Friday Morning Skate

The WCHA championship weekend is here, and it's all taking place in Mankato. I like this format. I'd like it better if the arena could be full. As it stands with COVID restrictions, here is the schedule:

• 1-Minnesota State vs. 6-Northern Michigan, 2:07 p.m.

• 2-Lake Superior State vs. 4-Bemidij State, 7:37 p.m.

• Sauer Trophy championship game, 7:07 p.m. Saturday

The third-ranked Mavericks enter the weekend with four wins in a row and having won 11 of their last 12 games. They're playing well right now, showing off some depth. One player who's rolling is senior forward Walker Duehr, undeterred by his slow start to the season, The Free Press' Kevin Dudley writes. Dudley also reports that Reggie Lutz has been cleared to play after missing last weekend, which should be a boost to MSU's offense.

The, of course, there's goaltender Dryden McKay, who was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award this week, the second year in a row he has reached that point for the nation's top-player honor. He's one of four goalies on the list and the only WCHA player.

In other honors this week, Mavericks coach Mike Hastings was named WCHA coach of the decade for the 2010s, while McKay, Marc Michaelis and Matt Leitner were named to the all-decade team, as the league celebrates 70 seasons. I'm proud to have been part of the season-long project, writing about the 2000s and the 2010s. Be sure to check it out.

Also, if you haven't already, take a listen to my podcast with Minnesota State senior captain Riese Zmolek. Need to catch up, here's a link to last week's podcast with McKay.

For more on the Mavericks' awards and a look at this weekend, check out The Rink Live's coverage. Jason Feldman also writes about the four goaltenders in the tournament, and FloHockey's Tim Rappleye looks at MSU's German influence that started with Michaelis and Parker Tuomie and continues with Julian Napravnik.

Meanwhile, Northern Michigan enters the weekend as the only remaining team to go three games last weekend and pull off a first-round upset. The Wildcats knocked off third-seeded Bowling Green last weekend and are confident and relaxed heading into today's semifinal matchup, writes The Mining Journal's Ryan Stieg.

While Minnesota State is a virtual lock for the NCAA tournament, and Northern Michigan knows it needs to win twice this weekend to get in, Lake Superior State and Bemidji State appear to be on the NCAA bubble, per the prognosticators, so tonight's matchup could have huge implications. The Lakers haven't been to the national tournament since 1996, the last of nine straight appearances that included three championships.

For the Beavers, meanwhile, Mankato native Kyle Looft is excited to return home for the playoffs.

The Beavers have won six of their last seven games, including a split at home against the Lakers, who have won five of their last six.

I'll be covering games for College Hockey News this weekend, so be sure to go there for further coverage.