MSU women' ready to get started

The Minnesota State women's hockey team opens the season on Saturday with an exhibition game. Although the Mavericks have been practicing or four hours a week since school began, Saturday is the official start of the year.

In today's Freep, I previewed the team with a focus on senior forward and co-captain Corbin Boyd (pictured).

A few other nuggets about the Mavericks:

• Can this be the year they move out of the WCHA cellar? Coach John Harrington hasn't hid his excitement about this year's rookie class, and the impact it could have on the program, especially combined with last year's top scorer, sophomore Brittyn Fleming, and a solid group of junior and senior leaders.

• It's never easy in the tough WCHA, and it's hard not to be reminded that MSU has had just one .500 or better season in its 20-year history.

• The WCHA preseason coaches poll came out on Tuesday, and the Mavericks were picked last in the seven-team league. Wisconsin and Minnesota were the co-favorites. For more on the poll, go to the WCHA's website.