess, Zeb Knutson and Marc Michaelis, along with defenseman Daniel Brickley. They all had quiet nights on Saturday. Suess, who missed a chunk of the game getting a skate repaired, and Knutson had no points. They played with Parker Tuomie as Michaelis moved on a line with Jake Jaremko and Brad McClure. Brickley was minus-3 and Knutson was minus-2. Suess and Knutson, who lead MSU with 16 and 15 points, respectively, each have just one assist in the last three games. Brickley has been held of the scoresheet over that same stretch.
3. Break time: Minnesota State will get its first bye week of the year next week and it probably comes at a good time. The Mavericks have had games in eight straight weekends to start the season. Following the week off, they will play a WCHA series at Lake Superior State and one at home against Alabama Huntsville before getting another break during Christmas week. "We're going to continue to practice and get better," Hastings said. "That's what I'm looking forward to this week. Get our rest when we need our rest. But we've got to go back and tighten some bolts — and then ask a little bit more of the guys that are getting more, whether that's ice time, opportunities. Those are things you really want to ask the guys to earn, and so that's what we'll ask them to do next week."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 2, Miami 2 (OT) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Ferris State 3 ... Omaha 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska (late)
Live: Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth
The No. 8 Mavericks and No. 16 Bulldogs will square off for the first time in three years, renewing their in-state rivalry at Amsoil Arena. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Follow along with the action below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
6-Tuomie, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
20-Michaelis, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
16-Lutz, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 3-McNeely
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Hookenson, A. Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko, Duett
MINNESOTA DULUTH
13-J. Anderson, 25-Krieger, 39-Mackay
27-Tufte, 22-Thomas, 20-Kuhlman
11-Peterson, 19-Richards, 23-Swaney
17-Young, 28-Spurrell, 8-Bender
5-Wolff, 7-Perunovich
4-Samberg, 3-Mi. Anderson
21-Ma. Anderson, 6-Roehl
32-Shepard
37-Deery
36-Patt
Saturday Morning Skate
Coming at you a little late on this holiday weekend, but it is gameday, and the No. 8 Mavericks are on the road for a single game against No. 16 Minnesota Duluth.
Minnesota State will try to bounce back from last Saturday's home loss and series split with Bowling Green against a tough nonconference opponent.
On thing that's come to be expected from the Mavericks is the impact made by freshmen. There just is no grace period for first-year players, especially ones who spent significant time developing in junior hockey. Jake Jaremko, Jared Spooner and Connor Mackey, for instance, have played in every game this season.
As for the Bulldogs, they have their own impact freshmen, notably defenseman Scott Perunovich, featured here in the Duluth News Tribune. UMD is expected to be healthier tonight with two key players back in the lineup.
Around the WCHA ...
No featured links, just an update on this week's games so far. WCHA teams didn't help their cause nonconference-wise, as Bemidji State fell 4-1 at Princeton on Friday (after winning the series-opener 5-3), Bowling Green lost 6-3 at home to Miami and Northern Michigan was defeated 4-3 at Omaha. That puts the conference's non-league record at 13-30-4, something MSU and other will help try to improve tonight.
In conference play Ferris State won 6-2 at Alabama Huntsville, and Michigan Tech won 5-4 in overtime at Alaska.
With the exception of Bemidji State, all of those teams will be in action again tonight, along with the Mavericks and Lake Superior State, which is hosting the U.S. Under-18 National Team in an exhibition game.
Minnesota State will try to bounce back from last Saturday's home loss and series split with Bowling Green against a tough nonconference opponent.
On thing that's come to be expected from the Mavericks is the impact made by freshmen. There just is no grace period for first-year players, especially ones who spent significant time developing in junior hockey. Jake Jaremko, Jared Spooner and Connor Mackey, for instance, have played in every game this season.
As for the Bulldogs, they have their own impact freshmen, notably defenseman Scott Perunovich, featured here in the Duluth News Tribune. UMD is expected to be healthier tonight with two key players back in the lineup.
Around the WCHA ...
No featured links, just an update on this week's games so far. WCHA teams didn't help their cause nonconference-wise, as Bemidji State fell 4-1 at Princeton on Friday (after winning the series-opener 5-3), Bowling Green lost 6-3 at home to Miami and Northern Michigan was defeated 4-3 at Omaha. That puts the conference's non-league record at 13-30-4, something MSU and other will help try to improve tonight.
In conference play Ferris State won 6-2 at Alabama Huntsville, and Michigan Tech won 5-4 in overtime at Alaska.
With the exception of Bemidji State, all of those teams will be in action again tonight, along with the Mavericks and Lake Superior State, which is hosting the U.S. Under-18 National Team in an exhibition game.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Mavericks slip, stay
Minnesota State slipped from fifth to No. 8 in the USCHO rankings following their series split at home to Bowling Green last weekend. In the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, the Mavericks remained at No. 8. Here is the USCHO poll:
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 20, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (30) 7- 3-2 976 1 2 St. Cloud State (18) 9- 2-0 953 2 3 North Dakota ( 2) 8- 3-3 903 3 4 Notre Dame 10- 3-1 836 4 5 Clarkson 10- 3-1 759 8 6 Minnesota 9- 4-1 745 7 7 Cornell 7- 1-0 686 6 8 Minnesota State 9- 4-0 653 5 9 Wisconsin 8- 5-2 572 9 10 Providence 7- 4-1 531 10 11 Western Michigan 8- 4-1 489 15 12 Northeastern 7- 4-1 408 12 13 New Hampshire 6- 4-1 363 11 14 Boston College 8- 5-1 333 NR 15 Ohio State 6- 3-3 272 16 16 Minnesota Duluth 6- 6-2 257 14 17 Michigan 6- 4-2 208 17 18 Colgate 7- 3-4 164 19 19 Boston University 6- 7-1 80 18 19 UMass Lowell 8- 6-0 80 NR Others receiving votes: Harvard 68, Northern Michigan 54, Bowling Green 43, Michigan State 12, Quinnipiac 11, Holy Cross 9, Penn State 8, Niagara 7, Union 5, Yale 5, Army 4, Bemidji State 3, RIT 2, Colorado College 1.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Falcons 4, Mavericks 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Don't go back to Splitsville: Well, they did it again. The Mavericks and Falcons split yet another WCHA series. As it's been well-chronicled now, the WCHA's top two teams currently have never swept each other in league play. They've played four games against each other this season with Minnesota State winning the opener of both series and Bowling Green returning the favor in the closer. The Mavericks certainly would have liked to get that first sweep over the Falcons in their home rink. An announced crowd of 4,256 got taken out of the game early by some excellent defensive play by Bowling Green that kept MSU from making the pretty plays they made on Friday.
2. Penalties plague Mavericks: Sure, there were some questionable calls, but Minnesota State put itself in too many tough spots on Saturday. The result was three 5-on-3 power plays goals for the Falcons. One came with 19 seconds left in the second period and another came 54 seconds into the third. Backbreakers. Add to that an interference penalty by Daniel Brickley that wiped out an MSU power play and 5-minute major by the star defenseman with about 7 minutes to play, and any chance for a comeback was crippled. Ironically, coach Mike Hastings said he scratched Nick Rivera because of his two penalties on Friday. That message didn't register with the rest of the team on Saturday. MSU's eight penalties all came in the game's final 21 minutes.
3. Jaremko breaks out: Freshman center Jake Jaremko scored the Mavericks' lone goal, a power-play tally in the final minute of the first period. That gave him four points for the weekend after his one-goal, two-assist game on Friday. He now has three goals and nine assist for 12 points. "Jake Jaremko has taken some big steps; he really has," Hastings said. "I like the direction that he's moving. He's playing with pace and playing with poise. He's making plays. He's making the players around him better."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan State 3, Ferris State 1 ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Lake Superior State 3 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage (late) ... Northern Michigan at Alaska (late)
1. Don't go back to Splitsville: Well, they did it again. The Mavericks and Falcons split yet another WCHA series. As it's been well-chronicled now, the WCHA's top two teams currently have never swept each other in league play. They've played four games against each other this season with Minnesota State winning the opener of both series and Bowling Green returning the favor in the closer. The Mavericks certainly would have liked to get that first sweep over the Falcons in their home rink. An announced crowd of 4,256 got taken out of the game early by some excellent defensive play by Bowling Green that kept MSU from making the pretty plays they made on Friday.
2. Penalties plague Mavericks: Sure, there were some questionable calls, but Minnesota State put itself in too many tough spots on Saturday. The result was three 5-on-3 power plays goals for the Falcons. One came with 19 seconds left in the second period and another came 54 seconds into the third. Backbreakers. Add to that an interference penalty by Daniel Brickley that wiped out an MSU power play and 5-minute major by the star defenseman with about 7 minutes to play, and any chance for a comeback was crippled. Ironically, coach Mike Hastings said he scratched Nick Rivera because of his two penalties on Friday. That message didn't register with the rest of the team on Saturday. MSU's eight penalties all came in the game's final 21 minutes.
3. Jaremko breaks out: Freshman center Jake Jaremko scored the Mavericks' lone goal, a power-play tally in the final minute of the first period. That gave him four points for the weekend after his one-goal, two-assist game on Friday. He now has three goals and nine assist for 12 points. "Jake Jaremko has taken some big steps; he really has," Hastings said. "I like the direction that he's moving. He's playing with pace and playing with poise. He's making plays. He's making the players around him better."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan State 3, Ferris State 1 ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Lake Superior State 3 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage (late) ... Northern Michigan at Alaska (late)
Live: MSU vs. Bowling Green, Game 2
Minnesota State has never swept Bowling Green since the two became WCHA foes (and the Falcons have never swept the Mavericks over that time). MSU will try to do just that tonight when the two teams square off at the Verizon Center at 7:07 p.m. The fifth-ranked Mavericks won Friday's game 6-1.
To follow the action, check out the live chat below the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Lewis, Rivera, Schwalbe, Vanko
BOWLING GREEN
22-L. Craggs, 6-McLain, 29-Schilling
25-S. Craggs, 18-D'Andrea, 26-Meier
13-Baylis, 20-Ford, 8-LeTourneau
28-Kruse, 10-Johnson, 16-Wright
23-Rauhauser, 4-McDonald
5-Smith, 3-Musser
14-Wells, 24-Coffman
35-Bednard
31-Dop
To follow the action, check out the live chat below the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerard, Lewis, Rivera, Schwalbe, Vanko
BOWLING GREEN
22-L. Craggs, 6-McLain, 29-Schilling
25-S. Craggs, 18-D'Andrea, 26-Meier
13-Baylis, 20-Ford, 8-LeTourneau
28-Kruse, 10-Johnson, 16-Wright
23-Rauhauser, 4-McDonald
5-Smith, 3-Musser
14-Wells, 24-Coffman
35-Bednard
31-Dop
Friday, November 17, 2017
Mavericks 6, Falcons 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Early survival: I focused mainly on the scoring for my game story (linked below), but it's worth noting the the first couple minutes of the game were all Bowling Green. They had the Mavericks pinned in their own end for a long while, and it seemed it might be a long night for the home team. Add to that a stretch of four penalty kills in a row, and it seemed, as coach Mike Hastings said, "You get concerned your burning the tank." While those moments might have taken their toll on the top line and a couple of defensemen, others came through in the clutch. Brad McClure, who's been a bit snakebite, scored the first goal, and he could have had more, putting six pucks on goal.
2. Still winning: Another player who came through early for Minnesota State was goalie Connor LaCouvee. That might not be something you think of too much in a 6-1 game. However, he stopped 24 of 25 shots, including 11 of 11 in the first period and 5 of 6 on the penalty kill. The senior/grad transfer is now 7-0-0 as a Maverick. "Connor was good," Hastings said. "He gave us an opportunity to get our feet underneath us."
3. Power hungry: Minnesota State finished 3 for 5 on the power play, scoring on their first three times with the man advantage. Two of the goals were momentum-turners, with McClure's staring the scoring at 3:57 after that early energy by the Falcons, and the first of two Ian Scheid PPGs coming after Bowling Green made it 2-1 midway through the second period. Scheid's first goal was a beauty of a shot. He picked the upper-right corner from the high slot. The second was a tap-in off a nice feed from Zeb Knutson. "He’s got a real good hockey head," Hastings said of Scheid, a sophomore defenseman. "He donesn’t panic. That poise, I wish that was something you could go buy off a shelf and give to people, but you can’t."
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan State 3, Ferris State 2 (OT) ... Lake Superior State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 1, Michigan Tech 1 (UAA wins shootout) ... Northern Michigan 5, Alaska 3
1. Early survival: I focused mainly on the scoring for my game story (linked below), but it's worth noting the the first couple minutes of the game were all Bowling Green. They had the Mavericks pinned in their own end for a long while, and it seemed it might be a long night for the home team. Add to that a stretch of four penalty kills in a row, and it seemed, as coach Mike Hastings said, "You get concerned your burning the tank." While those moments might have taken their toll on the top line and a couple of defensemen, others came through in the clutch. Brad McClure, who's been a bit snakebite, scored the first goal, and he could have had more, putting six pucks on goal.
2. Still winning: Another player who came through early for Minnesota State was goalie Connor LaCouvee. That might not be something you think of too much in a 6-1 game. However, he stopped 24 of 25 shots, including 11 of 11 in the first period and 5 of 6 on the penalty kill. The senior/grad transfer is now 7-0-0 as a Maverick. "Connor was good," Hastings said. "He gave us an opportunity to get our feet underneath us."
3. Power hungry: Minnesota State finished 3 for 5 on the power play, scoring on their first three times with the man advantage. Two of the goals were momentum-turners, with McClure's staring the scoring at 3:57 after that early energy by the Falcons, and the first of two Ian Scheid PPGs coming after Bowling Green made it 2-1 midway through the second period. Scheid's first goal was a beauty of a shot. He picked the upper-right corner from the high slot. The second was a tap-in off a nice feed from Zeb Knutson. "He’s got a real good hockey head," Hastings said of Scheid, a sophomore defenseman. "He donesn’t panic. That poise, I wish that was something you could go buy off a shelf and give to people, but you can’t."
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan State 3, Ferris State 2 (OT) ... Lake Superior State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 1, Michigan Tech 1 (UAA wins shootout) ... Northern Michigan 5, Alaska 3
Live: Minnesota State vs. Bowling Green
The No. 5 Mavericks host Bowling Green in what should be an entertaining series between the top two teams in the WCHA. Live updates/chat can be found below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Lewis, Schwalbe, Vanko
BOWLING GREEN
22-L. Craggs, 6-McLain, 29-Schilling
28-Kruse, 10-Johnson, 27-McKeown
25-S. Craggs, 18-D'Andrea, 26-Meier
13-Baylis, 20-Ford, 16-Wright
23-Rauhauser, 4-McDonald
5-Smith, 3-Musser
14-Wells, 24-Coffman
31-Dop
35-Bednard
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard, Lewis, Schwalbe, Vanko
BOWLING GREEN
22-L. Craggs, 6-McLain, 29-Schilling
28-Kruse, 10-Johnson, 27-McKeown
25-S. Craggs, 18-D'Andrea, 26-Meier
13-Baylis, 20-Ford, 16-Wright
23-Rauhauser, 4-McDonald
5-Smith, 3-Musser
14-Wells, 24-Coffman
31-Dop
35-Bednard
Friday Morning Skate
The well-traveled Mavericks are back home after another two weeks on the road, and it's another big series at the Verizon Center. Minnesota State, ranked No. 5 and in first place in the WCHA, will take on unranked (but receiving votes) and second-place Bowling Green tonight and Saturday night.
The Mavericks played one of their most-exciting games in recent memory on Saturday at Bemidji State, and sophomore forward Marc Michaelis was the star of the weekend. Read more about him (and one of his most stunning plays of the series) here. I'm sure Mankato fans are hoping he'll put on a similar show this weekend.
This is your regular reminder that Minnesota State and Bowling Green have never swept each other in conference play, so a betting person would predict yet another split. Looking for for more information before making your prediction, check out the College Hockey Gameday.
Including their win over MSU on Oct. 21, the Falcons have not lost (other than in a shootout) in their last seven games, going 4-0-3. The three ties include two shootout wins and one loss. One impressive thing about Bowling Green this season has been the play of their freshmen, who are featured in a WCHA story here.
Read more previews from the Toledo blade here and BGSUHockey.com here.
Going around the WCHA ...
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies begin a two-weekend trip to Alaska with a series against the Seawolves. Tech has just one win in its last seven games and needs some success on this trip to keep its position in the upper half of the standings. UAA has just one win this season but got two points with a tie/shootout win its last game at Alabama Huntsville. The Seawolves are eager to be back home after five games away.
Northern Michigan at Alaska: The No. 20 Wildcats are also in Alaska, just for one weekend though, to play the Nanooks. NMU is feeling good after splits the last two weekends with Minnesota State and rival Michigan Tech. Alaska is also glad to be home for a couple of weeks after getting swept at Ferris State last week.
Lake Superior State at Alabama Huntsville: The Lakers are ending a tough stretch of their schedule that features eight of 10 games on the road with a trip to face the Chargers. They're also looking for their first road win of the season. UAH, meanwhile, started the year with eight road games and began a six-game homestead last week, getting four points against Anchorage.
Ferris State and Michigan State will play a home and home nonconference series starting tonight at East Lansing. The Bulldogs have won three straight, including a game at Michigan. Some more out-of-league victories could be a great help — to everyone in the conference.
Read USCHO's weekly WCHA column here. More notes on the WCHA weekend can be found here.
And finally, ICYMI, here's a hilarious video of former NHL player Ryan Whitney talking about a rather one-sided fight he was on the wrong end of with Mavericks alum and current student-assistant Tim Jackman. WARNING: NSFW due to language!
The Mavericks played one of their most-exciting games in recent memory on Saturday at Bemidji State, and sophomore forward Marc Michaelis was the star of the weekend. Read more about him (and one of his most stunning plays of the series) here. I'm sure Mankato fans are hoping he'll put on a similar show this weekend.
This is your regular reminder that Minnesota State and Bowling Green have never swept each other in conference play, so a betting person would predict yet another split. Looking for for more information before making your prediction, check out the College Hockey Gameday.
Including their win over MSU on Oct. 21, the Falcons have not lost (other than in a shootout) in their last seven games, going 4-0-3. The three ties include two shootout wins and one loss. One impressive thing about Bowling Green this season has been the play of their freshmen, who are featured in a WCHA story here.
Read more previews from the Toledo blade here and BGSUHockey.com here.
Going around the WCHA ...
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies begin a two-weekend trip to Alaska with a series against the Seawolves. Tech has just one win in its last seven games and needs some success on this trip to keep its position in the upper half of the standings. UAA has just one win this season but got two points with a tie/shootout win its last game at Alabama Huntsville. The Seawolves are eager to be back home after five games away.
Northern Michigan at Alaska: The No. 20 Wildcats are also in Alaska, just for one weekend though, to play the Nanooks. NMU is feeling good after splits the last two weekends with Minnesota State and rival Michigan Tech. Alaska is also glad to be home for a couple of weeks after getting swept at Ferris State last week.
Lake Superior State at Alabama Huntsville: The Lakers are ending a tough stretch of their schedule that features eight of 10 games on the road with a trip to face the Chargers. They're also looking for their first road win of the season. UAH, meanwhile, started the year with eight road games and began a six-game homestead last week, getting four points against Anchorage.
Ferris State and Michigan State will play a home and home nonconference series starting tonight at East Lansing. The Bulldogs have won three straight, including a game at Michigan. Some more out-of-league victories could be a great help — to everyone in the conference.
Read USCHO's weekly WCHA column here. More notes on the WCHA weekend can be found here.
And finally, ICYMI, here's a hilarious video of former NHL player Ryan Whitney talking about a rather one-sided fight he was on the wrong end of with Mavericks alum and current student-assistant Tim Jackman. WARNING: NSFW due to language!
Monday, November 13, 2017
Michaelis, Brickley earn WCHA honors
As expected, Minnesota State sophomore forward Marc Michaelis earned the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week Award after his six-point weekend at Bemidji State. Teammate Daniel Brickley was also honored by the league, as the junior defenseman was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Michaelis had five goals and an assist in the series, including a hat trick on Friday. He had two short-handed goals and both game-winners. His six points doubled his total from MSU's first nine games. He now has 12 points (7-5).
Brickley had a goal and two assists and was plus-4 on Saturday. On Friday his plus-minus was even and he had no points. In the series he had six shots on goal and blocked four shots. He now has 11 points this season.
The WCHA's other players of the week were Ferris State goalie Justin Kapelmaster (goaltender of the week), who won two games against Alaska, stopping 53 of 57 shots, and Bowling Green freshman forward Max Johnson (rookie of the week), who had two goals and an assist in a five-point weekend over Lake Superior State.
Michaelis had five goals and an assist in the series, including a hat trick on Friday. He had two short-handed goals and both game-winners. His six points doubled his total from MSU's first nine games. He now has 12 points (7-5).
Brickley had a goal and two assists and was plus-4 on Saturday. On Friday his plus-minus was even and he had no points. In the series he had six shots on goal and blocked four shots. He now has 11 points this season.
The WCHA's other players of the week were Ferris State goalie Justin Kapelmaster (goaltender of the week), who won two games against Alaska, stopping 53 of 57 shots, and Bowling Green freshman forward Max Johnson (rookie of the week), who had two goals and an assist in a five-point weekend over Lake Superior State.
Mavericks move up to 5th
Following its sweep at Bemidji State over the weekend, a series in which it scored 13 goals (and gave up eight), Minnesota State moved up to No. 5 in the newest U.S. College Hockey Online poll. The Mavericks had been No. 10. They will host unranked-but-receiving-votes Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday. In the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings, Minnesota State moved up to No. 8 from No. 11.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 13, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (43) 6- 2-2 992 3 2 St. Cloud State ( 1) 7- 2-0 914 1 3 North Dakota ( 2) 7- 2-3 913 2 4 Notre Dame 8- 3-1 809 6 5 Minnesota State 8- 3-0 710 10 6 Cornell ( 4) 6- 0-0 709 14 7 Minnesota 7- 4-1 699 4 8 Clarkson 8- 3-1 670 11 9 Wisconsin 7- 5-1 542 7 10 Providence 6- 4-0 507 8 11 New Hampshire 6- 3-1 434 9 12 Northeastern 6- 3-1 432 13 13 Harvard 2- 3-0 422 5 14 Minnesota Duluth 5- 5-2 327 12 15 Western Michigan 6- 4-1 259 18 16 Ohio State 6- 3-3 256 17 17 Michigan 6- 3-1 230 NR 18 Boston University 5- 6-1 208 15 19 Colgate 6- 2-4 165 NR 20 Northern Michigan 6- 4-0 74 20 Others receiving votes: Boston College 61, Colorado College 49, Omaha 28, UMass Lowell 19, Bowling Green 17, Army 12, Penn State 10, Quinnipiac 10, Union 7, Yale 6, Niagara 4, Bemidji State 2, RIT 2, Princeton 1.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Mavericks 8, Beavers 6
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Fourteen goals?!?!? Minnesota State and Bemidji State played each other four times last year and scored a total of 11 goals in those games, which included a 1-1 tie and three 2-1 finals. On Saturday night, the rivals scored and scored and scored, compiling 14 goals. "Fourteen goals? We're in anear era where the first to three goals usually wins," Beavers coach Tom Serratore said. The teams combined for six goals in the second period alone. Minnesota State had two stretches where it scored three goals in a row (including three unanswered in the third period), and Bemidji State had one. "It was a fun game for the fans and a fun game for the players," Serratore said.
2. Many hats: Each team had a hat trick in the game, as MSU's Max Coatta got his first three-goal game, and BSU's Jay Dickman had three. On Friday, Marc Michaelis had a hat trick for the Mavericks; he had two goals and an assist on Saturday for a six-point weekend, doubling his total points going into the weekend. The WCHA might as well send him its Offensive Player of the Week Award now. The Mavericks' Daniel Brickley (1G, 2A) and C.J. Suess (3A) also had three-point games, as did the Beavers' Kyle Bauman (3A).
3. Down but not out: Minnesota State was up 4-2 in the second period and then allowed three goals to fall behind 5-4 and have starting goalie Jason Pawloski chased from the game. Zeb Knutson's goal with 2.2 seconds left in the second salvaged the period (BSU iced the puck with 6 seconds left, putting the faceoff in MSU's offensive zone. Suess won the draw cleanly back to Brickley who fired a shot that Knutson tipped in.) The Beavers got momentum back with Dickman's hat trick goal early in the third, but that didn't knock out the Mavericks, who then got goals from Coatta, Michaelis and Jaremko to close out the game. "Proud that the guys found a way to get it done in a very difficult building," Hastings said.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 ... Ferris State 5, Alaska 3 ... Northern Michigan 4, Michigan Tech 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (UAA wins shootout)
1. Fourteen goals?!?!? Minnesota State and Bemidji State played each other four times last year and scored a total of 11 goals in those games, which included a 1-1 tie and three 2-1 finals. On Saturday night, the rivals scored and scored and scored, compiling 14 goals. "Fourteen goals? We're in an
2. Many hats: Each team had a hat trick in the game, as MSU's Max Coatta got his first three-goal game, and BSU's Jay Dickman had three. On Friday, Marc Michaelis had a hat trick for the Mavericks; he had two goals and an assist on Saturday for a six-point weekend, doubling his total points going into the weekend. The WCHA might as well send him its Offensive Player of the Week Award now. The Mavericks' Daniel Brickley (1G, 2A) and C.J. Suess (3A) also had three-point games, as did the Beavers' Kyle Bauman (3A).
3. Down but not out: Minnesota State was up 4-2 in the second period and then allowed three goals to fall behind 5-4 and have starting goalie Jason Pawloski chased from the game. Zeb Knutson's goal with 2.2 seconds left in the second salvaged the period (BSU iced the puck with 6 seconds left, putting the faceoff in MSU's offensive zone. Suess won the draw cleanly back to Brickley who fired a shot that Knutson tipped in.) The Beavers got momentum back with Dickman's hat trick goal early in the third, but that didn't knock out the Mavericks, who then got goals from Coatta, Michaelis and Jaremko to close out the game. "Proud that the guys found a way to get it done in a very difficult building," Hastings said.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 ... Ferris State 5, Alaska 3 ... Northern Michigan 4, Michigan Tech 0 ... Alaska Anchorage 3, Alabama Huntsville 3 (UAA wins shootout)
Live: Minnesota State at Bemidji State
The No. 10 Mavericks will go for the series sweep against the Beavers starting at 7:07 p.m. at the Sanford Center. Follow along on the live chat below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 2-Mackey
25-Zmolek, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, McNeely*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
27-Brady, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 11-Combs
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 23-Sjodahl
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
9-Somoza, 28-Brown-Maloski, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
4-Struthers, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, McNeely*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
27-Brady, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 11-Combs
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 23-Sjodahl
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 15-Heller
9-Somoza, 28-Brown-Maloski, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
4-Struthers, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
Friday, November 10, 2017
Mavericks 5, Beavers 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Friday night's all right: Minnesota State stayed perfect in series openers (5-0-0) with the victory over the Beavers. Marc Michaelis' second career hat trick (read more about him in the game story linked below), along with Connor LaCouvee's 30-save effort in goal made the difference against the tough-at-home Beavers. "We've got to be ready for their push tomorrow night," Michaelis said as MSU will seek its first road sweep since taking two games from Boston University a month ago. They lost their last two Saturday night games on the road, last weekend at Northern Michigan and Oct. 21 at Bowling Green.
2. The Hook brings you back: Sophomore defenseman Edwin Hookenson scored his first career goal to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Hookenson has played in six of 10 games this season and even got the nod over senior Clint Lewis on Friday with the return of freshman Riese Zmolek to the lineup. "Hook’s been playing well for us; it was good to see him get rewarded," coach Mike Hastings said. He was plus-2 in the game and also helped the Mavericks kill off three Bemidji State power plays. "I've been playing some penalty kill more," Hookenson said. "Our penalty kill's been getting better. I'm happy to be playing this much; I hope they keep letting me."
3. Welcome to Bemidji: The Mavericks had seven freshmen in the lineup, including three defensemen (Zmolek, Connor Mackey and Jack McNeely). Up front, Jake Jaremko had an assist, his fifth of the season, and Reggie Lutz, Jared Spooner and Walker Duehr also played. “We had some young defensemen back there learning what it’s like to have to play in this building," Hastings said. "At times they were good and at times they struggled a little bit. Hopefully we can look at that and learn from it and be better tomorrow." Mackey had an assist, making up for a couple tough plays early. Zmolek, who took a late penalty, ended up plus-3. McNeely was minus-1.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Alaska 1 ... Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Lake Superior State 2 (BG wins shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
1. Friday night's all right: Minnesota State stayed perfect in series openers (5-0-0) with the victory over the Beavers. Marc Michaelis' second career hat trick (read more about him in the game story linked below), along with Connor LaCouvee's 30-save effort in goal made the difference against the tough-at-home Beavers. "We've got to be ready for their push tomorrow night," Michaelis said as MSU will seek its first road sweep since taking two games from Boston University a month ago. They lost their last two Saturday night games on the road, last weekend at Northern Michigan and Oct. 21 at Bowling Green.
2. The Hook brings you back: Sophomore defenseman Edwin Hookenson scored his first career goal to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Hookenson has played in six of 10 games this season and even got the nod over senior Clint Lewis on Friday with the return of freshman Riese Zmolek to the lineup. "Hook’s been playing well for us; it was good to see him get rewarded," coach Mike Hastings said. He was plus-2 in the game and also helped the Mavericks kill off three Bemidji State power plays. "I've been playing some penalty kill more," Hookenson said. "Our penalty kill's been getting better. I'm happy to be playing this much; I hope they keep letting me."
3. Welcome to Bemidji: The Mavericks had seven freshmen in the lineup, including three defensemen (Zmolek, Connor Mackey and Jack McNeely). Up front, Jake Jaremko had an assist, his fifth of the season, and Reggie Lutz, Jared Spooner and Walker Duehr also played. “We had some young defensemen back there learning what it’s like to have to play in this building," Hastings said. "At times they were good and at times they struggled a little bit. Hopefully we can look at that and learn from it and be better tomorrow." Mackey had an assist, making up for a couple tough plays early. Zmolek, who took a late penalty, ended up plus-3. McNeely was minus-1.
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 3, Alaska 1 ... Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Lake Superior State 2 (BG wins shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville 5, Alaska Anchorage 1
Live: Minnesota State at Bemidji State
The WCHA's two Minnesota teams will play each other at 7:07 p.m. tonight at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. Should be a good series. Join the conversation below the lineups:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suss, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, Lewis*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
23-Sjodahl, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 26-M. Fitzgerald
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 15-Heller
27-Brady, 8-Harris, 11-Combs
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
22-Vold, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer,
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suss, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 12-Coatta
6-Tuomie, 26-French, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 17-Duehr
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
25-Zmolek, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
39-Pawloski
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Gerads, Gerard*, Lewis*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko ... * = on the trip
BEMIDJI STATE
23-Sjodahl, 21-G. Fitzgerald, 26-M. Fitzgerald
6-Dickman, 14-Buaman, 15-Heller
27-Brady, 8-Harris, 11-Combs
13-Soucier, 7-Roo, 16-Miller
20-Eichstadt, 29-Baudry
3-Muck, 2-Billett
22-Vold, 5-Janco
1-Bitzer,
30-Burgart
35-Johnson
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are on the road — again — as they face their biggest WCHA rival, Bemidji State. This will be the fourth time in five weeks that Minnesota State is playing on the road, and the team has really racked up the miles already this season. And that's before it's gone to Lake Superior State, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska and Alabama Huntsville.
And the stops so far haven't been easy. Minnesota State has played the country's sixth toughest schedule.
They'll be playing a Beavers team that is just getting back from Alaska. However, they've also played most of their games at home so far this season.
Read more about the matchup in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature.
The Beavers will be without sophomore defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who is competing for Team Canada in the Karjala Cup tournament in Switzerland and Finland.
All 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend. The other matchups are:
Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech: Another big rivalry will take place in the UP with this home-and-home series. The crowds weren't very big in Marquette last weekend when MSU was there, but it's expected to be packed on Saturday when this series moves there.
Alaska at Ferris State: The Bulldogs got a nice overtime win last week against Michigan but are still looking for their first WCHA victory, starting 0-3-1 in league play. The Nanooks are making their third trip to the Lower 48 already.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are tied with the Mavericks for first place in the WCHA and will host the Lakers, their oldest rival. LSSU has one win in its last nine games.
Alaska Anchorage at Alabama Huntsville: The Chargers are making their home debut after starting the season with eight games on the road. They're 2-6-0 and will play their next six games at home. The Seawolves won their first game of the season last Saturday at Lake Superior State.
In the post below this you can read about Minnesota State's early recruiting signees. The MSU women announced a class of six on Wednesday.
ICYMI: my column from earlier this week on how, so far, seniors have ruled in the WCHA.
More on the WCHA from USCHO.
And the stops so far haven't been easy. Minnesota State has played the country's sixth toughest schedule.
They'll be playing a Beavers team that is just getting back from Alaska. However, they've also played most of their games at home so far this season.
Read more about the matchup in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature.
The Beavers will be without sophomore defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who is competing for Team Canada in the Karjala Cup tournament in Switzerland and Finland.
All 10 WCHA teams are in action against each other this weekend. The other matchups are:
Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech: Another big rivalry will take place in the UP with this home-and-home series. The crowds weren't very big in Marquette last weekend when MSU was there, but it's expected to be packed on Saturday when this series moves there.
Alaska at Ferris State: The Bulldogs got a nice overtime win last week against Michigan but are still looking for their first WCHA victory, starting 0-3-1 in league play. The Nanooks are making their third trip to the Lower 48 already.
Lake Superior State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are tied with the Mavericks for first place in the WCHA and will host the Lakers, their oldest rival. LSSU has one win in its last nine games.
Alaska Anchorage at Alabama Huntsville: The Chargers are making their home debut after starting the season with eight games on the road. They're 2-6-0 and will play their next six games at home. The Seawolves won their first game of the season last Saturday at Lake Superior State.
In the post below this you can read about Minnesota State's early recruiting signees. The MSU women announced a class of six on Wednesday.
ICYMI: my column from earlier this week on how, so far, seniors have ruled in the WCHA.
More on the WCHA from USCHO.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Mavericks ink five recruits
The early signing period for recruits opened on Wednesday, and Minnesota State announced five signees for the 2018 rookie class.
The group includes two forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender, all currently playing junior in the USHL.
They are forwards Julian Napravnik and Nathan Smith, defensemen Wyatt Aamodt and Andy Carrol and goaltender Dryden McKay.
Napravnik is a native of Germany currently with the Des Moines Buccanners where he had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points last season. He has also played on German national teams at various international events.
The group includes two forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender, all currently playing junior in the USHL.
They are forwards Julian Napravnik and Nathan Smith, defensemen Wyatt Aamodt and Andy Carrol and goaltender Dryden McKay.
“That group has a wealth of junior experience,” coach Mike Hastings said, “and we expect them to come in and contribute immediately. … They have a
mix of abilities, different guys bringing different things to the table. ...
“We recruit for specific needs, and I think they will fill some specific needs. Anytime you can improve your overall skill level, you try to do that. I think this group does that.”
“We recruit for specific needs, and I think they will fill some specific needs. Anytime you can improve your overall skill level, you try to do that. I think this group does that.”
Napravnik is a native of Germany currently with the Des Moines Buccanners where he had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points last season. He has also played on German national teams at various international events.
Smith, from Hudson, Florida, is in his first season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and is second on the team with nine points in nine games.
Aamodt, a Hermantown native playing for the Chicago Steel was the 2016 Reed Larson Award winner as Minnesota's top high school defenseman. He helped lead the Hawks to a state championship in 2016. He had 19 points in 53 games last season for the Steel.
Carroll, a Northfield native currently with the Green Bay Gamblers had 40 points in 55 games for Aberdeen of the NAHL last season. In 2015-16, he had 56 points in 58 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede's U18 team coached by former Maverick Rylan Galiardi. His dad, Todd Carroll, was the first MSU women's hockey coach.
McKay, a Downers Grove, Illinois, native in his second season with the Madison Capitols was the USHL's goalie of the week on Oct. 29 after stopping 49 of 50 shots in win over Waterloo. In 39 games las season, he was 18-17-3 with a .917 SV% and a 2.47 GAA.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Mavericks dip to 10th
Minnesota State slipped from ninth to 10th in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online rankings Monday and ninth to 11th in the newest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. Northern Michigan, with whom Minnesota State split a series in Marquette this past weekend, moved into the top 20 at No. 20.
All of MSU's opponents so far this season are ranked or are receiving votes: No. 1 St. Cloud State, No. 15 Boston University, Bowling Green (RV), Michigan Tech (RV) and No. 20 Northern Michigan.
All of MSU's opponents so far this season are ranked or are receiving votes: No. 1 St. Cloud State, No. 15 Boston University, Bowling Green (RV), Michigan Tech (RV) and No. 20 Northern Michigan.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./November 06, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 St. Cloud State (50) 7- 0-0 1000 2 2 North Dakota 6- 2-2 913 4 3 Denver 4- 2-2 870 1 4 Minnesota 7- 3-0 847 5 5 Harvard 2- 1-0 806 3 6 Notre Dame 6- 3-1 660 10 7 Wisconsin 6- 4-1 605 7 8 Providence 5- 3-0 602 6 9 New Hampshire 6- 1-1 552 13 10 Minnesota State 6- 3-0 547 9 11 Clarkson 6- 3-1 541 13 12 Minnesota Duluth 4- 4-2 442 8 13 Northeastern 5- 2-1 433 15 14 Cornell 4- 0-0 419 18 15 Boston University 4- 5-1 306 12 16 Quinnipiac 3- 3-1 214 11 17 Ohio State 5- 3-2 155 16 18 Western Michigan 5- 3-1 113 NR 19 Penn State 5- 5-0 79 17 20 Northern Michigan 5- 3-0 61 NR Others receiving votes: Michigan 55, Colorado College 53, Omaha 52, Colgate 45, Bemidji State 41, Michigan Tech 18, Air Force 17, Army 17, Boston College 12, Bowling Green 7, Niagara 6, Yale 5, UMass Lowell 4, Miami 3.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Wildcats 4, Mavericks 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Kill shot: Minnesota State's penalty kill has been stellar over the last couple of weeks, but the penalties finally caught up to the Mavericks on Saturday (read more in my gamer linked below). In all, MSU took nine penalties for 29 minutes. The more important number was that it put the Wildcats on the power play six times again. The Mavericks shut them down on Friday but allowed two goals on Saturday, and that was the difference. Northern Michigan scored three goals in the second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. The other goal was penalty-related, too. It was short-handed and came during a delayed penalty on MSU.
2. Points on the road: The Mavericks left Marquette with a split, meaning three points for the WCHA standings. This has rarely been an easy place for the Mavericks to play. Since the two became WCHA mates, Minnesota State has never swept at the Berry. However, it's always come away with points. Including this weekend, they are 3-2-3 here. Mike Hastings complimented both current NMU coach Grant Potulny and previous coach Walt Kyle for how the Wildcats played. "If you ever got one out of here, like we did last night, you knew the second night was going to be incredibly difficult, just like it was tonight."
3. Northern going up: Jumping off the previous thought, this Northern Michigan team looks good. It's 5-3-0 now, with wins against Minnesota State, Wisconsin and a sweep at Ferris State. Potulny definitely inherited a team in which the cupboard was not bare. Robbie Payne (1 goal, 1 assist) and Troy Loggins (2 goals, 1 assist) were excellent on Saturday, as was Mathias Israelsson in goal, a pretty good backup to the excellent Atte Tolvanen.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Alaska Anchorage 4, Lake Superior State 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 2 (BG wins in shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville at Arizona State (late) ... Bemidji State at Alaska (late
1. Kill shot: Minnesota State's penalty kill has been stellar over the last couple of weeks, but the penalties finally caught up to the Mavericks on Saturday (read more in my gamer linked below). In all, MSU took nine penalties for 29 minutes. The more important number was that it put the Wildcats on the power play six times again. The Mavericks shut them down on Friday but allowed two goals on Saturday, and that was the difference. Northern Michigan scored three goals in the second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. The other goal was penalty-related, too. It was short-handed and came during a delayed penalty on MSU.
2. Points on the road: The Mavericks left Marquette with a split, meaning three points for the WCHA standings. This has rarely been an easy place for the Mavericks to play. Since the two became WCHA mates, Minnesota State has never swept at the Berry. However, it's always come away with points. Including this weekend, they are 3-2-3 here. Mike Hastings complimented both current NMU coach Grant Potulny and previous coach Walt Kyle for how the Wildcats played. "If you ever got one out of here, like we did last night, you knew the second night was going to be incredibly difficult, just like it was tonight."
3. Northern going up: Jumping off the previous thought, this Northern Michigan team looks good. It's 5-3-0 now, with wins against Minnesota State, Wisconsin and a sweep at Ferris State. Potulny definitely inherited a team in which the cupboard was not bare. Robbie Payne (1 goal, 1 assist) and Troy Loggins (2 goals, 1 assist) were excellent on Saturday, as was Mathias Israelsson in goal, a pretty good backup to the excellent Atte Tolvanen.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Alaska Anchorage 4, Lake Superior State 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 2 (BG wins in shootout) ... Alabama Huntsville at Arizona State (late) ... Bemidji State at Alaska (late
Live: Minnesota State at Northern Michigan
The Mavericks will go for the series sweep tonight against the Wildcats. Live chat can be found below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 26-French, 9-Gerard
6-Tuomie, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko*, Zmolek
* = also on trip
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 18-Nardi, 11-Rockwood,
29-Payne, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
12-Heikkila, 24-Diamantoni, 8-Pierce
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 23-Slattery
40-Klimek, 27-Roeder
2-Vermeulen, 25-Beaulieu
44-Black, 3-Fosdick
32-Israelsson
41-Tolvanen
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 26-French, 9-Gerard
6-Tuomie, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko*, Zmolek
* = also on trip
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Loggins, 18-Nardi, 11-Rockwood,
29-Payne, 13-Voltin, 37-Craighead
12-Heikkila, 24-Diamantoni, 8-Pierce
19-Starzynski, 21-Paskaruk, 23-Slattery
40-Klimek, 27-Roeder
2-Vermeulen, 25-Beaulieu
44-Black, 3-Fosdick
32-Israelsson
41-Tolvanen
Friday, November 3, 2017
Mavericks 3, Wildcats 0
Freddy's three thought of the game ...
1. Good goalie problem: You can read more about this in my gamer (link below), but any thoughts of the Mavericks having a set No. 1 goalie after Connor LaCouvee's two wins last weekend at home against Michigan Tech can be tempered. Jason Pawloski got the start on Friday and recorded his second shutout of the season (his first came in the second game at Boston University). It looked like it was going to be an easy night for him after one period. MSU led 1-0 and he saw just four shots on goal. But the second period turned his way, and he was up to the task, stopping 12 shots and helping the Mavericks kill three penalties. In all, he stopped 26 shots. The Mavericks had 27 shots on goal.
2. Killing time: Minnesota State was called for six penalties, and coach Mike Hastings has talked since that BU series. of trying to be better about going to the box. The bad news is that the Mavericks are still taking penalties; the good news is they're still doing a good job of killing them off. Said Hastings: "Gotta find a way to not to go to the box five or more times, but the guys are doing the job that way and it’s making the difference in games." Twelve of Northern Michigan's shots came during the power play.
3. Forwards, Line 4: Defenseman Ian Scheid got the scoring started for the Mavericks, and Brad McClure scored the third goal. The second, an important insurance marker, came at 8:09 of the third period, and it came from the fourth line. Max Coatta scored it, getting an assist from Jared Spooner. Nick Rivera is the other forward in that group, which was good from the opening faceoff tonight. The trio had six of MSU's shots and played with speed an energy — especially after power plays and penalty kills — that Northern Michigan didn't seem to have the depth to match.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 3, Alaska Anchorage 2 (OT) ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Ferris State 3, Michigan 2 (OT) ... Arizona State 3, Alabama Huntsville 2 ... Alaska 4, Bemidji State 3 (OT)
1. Good goalie problem: You can read more about this in my gamer (link below), but any thoughts of the Mavericks having a set No. 1 goalie after Connor LaCouvee's two wins last weekend at home against Michigan Tech can be tempered. Jason Pawloski got the start on Friday and recorded his second shutout of the season (his first came in the second game at Boston University). It looked like it was going to be an easy night for him after one period. MSU led 1-0 and he saw just four shots on goal. But the second period turned his way, and he was up to the task, stopping 12 shots and helping the Mavericks kill three penalties. In all, he stopped 26 shots. The Mavericks had 27 shots on goal.
2. Killing time: Minnesota State was called for six penalties, and coach Mike Hastings has talked since that BU series. of trying to be better about going to the box. The bad news is that the Mavericks are still taking penalties; the good news is they're still doing a good job of killing them off. Said Hastings: "Gotta find a way to not to go to the box five or more times, but the guys are doing the job that way and it’s making the difference in games." Twelve of Northern Michigan's shots came during the power play.
3. Forwards, Line 4: Defenseman Ian Scheid got the scoring started for the Mavericks, and Brad McClure scored the third goal. The second, an important insurance marker, came at 8:09 of the third period, and it came from the fourth line. Max Coatta scored it, getting an assist from Jared Spooner. Nick Rivera is the other forward in that group, which was good from the opening faceoff tonight. The trio had six of MSU's shots and played with speed an energy — especially after power plays and penalty kills — that Northern Michigan didn't seem to have the depth to match.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 3, Alaska Anchorage 2 (OT) ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Ferris State 3, Michigan 2 (OT) ... Arizona State 3, Alabama Huntsville 2 ... Alaska 4, Bemidji State 3 (OT)
Live: Minnesota State at Northern Michigan
Minnesota State and Northern Michigan will square off at 6:07 p.m. Follow along with the action on the live chat below the lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 26-French, 9-Gerard
6-Tuomie, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko*, Zmolek
* = also on trip
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 24-Diamantoni, 37-Craighead
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 23-Slattery
13-Voltin, 18-Nardi, 8-Pierce
12-Heikkila, 21-Paskaruk, 15-Schroer
40-Klimek, 27-Roeder
2-Vermeulen, 25-Beaulieu
44-Black, 6-Yarmeko
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 10-Knutson
16-Lutz, 26-French, 9-Gerard
6-Tuomie, 5-Jaremko, 19-McClure
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 3-McNeely
2-Mackey, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
39-Pawloski
37-LaCouvee
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, Gerads*, Nelson, Schwalbe, Vanko*, Zmolek
* = also on trip
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
29-Payne, 24-Diamantoni, 37-Craighead
9-Loggins, 11-Rockwood, 23-Slattery
13-Voltin, 18-Nardi, 8-Pierce
12-Heikkila, 21-Paskaruk, 15-Schroer
40-Klimek, 27-Roeder
2-Vermeulen, 25-Beaulieu
44-Black, 6-Yarmeko
41-Tolvanen
32-Israelsson
Friday Morning Skate
Good morning from the road to Marquette ...
No. 9 Minnesota State is in the U.P. to take on Northern Michigan in a WCHA series. Through seven games, the Mavericks appear to be back to their ways of dominating puck possession, outshooting teams by an average of 10 shots per game. Much of that starts on the defensive end. Flying under the radar in the D-corps a bit is Clint Lewis, who had a solid junior season and is off to a good start as a senior. Lewis had 15 points and was +11 last season. He has two assists and is +3 this year.
Read more about the Mavericks' series with the Wildcats in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
As for NMU, the Wildcats were off last weekend and have been preparing for a tough home matchup against MSU.
Going around the WCHA ...
Ferris State at Michigan: This is the second game of a two-game series. On Thursday, the Wolverines pounded the Bulldogs 7-2.
Alaska Anchorage at Lake Superior State: These two teams have one win between them, and that was the Lakers' win over Northern Michigan on Oct. 6. Something's got to give.
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech: This should be a good series in Houghton between Minnesota State's last two opponents. The Huskies are glad to be back home after the road trip to Mankato.
Bemidji State at Alaska: This will be the first long road trip for the Beavers, who have played just one game away from Bemidji so far. It will the first WCHA series in Fairbanks this season.
Alabama Huntsville at Arizona State: These will be the final two games of an eight-game road swing to start the season for the one-win Chargers.
No. 9 Minnesota State is in the U.P. to take on Northern Michigan in a WCHA series. Through seven games, the Mavericks appear to be back to their ways of dominating puck possession, outshooting teams by an average of 10 shots per game. Much of that starts on the defensive end. Flying under the radar in the D-corps a bit is Clint Lewis, who had a solid junior season and is off to a good start as a senior. Lewis had 15 points and was +11 last season. He has two assists and is +3 this year.
Read more about the Mavericks' series with the Wildcats in The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday.
As for NMU, the Wildcats were off last weekend and have been preparing for a tough home matchup against MSU.
Going around the WCHA ...
Ferris State at Michigan: This is the second game of a two-game series. On Thursday, the Wolverines pounded the Bulldogs 7-2.
Alaska Anchorage at Lake Superior State: These two teams have one win between them, and that was the Lakers' win over Northern Michigan on Oct. 6. Something's got to give.
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech: This should be a good series in Houghton between Minnesota State's last two opponents. The Huskies are glad to be back home after the road trip to Mankato.
Bemidji State at Alaska: This will be the first long road trip for the Beavers, who have played just one game away from Bemidji so far. It will the first WCHA series in Fairbanks this season.
Alabama Huntsville at Arizona State: These will be the final two games of an eight-game road swing to start the season for the one-win Chargers.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Knutson, Lewis receive WCHA honors
For their play in Minnesota State's series sweep over Michigan Tech, seniors Zeb Knutson and Clint Lewis received WCHA player of the week awards.
Knutson, a forward, scored five points (two goals, three assists) in the two games to earn the Offensive Player of the Week award. He leads MSU with 11 points and five goals and is tied for tops in assists with six. He has two of the team's game-winners, too. He has a point in each of MSU's last six games.
Lewis, a defenseman, was name Defensive Player of the Week. He had two assists, two blocked shots and was plus-3 in the series.
Knutson, a forward, scored five points (two goals, three assists) in the two games to earn the Offensive Player of the Week award. He leads MSU with 11 points and five goals and is tied for tops in assists with six. He has two of the team's game-winners, too. He has a point in each of MSU's last six games.
Lewis, a defenseman, was name Defensive Player of the Week. He had two assists, two blocked shots and was plus-3 in the series.
Mavericks move up to No. 9
Minnesota State moved up to No. 9 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online rankings following its sweep of Michigan Tech this weekend in Mankato. The Mavericks were ranked No. 12 going into the series. Here's the poll:
UPDATE: The Mavericks are also No. 9 in the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings, moving up from No. 14.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll Minneapolis, Minn./October 30, 2017 Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Week 1 Denver (42) 4- 0-2 991 1 2 St. Cloud State ( 8) 5- 0-0 952 2 3 Harvard 1- 0-0 900 3 4 North Dakota 5- 2-1 775 4 5 Minnesota 5- 3-0 759 7 6 Providence 5- 2-0 689 11 7 Wisconsin 6- 3-0 654 5 8 Minnesota Duluth 4- 2-2 621 10 9 Minnesota State 5- 2-0 605 12 10 Notre Dame 4- 3-1 515 8 11 Quinnipiac 3- 1-1 459 13 12 Boston University 3- 4-1 436 6 13 Clarkson 4- 3-1 422 9 13 New Hampshire 5- 1-1 422 14 15 Northeastern 4- 2-1 268 20 16 Ohio State 5- 1-2 220 NR 17 Penn State 4- 4-0 194 15 18 Cornell 2- 0-0 133 NR 19 Air Force 5- 2-1 108 18 20 Michigan Tech 4- 4-1 95 16 Others receiving votes: Michigan 77, Omaha 52, Bemidji State 50, Colorado College 47, UMass Lowell 34, Northern Michigan 12, Boston College 5, Colgate 2, Miami 2, Brown 1.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Mavericks 5, Huskies 3
Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Everybody gets a penalty! What a crazy third period. I've seen games with more penalties called, but the stretch of about 8 1/2 minutes in the third period when eight separate minor penalties (seven in a span of about 6 1/2 minutes) was insane. How the Mavericks managed to get through that with two 5-on-3 power-play goals was somewhat impressive. Daniel Brickley broke a 3-3 tie with a low, laser shot at 16:07, and C.J. Suess put one in at the doorstep at 17:04. Zeb Knutson assisted on both goals. Suess and Knutson each had a three-point game.
2. Important sweep: Coach Hastings preaches protecting home ice, and the Mavericks did that after losing their home opener against St. Cloud State three weeks earlier. They came from behind to get Saturday's win with three unanswered goals. "Early in the season, a point can cost you at the end of the season," Suess said. "It was important to get the sweep and not a tie or a loss." Hastings also opted to go with Connor LaCouvee in goal in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He stopped 16 of 19 shots Saturday.
3. Freshmen impress: Reggie Lutz had a goal and an assist, and Connor Mackey scored the game-tying goal. Both rookies looked the part against good competition. Jack McNeely, who had the big blocked shot on Friday, also had an assist, and Jared Spooner was plus-1. In the end, the veterans came through with the big power-play goals, but the freshmen are making key contributions early in the season. Lutz said he didn't play much late due to all of the special teams action. "I'm not on the power play or penalty kill, so I just had to stay with it, stay positive on the bench and stay vocal on the bench."
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska 2, Bowling Green 2 (Alaska wins in shootout) ... Cornell 3, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Michigan State 6, Lake Superior State 0
1. Everybody gets a penalty! What a crazy third period. I've seen games with more penalties called, but the stretch of about 8 1/2 minutes in the third period when eight separate minor penalties (seven in a span of about 6 1/2 minutes) was insane. How the Mavericks managed to get through that with two 5-on-3 power-play goals was somewhat impressive. Daniel Brickley broke a 3-3 tie with a low, laser shot at 16:07, and C.J. Suess put one in at the doorstep at 17:04. Zeb Knutson assisted on both goals. Suess and Knutson each had a three-point game.
2. Important sweep: Coach Hastings preaches protecting home ice, and the Mavericks did that after losing their home opener against St. Cloud State three weeks earlier. They came from behind to get Saturday's win with three unanswered goals. "Early in the season, a point can cost you at the end of the season," Suess said. "It was important to get the sweep and not a tie or a loss." Hastings also opted to go with Connor LaCouvee in goal in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He stopped 16 of 19 shots Saturday.
3. Freshmen impress: Reggie Lutz had a goal and an assist, and Connor Mackey scored the game-tying goal. Both rookies looked the part against good competition. Jack McNeely, who had the big blocked shot on Friday, also had an assist, and Jared Spooner was plus-1. In the end, the veterans came through with the big power-play goals, but the freshmen are making key contributions early in the season. Lutz said he didn't play much late due to all of the special teams action. "I'm not on the power play or penalty kill, so I just had to stay with it, stay positive on the bench and stay vocal on the bench."
Read my gamer here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska 2, Bowling Green 2 (Alaska wins in shootout) ... Cornell 3, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Michigan State 6, Lake Superior State 0
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