Friday Morning Skate

No. 14 Minnesota State will open its WCHA schedule today at Bowling Green, and if you think this means things are getting easier for the Mavericks, who started the season against St. Cloud State and Boston University, "we don't," says coach Mike Hastings. Indeed, the grind of the conference schedule is real, as are the rivalries. Hastings says Bowling Green is one of MSU's biggest rivals, and why not? The two teams have split every series they've played as WCHA opponents over the last four years.

Read more about the series in my College Hockey Gameday. And get some reaction from MSU goalie Connor LaCouvee's return to (and win in) Boston here.

As for Bowling Green, it believes this will be an important, challenging weekend, too. But the Falcons have shown their own flashes of strong play to start the year, too. Read another weekend preview from BGSUHockey.com here (includes video of Falcons coach Chris Bergeron).

The Mavericks made many people stand up and take notice of them last weekend. Here's some more coverage of them from USCHO and College Hockey News.

Going around the WCHA ...

Alabama Huntsville at Michigan Tech: In the only other league series of the weekend, the Chargers travel to the U.P. to take on the No. 15 Huskies. These will be the first home games for Tech since it won the Broadmoor Trophy championship last march.

Alaska vs. Alaska Anchorage: The Alaska rivals will begin their Governor's Cup series tonight in Anchorage and move to Fairbanks on Saturday. This weekend's games are not for league points. The Nanooks are coming off two disappointing losses at St. Cloud State.

Air Force at Bemidji State: It's the Serratore Bowl, as brothers Tom and Frank renew their rivalry for the first time since the 2009-10 season when the Beavers host the Falcons. But it won't just be brother vs. brother. One of Air Force's players is junior Matt Serratore, son of the BSU coach and nephew of the Air Force coach.

Northern Michigan vs. Wisconsin: The Wildcats and No. 6 Badgers will meet in the middle and play a pair of games in Green Bay. New NMU coach Grant Potulny is off to a good start with a 3-1-0 record that includes a sweep at Ferris State.

Ferris State at Mercyurst: The Bulldogs, which opened WCHA play with two losses to Northern Michigan will hit the road for a nonconference series against the Lakers.

Lake Superior State at Denver: The WCHA's Lakers are leaving the U.P. for the first time this season. After a league loss and tie/shootout loss at home to Michigan Tech, they will go west to take on the nation's No. 1 team and defending national champions, the Pioneers.