MacNaughton x4

 

Only 250 fans were allowed in the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Thursday night but they got to witness some history. Minnesota State captured its fourth straight MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular-season champions, a feat never before accomplished in the conference's 70-year history. It was also MSU's sixth title in seven years.

Four championships in a row is quite a feat in any league. It's amazing that seniors Jack McNeely, Jake Jaremko, Jared Spooner, Reggie Lutz, Walker Duehr, Dallas Gerads and Riese Zmolek have won titles in each of their four seasons with the Mavericks.

"Very blessed with this group," coach Mike Hastings said, "especially the seniors, to win four in a row."

The Mavericks defeated Bemidji State 4-3 in overtime on a Julian Napravnik goal. It was a back-door pass intended for Akito Hirose, but it caromed in off a defender's stick and sparked a celebration. Napravnik leads the Mavericks with 21 points, including eight goals — four of them game-winners.

Minnesota State led 3-1 after Brendon Furry and Andy Carroll scored a pair of highlight-reel goals less than a minute apart early in the second period. But the Beavers clawed back and eventually tied the game in the final minute after pulling goalie Zach Driscoll for an extra attacker.

Dryden McKay stopped 23 shots, four in overtime, none bigger than a sprawling save to stop an almost-sure game-winner on an odd-man rush. 

Todd Burgess had a goal and an assist for the third-ranked Mavericks, who improved to 11-0-0 in WCHA play.

The Mavericks will play at Bemidji on Saturday and close the regular season with a home series against Michigan Tech.